LIBRARY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE THE AND BEE-KEEPER'S ADVISER. EDITED BY THOMAS WILLIAM COWAN, F.G.S., F.K.M.S., etc. Author of -The British Bee-keeper's Guide Book.' VOLUME XVI. January-December, 1888. PUBLISHED BY JOHN HUCKLE, KINGS LANGLEY, HERTFORDSHIRE; AND BY KENT AND CO., 23 PATERNOSTER ROW, E.O. UNIVERSITY OF MASSACml'Q AMHerst, mass. (o 3 8. 0 S~ 7 7-h V, / (o L'ONDON" : PEINTED BY STEANGEWAYS AND SONS Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. INDEX. Abbott, Brother?, Pitts apiary, BonthaU,29j sec- tions, 86, 156 ; hoiipy- new method of hsing foundation, 72 Abbott,C.N.,bissyrup-can, 139 ; on in-and-in breed- ing1, 140; his wax-guide, 185; his wax-smelter, lb. ABC for beginners, 489 Adapting-boarcL?, -11 Adulterate. I foundation, 307 Adulterated honey, 129 Adulteration, 333;of honey, 233,329,43!!, ami wax, 315 Afternoon off, an, 291 After-swarmp, 310, 391 ( Aids to success, 504 Albcrti hive, 152 Albnvy Heath, 485 Alighting-boards, 194 Alley, H., on queen intro- duction, 113; his cheap queenB, 422; and Carnio- lan queens, 530; Thirty Vears among the Bees, 576 Alpaugh, Mr., his found- ation-fastener, 199 Aluminium, 433 Amateur carpenter, notes by, 531 ' Amateur Expert,' his apiary, 3 ; who is be ? 51,64; on third-class ex- aminers, 76 ; jottings by, 224, 907, 422, 132, 508, 528, 538, 551; Carnio- laus, Italians, &c., 553 Ambulant apiary in Bel- gium, 166 America, product of honey in, 311 ; weather in, 120 American ApiculturUtt 536 American bee-keepers, with the, 574, 600, 610 American enamel cloth. S« Enamel cloth. Ancient bee-keepers, 128 Andreua\ 243, 363; effect of, on a lawn, 308 Andreu, F. C, bis apiaries in Minorca, 339. See Mi- norcan bees. Antcnnrc cleaner of byme- noptora, 414, 599 ; func- tions of, 401 Anterior legs of bees, 599 Ants, getting rid of, 613 Aphidiau honey, 575 Apiary, demoralised, 41 ; establishing, 107 ; posi- tion for, (o, ; locating, 227; a new enemy iu, 32.".; Bpaee for, 362; help in the, 395 ; situation of, 400; strange visitants to, 553 Apiaries, introducing fresh blood into, 30; isolated, 65; site for, 207; Mr. M'Nally's, change in lo- cality, 512 ; class in schedules for small, 558 Apiciilture, report of some experiments in, 460, 476, 484,565 Apicultural terms, glossary of, 122 Ai>i, 488; Buckwheat, 207; Canada thistle, 497 ; Cat- niint, 207; Chapman's honey plant, 497 ; Clover, 523; Uotoneaeters, B5 Cotoneaster microphyl- la, 195; Crocuses, 400; Echinops globosa and ritro, 497; Eehinops spluerocephalus, 32 1, 391 ', 432; Echium (bug ' 322; Erica vagaDB, 529; Figwort. 207; Giant bal- sam, 502; Giant globe thistle, 508 ; Gorse, 136 ; Groundsel, 68; Heath, cross -leaved, 399; Heathe-, 362, S09f 415, 4-14, 472; Honey plants, 565; Hoya enrnosa, 121 ; Lamium (dead-nettle), 321 ; Limnanthes Doug- las ii, 85, 322; Ling, 899; Medicago lupulina, 322, 333 ; Melilotua lunoan- tha, 467 ; Mignonette. 322; Milotus alibi, 4(17; Nopeta.321,390; N. Mas- gilli, 272, 488; Mustard, 207; Parsley, 362; Pha- celia, 207 ; Protea melli- fera, 198, 310; Sainfoin, 343; Scrophularia, 322; Teucriuni, 321, 890; Tvi- fulium incarnatum, £5, 251; Trifolium minus, 322, 333; Trifolium procum- bens, 333 ; Trifolium re- pens, 333; Wallflowers, 85,400; White arabis, 400; Winter beans, 85 Bee-flowers, 122, 830, 107 Bee garden, County Down, 591 Bee-hive, damage to a, 39:1 Bee-hives, long or short? 497 Bee-house, 109, 135 Bee-hunter, a, in trouble, 128 Bee-keeper, accident to a, 212 ; in prison, 225 ; anti- quated, 331 ; a young, 572 Bee-keepers, to, 403 Bcc-kecpcr's Aih'i ser, 137,155 Bee-keepers' Associa- tion's and Shows : — Bedfordshire, 189; Berks, 61, 140, 519; British, 1, 5,15,44, 86,111,175,209, 222, 233, 260, 309, 325, 331, 352, 379, 103, 493, 526, 539, 565; Bury St. Edmunds, 1 ; Caledonian, 392 ; Cambridge, 299 ; Craven District, 285 ; Derbyshire, 114, 452 ; Devon County Agricul- tural, 343, 356; Essex, 100, 223; East Lothian, 452; East Stirlingshire, 452 ; Ebor, 264 ; Gla- morganshire, 331 ; Glas- gow International, 19, 20,154,176, 245 ; Glouces- tershire, 111, 153, 176; Hants and Isle of Wight, 331 ; Herefordshire, 99 ; Herts, 492 ; Hudders- field, 424; Hull and Dis- trict, 237 ; Hnnts, 5,44, 46,379,622; Irish, 19, U 0, L52, U8, 837, 331, 406, 435, 463, 495, 552, 601 ; Kent, 32, 579; Lancashire and Cheshire, 73, 98,165, 299 377, 135, 151 ; Leices- b i bin', 61, 72, 128, 153, 170, 348, 368 ; Lincoln- shire, .'148, 601 ; Lowes- toft, 222 ; Middlesex, 114, 222, 368; Monmouth- shire, 237; Northamp- tonshire, 99, 165, 369, 495; Northumberland, 1 ; North-east of Ireland, 431, 463; North of Scot- land, 249; Nottingham, L00, 233, 309, 331, 340, 369; Oxfordshire, 72; Royal Agricultural at Nottingham, 197, 238,299, 831,340; Shropshire, t2:;; Somereet, 98, 115 j South- gate, 222; Staffordshire, 104 ; Surrey, 463 ; Suther- land, 343 ; Todmorden, 425; Warwickshire, 293 ; Waterford, 393; West Cumberland, 552; Wig- townshire, 116; Wilts, 368; Windsor Royal Show, 558, 565; Worces- t. rsnire, 141, 166, 176; Wotton-u.-Edge,435,601 ; Wrockwardine, 47, 477; Yamton, 464; York- shire, 73, 249, 423, 590 B< i -h Bpei ' tffl (fl ■ ■■ '"', 105 Bo -keopoi s" Review, 105 Bee-keeper'e song, 565 Bee - keeper's vocabulary, L75, 188, 246, 366, 379, 408, 122, 133, 529, 541, 550, 562 Bee-keeping, 428; pro- gress of, 4 ; alone, or with other pursuit-, 32 ; teaching, in schools, 106 j how to commence, 107 ; prospeol 3 of, 149 j pro- gress in, 241 ; in Russia, 322,603;conducting,378; investments in, 393; as a hubby, 4s:; ; time for beginning, 4;'2 ; locality for, ib. ; illustrations of, for children, 522 Bee-master, of a century ■ 281, 292, 302, 3 19 ; a gentle, 320; out of har- ness, 433 Bee parasites, 192 Bee pasturage, 509 Bees, do they select a borne, before swarming? 10 j -electing b home be- fore swarming, 20, 407; how they extract pollen from flowers, 21 ; cruel laws as t<> destruction of, 33; stealing honey, ib. ; what induced me to keep, 39, 50; old, 41 ; decamp- ing, 55 ; best variety of, 55; Irish and Moorish, 77 ; in peach-house, 81 ; scenting, 94 ; moving, 94j in skepa starring, 95 ; natives of England, 121 ; in roof, 122 ; on the first night of, in spring, 134 ; do they Bleep? 135; dead, 135, 147, 161 ; a nuisance, 147, 338 ; killing each other, 160; confining to the number of frames they cau cover, 163 ; for pleasure and profit, 168 ; proving a nuisance, 171 ; and blast furnaces, 1^4 ; •dying in the midst of stores, 184; fixed iu comb, 219 ; vacating hive, 219, 254 ; are they worth keeping ? 221 ; best for all purposes, 227 ; col- lecting honey, 239, 294; at shows, 241; deserting skep, 243; benefit of, to agriculture and horti- culture, 253, 272 ; carry- ing ont larva?, ib. ; dying, 2 16 . improving race of, 272: damaged in transit, 289, i9S; in skep, driving and transferring, 298 ; deformed, ib. ; celling, 307; refusing a qua n,ib.; arc they a nuisance ? ib, ; immature, thrown out of hive, ft. ; has out, 308,319 ; busy, 317 j in Winona, 323 ; im- paled, 327; one pound of, 327, 572; to cover six frames, 337 ■ -■ ranning, ib. ; management of, ib. ; in a riddle, 335, 348; carrying polli a, 387 : vacating hive, lb.; variety of, fl>. ; beautiful colour- ed, 348; number of, in a hive, 367; and nion;i i ■ h ' . if., ; iu Natal, 369 j g rub from, 370; short of food, 374 ; in roof of hive, '' i who should keep, .178 ; and bee-stings, 384 ; illegal interfering with, 415 ; dislodging, ib. ; travelling, ib. ; nitiou by, 118 ; do they mix honey in the cell- J 422; getting out, of sec- tions, 423 ; some queer things about, ib, ; on the raid, 425; and clover ,432; .•-warming on a qow'g back, 13-5 ; rapidity of, in gathering honey, 411 ; in skep- building com! - parallel to the enl I 442; the battle of, 107 what they will do, 499 ; have they a memory shiny, 472 ; best book on, 492; do they hear? 500; and pigeons, race bi - t ween, 529; time for pur- chasing, 563; their of smell, 562; best age of, to go into winter quarters, 565 ; how they eat honey and pollen, 569 ; hunting, educators, 6u5; u. fruit, til 1 ; defensive works of, 615; as food, €25 Bee-shows. 75 Bee-space in body-box, 38 ; 1 n t .veen rack and frame- , 243 ; in tiering-np l of sections, 323 Bee, stung by a, 361 Bee-stings, what b« o m< of that part left in the flesh ? 426. Set Stings Bee-teachings, 251 lke-ti nt-, 104, 122, 132 Beet sugar, 418 Beginners, early instruc- tion for, 189 Bell-glass, cleaning a, 298 Benton cage, 30 Benton, F., and the Carni- olans, 432, 496, 544, 554, 567 ; his imported queens, 538 ; more about the Car- niolans, &c, 551 Berks B. K. A., its pro- posed journal, 74 Bert rand, M. E., Conduttti an Kucher, 105 Bibliography of bee-kcep- ing, L4 Birds, 85; and fruit-buds, 201, 146 ; and fruit-trees, 227, 277; impaled, 331; and bees, 4 12, 541 Birds perforating flowers, £51 Blackberry honey, 478 Blizzard, 163,187, 22 1, 236, 331 Blomster-faZendsr/or Biav- h,c, 386 Blood, fresh, 140 Blow, T. B., visit to his apiary at Welwyn, 291 ; his visit to Amerie i , 460; with the American bee- keepers, 574, 600,610 Bogenstulper, 376 Bombus lapidarius, 400 Bonner, J., his appreciation of the drone, 226 The Tke-muutvrs1 Co i'ii 'anion » 281, 292, 309 Booh of Noodles, 471 Borgue honey, 498, 547, 570 Bottle and shovel. 138 Box-hive, 147; transferring from, 195, 196 Brace-combs, building, 80 Braula ceeca, 290, (!'2 Breeding, 302; late, 278 Brine for soaking dipping- boards, 206 British and Irish standard frames, 363 British Bee Journal, 488; monthly issue of, 74; its benefit to associations, ib. B.JS.K.A. ami affiliated i " iaiions, 533, 512, 555, 617 ; aud county associations, 580, fDl British made comb-foun- dation, 301, 314, 324, 3oH British Honey Company, 222 Brood, uii-. al. d, 14; cast- ing out, 255 ; cast ont, 308j hatching, 338; ex- posing, ::t^ ; without honey, 120; starved, 176, and reoipe for cur- ing, ib. ; absence of, 491, Brood - chamber, giving i], 259 Br Uesa -warm, 3i9 Brood-nest, 536; extend- in-, 101 Brood-rearing, suppression of, 377 Brown>paper fastening to tin, 195 Brown sugar feeding, 27* Brussels Exhibition, 189, 245, 392, 103, 614 Buckwheat, its value as a honey plant, 325,575 Biihne-Lanban, M. his horizontal honey - ex- tractor, 3s'i Bumping . 327 Buncefield apiary, 376 Burmah, bee-keeping in, 326 Ban-owing bees, 243, 307; po ling turi by, 297 Butcher-bird, 325, 353 Calvert's carbolic soap, 235 Camphor, 41, 496 Canada, bee-hunfing in, 9 Canadian feeder, 417 Canadian Ho\ 105 Candidates, second - class examinations, ■> Candy, 195, 531 ; making of, 57, 94, 109, 400; placing in frames, 109; soit, for spring feeding, 211 ; recipe Eor, 808 Cam iiL-.u , transformed in the stomach of the bee, 311 ; and granulated honey, 595 Capacity of hive, 135 Cape, bee-keeping at the, 436 Carbolic acid solution, 161, 4-17 ; as a bee-quieter, 283 ; and tar a cure for foul brood, 378 Carbolised cloth, 139, 161, 322, :i:y.^ 3*9, 397, 488; recipe for, 171; and fea- ther, 333 Carcenao, M., death of, 449 Caruiola, 293 Carniolan bees, 1£0, 301, 321, 391, 399, 413, 495, 196, 509, 528, 529, 543, 567, 613; drones, 81 ; drowsy, 337; hybrids, 399; v. Li- gurians, 399,456; wanted some one to bear the blame of yellow bands in, 465 ; banded, 530, 531; and other races, 531 ; and their raisers, 555 Carpenter bees and flowers, 507 Carson's black varnish , 495,563 Castor sugar, 109, 147 Cellar and clamp wintering of bees, 174, 561, 565 IV INDEX TO VOLUME XVI. Cell, geometrical construc- tion of, 40 ; structure of, 432 Cells with several eggs in, 289 ; singular deposit in, 548 Centipedes, 231 Central system, the, 78 ; Association, 613 Cera japonica, 68 Certificates, candidates for, 1 Chaff-bos, 58 Chapman honey plant, 148, 488. Sec Echinops, Bee Flora Cheap hive, how to make, 480 Chelifers, 369 Cheshire, F. C, completion of his work on bee-keep- ing, 2 ; on the bacillus alvei, 461 ; errors in his Bees and Beekeeping, 506 Cheshire foundation fixers, 209 Children, thoughts for, about bees, 607 Chilian honey, 38, 609 Chilled brood, 245 Chimney, removing bees from.108,254,277; colony in, 471 Chyle, 5S2 Cleansing flights, 29, 85 Clipping queen's wings, 08, 499 Cloth underneath feeders, 207 Clover honey, 317 Cluster, position of, 195 Coccida-, 370, 595 Colonies, queenless, 113 ; weak, 113, 235; equal- ising, 235; old, 34 1; driv- ing and uniting, 415 ; in- crease of, without di- minishing honey - yield, 547; without providing queens with parent stocks, ib. Colonist, a would-be, 337 Colony, supplying it with a queen or leaving the bees to rear one, 378 Colour for hives, 147 Comb-foundation manufac- ture ou a large scale, 83 Comb-honey, 287, 432 ; ob- taining from a stock that swarms, 95; production of, 106; in sections, 299; three ways of working for, 468; and extracted, 296 Comb in section, 326 ; sus- picious, 298, 327, 337, 374, 482; bulging, 374; build- ing, 415 Combs from foul-broody hives mixed with others, 14; treatment of old, 40; getting, drawn out, 68; old, 108; mouldy, id. ; too wide, 13.} ; irregular, 147 ; cross-built, 231 ; with syrup, 289; fallen down, 337 ; containing brood, extracting from, 387 ; shaving, 429 ; spare, 475, 560; unsealed, 5ti0 Combination hive, 500 ; principle, the, 438, 454 Coming bee, the, 91 Commotion in hive, 386 Compensation on eviction, 265 Condemned bees, 41, 337, 391, 415, 420, 472, 482, 523; feeding, 415 Confectioner's dust sugar, 538, 586 Confections, 51 Consanguinity, 33, 48, 61, 89, 90, 101, 129, 144, 145, 157, 200 Contractingbrood-nest, 312 Convertible makeshift, 111 Cook, Prof. A. J., on the chemical properties of pollen, 212; memoir of, 486 ; on honey-digested nectar, 500 ; his Bee- keepers' Guide, or Manual oj the Apiary, 505; ex- periments in apiculture, 565; on the anatomy of the honey -bee, 588 ; on the legs of the bee, 599 ; his portrait, 600; visit to his apiary, ib. Co-operative festival, a, 137 Co-operators, moi-e about, 146 ; amongst the, 406 Cork-dust, 502 ; float for drinking fountains, 333 Corneil, S., memoir of, 54 Correction, a, 397 Cottage, a voice from the, 75 Cottager champion hive, 34 Cottager, a voice from a, 170; what is a? 178; seribblings from a, 295 Cottagers' monthly bee journal, a, 43, 59, 83, 97, 103, 111, 198 Cottagers' hives, 65 Cotteswold apiary, a small, 169 Couuty Bee-keepers' Asso- ciations, 2, 21, 36, 37, 52, 62, 63, 78,79,88,118,197, 225, 251, 526, 542, 555, 567, 579, 593, 602, 623, 624 County Down bee-garden, 591 Cover, the best in winter and summer, 449 Covering for bees next frame, 337 Covers, 611 Cowan, T. "W., his visit to the bee-keepers of Ame- rica, 2, 18 ; new edition of his Guide-book, 2; his extractor, 108, 389; his Guide-book in Spanish, 385; his method of ex- tracting wax, 495 ; helped by his book, 559 Crate for Lee's sections, 94 Crates, putting on, 316 Crooked combs, 14, 28 Crosfield's sugar, 418 Cross bearings for skeps, 134 Cross between English drono and Camiolan queen, 218 Crowding hives, 245 Crown-boards, 338, 619 Cuban apiary, a, 437 Cumberland, notes froni, 469 Current events, chat on, 395 Current topics, notes on, 333 Cyprians, 254, 41 3 Cyprians and Oarniolani, 190 ; and Syrians v. Li- gurians, 587 Dadaut& Son, 83, 294, 315 Dalmatian bees, 413 Darwin, C.,on the fertility of plants, 564 Dead bees, 183, 254, 374; brood, 251; queen, 307, 308, 362; qneens, 251, 297 Death from a sting of a bee, 471 Death-rate, heavy, 95 Decoy hives, 522 Demerara syrups, 196 ; sugar, 418 Dcunler, M., 151 De quibusdam, 305 Deserting hive, 55 Destroyers, the, destroyed, 336 Dines, Messrs., their new- feeder, 53S Diplomas, 156, 587 ; of the B.B.K.A., 192 Diseased bees, 481 Disinfecting hives and combs, 147 Distance between top frames and bottom of racks, 254 Districts, formation of, 103 District system, the, 78 Dividers, 300 Dividing colony, 148, 367, 415 Division boards, 311, 425, 562 Dobbie, H., his packet of seeds, 109 Doubling, 68, 80, 172, 218, 254, 255 Doubling hive, 266, 308; neglected, 327 Doukoupil, M., 321 Dragon-fly an enemy to bees, 395 Driving bees, 217, 473 ; two skeps, 415 Drone, the, 225 Drone-breeder, 195 Drone-brood, 147,207 ; cast out, 374 Drone-comb, 195 ; produc- tion of, if starters are used, how prevented, 161; proportion of, 337 Drone-eggs, 316 Drones, 92, 169, 231, 327, 374, 401, 471, 485 ; and the fertilisation of qneens, 179 ; and larva? ejecting, 349 ; cast out, 289,362"; flying, 183,482, flying at night time, 250; time when they ought to be flying, 547 ; their re- ception by other colonies than their own, 126 ; trapping, 148 ; turning out, 327, 337 Drought not the only cause of a light honey-crop, 179 Dry-feeders, 497 Dry sugar feeding, 147, 206, 305, 508, 517 Dummies, 297, 545 Duucau pearl sugar, 418, 447 Dwindling, 207 Dysentery, 109, 254, 488, 587, 612, 617, 626 Earthenware barrel, stor- ing honey in, 245 Earth- wax. 68 Earwigs, 429 East Glamorgan, reply to, 456 Eastern races, temper and characteristics of, 413 Echoes, passim Echoes from Wilts, 53 Eden, Mr., on inserting foundation in sections, 5; his foundation fastener, 198 Eggs by post, 140 Ecrgs, several, in one cell, 255, 572 Ekes, 283 Elizabeth, Quccu, her par- tiality for methes'lin, 303 Enamel cloth, 122,110,212, 415, 472,491, 49t, 512 Entrance-slides, 119 Entrances, 94, 2S3, 538, 563, 617; contracting, 591 Equalising, colonics, 471 ; in spring, 311 ; stores, 212 Essex, from Herts to, 417 ; rectory, an, 215 Eucalyptus honey, 398, 415, 450 Europe, weather and crops in, in 1888, 450 Evaporation, 008 Examination of colonies, 139, 161, 494 Excelsior bee-feeder, 71, 498 Excluder, use of, in top of brood-nest, 135 ; is it required? 312 ; using, 407 Excluder, zinc, 41, 68, 171, 183, 243, 254; in body of hive, 583 ; width of holes, 289 Excluders, 235, 255 ■ Experience, 275, 617 Experience, an, 383 ; the value of, 414 Experiences, 412, 618 ; of a young beginner, 491 ; in 1888, 581 Experiment, an, 570 Expert, puzzling the, 448 Experts, 235 ; visits of, 63 ; warned, 391 ; and Asso- ciations, 446 Explanation required, 142 ; wanted, til Extracted honey, 432 ; taken from stored combs, its appearance the second season, 113 ; working for, 135 ; from skep, 255 Extractor, 217; for loose comb, 68 ; best, 184 Extracting, 283, 391, 433; frame for, 243; best time to finish, 360 Fancy comb, production of, 601 Fanning, 266 Fast feeder, 480 Fecundation, 400 Feeder, an amateur's expe- rience with a new, 480 ; fast, 418 ; how to make a fast, 445 Feeders, 44^, 499, 545; rusty, 49 .J Feeding bi es, 122, 125, 163, 169, 187, 210, 338, 3t>5, 386, 400, 443, 472, 475, 478, 481, 492, 502; in January, 31, 41 ; in spring, 57 ; gentle and rapid, 126; swarm, 217, 322 ; on thin syrup, 235 ; slow, 326; rate or, 349; back extracted honey, 397, 410, 422, 469; for the winter, 417, 558, 604 ; with last year's honey, 414 ; rapid, 445, 446 ; in skeps, 48S, 491; in au- tumn, 575 Fertile queen-intiodnction, 181 Fertile worker, 348, 349, 572, 420 Fertility of perforated flowers, 564 Field-mice, 5S3 Fighting, 327 First attempts, 177 First-class certificates, 221 First frame hive, the, 92 Fixing foundation, 193, 217, 231 ; in sections, new method of, 72, 91 Floating apiaries, 106 Floating exhibition, 322 Floor-boards, 80, 147, 444; cleaning, 218 Florida, east coast of, 223 Flour-candy, 195 ; recipe for, 57 Flowers, polliuation and perforation of, 506, 551, 564; to plant in garden, 400 Food, amount of, for win- tering, 560 ; for queen- cages, recipe for, 163 Foreign:— America, 486, 565 ; Aus- tralia, 450, 589; Belgium, 166, 189, 519; Brazil, 5S9; Brussels, 189, 392, 403; California, 495 ; Canada, 18, 106, 312, 392, 437, 449, 519, 614 ; East Africa, 516; France, 18, 106, 419.519; Germauy,529 ; Italy, 106, 166, 529; Minorca, 323 ; New Zealand, 392; Nor- way, 496 ; Ontario, 106 ; Kussia,322,512 ; Queens- land, 248; Switzerland, 496, 519, 590 ; South America, 128; Southern California, 189 ; United States, 16, 31, 142 Foreign bees and their im- portation, 440, 562 Foreign races, 176, 52S, 553 Formic acid, importance of, in honey, 409 Fonl brood, 187, 298, 326, 327, 346, 458, 492 ; cure of, 310 ; cured by keeping bees without food for forty-eight hours, 550; germs of, contained in honey, 377; how it is Spread, 378 ; experiments with, ib, ; theory of the first cause of, 562; con- tagion of, 608 Foul brood solution, 171 Foundation, 400 ; iusertiug in sections, 5 ; v. im- pressed comb, 38; fast- ening, 65 ; brittle, 94, 254, 378 ; for sections and brood-frames, 97 ; fasteners, 108; in frames, 122 ; drawn out in spring, 135 ; natural based, ib. ; fixing, 185 ; makers, 228 ; full sheets of, or starters in sections, 249 ; flat-bot- tomed or natural-based, ib, ; number of super- ficial feet of, to the pound, ib. ; sheets of, 266; fixing full sheets, on sections, to prevent sagging, 284 ; fixing on four sides to prevent popholes, ib. ; old, 289 ; for swarm, 307 ; strength- ening sheets of, 575 Four-way sections, r 02,315 Frame -hives, placing skeps on, 109 Frame lifter, 119 Frame range, 365 Frames, 67, 97 ; the best, 28 ; how to handle, 161 ; a plea for large, 180 ; without shoulders or ends, 252 ; spacing of, 289 ; distance between, 297; adjusting, 338; at right augles or parallel, 421 ; when feediDg num- ber of, 536 ; proper number of, w. ; reduc- ing, ib. ; shallow, 571 position of, 612 French works on bees, 41 Fresh blood, 158 Frog and bees, 334 Fruit-blo=soni honey, ob- taining, 195 Fruit culture and apicul- ture, 36 Full sheets of foundation or starters in brood-nest ? 68 Fumigating, 608 Fumigator, 266 Garden-bee plants, 321 Gardeners as bee-keepers, 193 Gayton hive, 455 Godde, John, 302 Germany and Austria, a review of the literature of, 151 Germany, comb and ex- tracted honey in, 486 Giant glube thistle seed, 528 ; how to grow it, ib. Glamorganshire, bee-keep- ing in, 500 Glasgow Exhibition, Irish honey at, 76 Glass sections, 19S, 216, 316, 490, 525, 533 Glazing sections, 466 Gleauings,310,3r7, 132,550, 562, 575, 600, 613 Good's candy, 538, 5,s6 Government carbolic pow der, 235 Granulated honey, 55, 60, 334, 387 ; is it suitable fur bees :J 132; will bees live ou it? 154, 155 Granulated sections, 160 ; sugar, 458 ; pearl, 447 Gray's feeder, 95 Greeuhalgh, Mr., his expe- rience of wintering I e - in a cellar, 174 Gridley, Mr., his apiary, 574 , Griffin, W. N., his honey dubbin, 365 Griqualaud bees, li'l Grimshaw, R. A. H., his apifuge, 1 ; lecture by, on bee-keeping, 19 ; Ins paper ou * Specialisa- tion,' 41 ; his paper ou ' The Sting and its Poi- son,' 514 Grimsby Naturalists' So ciety, 212 Grooved sections, ^r>l Grubs thrown out, 254 Guia del Agicultor Britan- ico, 385 Guilmeth, M., and euca- lyptus honey, 398 Gwmynydd, 385 Hairworms, 369, 370 Hallamshire law, 181 Hanging frames, new mode of! 81 Heat of hive, 298 Heather, moving bees to, two miles distant, 14 ; growing, 68 Heather lioney, 64, 94, 304, 512 Heddon, Mr., his hive, 32, 121 ; affected with catar- rhal symptoms when handling bees, 117 Hertfordshire, bee-keeping m, 356 Herts, from, to Essex, 447 Hetherington, Captain, his cage for rearing queens, 70 ; his use of Van Deusen foundation, 209 ; his device for preventing foundation sagging, 210 Hibernation, 310 INDEX TO VOLUME XVI. Hilton, G. E., of Fremont, memoir of, 247 j his apiary, ib. Hill's device, 360, 395, 420, 429, 475 Hind legs of bee, 5S8 Hire, and honey shows, 63; to prevent swarming, 81; new, 122; best, 227 ; with twelve frames, 289; proper heat of, 293 ; dying-out, 337 ; size of, 3S3; with foul brood, 415; cleaning, 429; ;i novel, 471 ; average profit of, 492 ; the choice of a, 556 ; blown over, 620 Hive-entrance, 66 Hive-making, 60, 596 Hive sides, keeping packed, 147 Hive situation, 561 Hives, 122 ; murmuring noise in, 14 ; burying during winter, 15 ; and their management for cottagers, 19, 34; removal of, to other locations, 60 ; cleaning and scalding, 97; examination of, 113,161 ; watertight, 119, 620 ; temperature of, 160, 367 ; changing, 163; position of, 195; with top en- trance, 206; establishing a frame, 230; and super cases, 235 ; and surplus chambers, 287; capacity of, 295; on the level, 815; doubled, 3b7 ; possible average of results from, 458; broodless, 487; damp, 494; varnishing, 495; re- moving in winter, 563 ; examination of, in winter, 588 ; in cellars, 60S Hiving- swarms, 147, 217, 254,258,259; driven bees, 415 Hoge, Mr., 94, 128, 233, 440 Holding breath and exemp- tion from stings, 435 Holy Land, 248 Holy Writ, 28, 41 Home market, how to build up, 228 Honey, 215,243,399; market price of, 10; mention of, in the Bible, 20, 21; price Of, 26, 38, 400, 466 ; cost of production of, 31; pro- duction, 38 ; and mella, 40; inuunnished sections, 41; markets for, 52; con- sumers of, 55 ; value of comb and extracted, 55 ; granulated, 55, 60; ob- taining, 109 ; promotion of sale of, 118; neglected, 122 ; adulterated, 129 ; uusealed, 135 ; disposing of, 155 ; nsed as a condi- ment in China, 167; soli- dified, 195; poor quality, 216; analysis of American, 234 ; ten "tons of, 266 ; old combs having, 266 ; medi- cinal properties of, 285 ; feeding with, 326; adul- teration of, 329, 432, 439, 011; its Havour, 374; of last year, 386, 400; can it be obtained from a swarm the same season, 391; surplus, 401; ex- tracted, standard frames or shallow, for, 407 ; of indifferent finality, 429; suggestions tor the use of, 438; in Ireland, 44 fc; old, ib. ; putting up for mar- ket, 466 ; mai ket in the United States, 477 ; sell- ing, 492; not digested nectar, 500 ; and honey- comb, display of, 510 ; why some is not safe as winter food for bee3, 510 ; and wax, imports of, in Belgium, 519; uses of, 553, 571 ; from cucum- bers, 566 ; best for win- tering, 594; purity of, ib.; value of microscopic tests of, 604; statistics of, 609 Honey ant, 215 Honey bee, contribution, to the physiology of, 582, 588, 599 Honey boards, 211, 2:2 1, 235, 271, 278 ; are they neces- sary ? 312 Honey classes at the Co- operative festival, 1, 433 Honey-eomb designs, 171 Honey crop, failure of, 471 in California, 477 Honey district, 308 Honey fairs, 63 Honey flow, 147, 273 ; com- mencement of, 218 Houev, imports of, 1, 19, 74, 143, 190, 237,294,332, 393, 453, 520, 535, 553, 615 ; and exports, 609 Houey leaflet, 28 Honey liquors, 51 Honey plant of Florida, 565 ; a new, 198 Honey pHnts, 207, 583. Set Bee flora Honey producer, the suc- cessful, 217 Honey season, close of, 327 ; a poor, 613 Honey supply, 159 Honey yield,' 218, 314, ;»t ; average, 572 Honeyed food, 169 Honeyless stocks, 390 Hooker, J. M., his t Snide to Successful Bee-keeping, 361, 365; his winter management, 440, 468 ; hive exhibited by him, 540 Horizontal honey extrac- tor, 389 Hornets, 48, 136; how to destroy, 14; in Palestine, 156; in Malta, 456 Horticulture and apicul- ture, 11 Hot or cold system ? 30 Howard, J. H., his sections with grooves all round, 67 ; his section block, 231 ; his section box, 302 ; his foundation fix- ing block, 326 ; his hives at the Nottingham Show, 365; his comb filler, 516 Hruschka, Major von, me- moir of, ;{jl Hull, U.K. A. for, 198 Humble bees, 278; in New Zealand, 302; plants per- forated by, 564 Hundredweight hive, 520 Hunger swarms, 113, 231 Hvbrid, best, 219 Hybrids, 266 Hymenoptera, poison of ,575 Iceing sugar, 568 Ichneumon pupa?, 482 Improvement, a slight, 607 In-and-in breeding, 93, 173, 187, 194, 199, 213, 237 Increase, making, of divi- sion, 296 ; pi-evention of, 40, 68,77,91,332; work- ing for, 432 India, safe arrival of two stocks of Italians in, 39 Information desired, 176 Insects, composition and function of blood in, 575; antenna; of, ib.; sagacity of, 501 Inserting foundation in sections, 120 International American Bee Association, 566 In the dark ages, 585 In the hut, 129, 214, 313, 453,520 Invertedhives,116; frames, 311 ; skeps, 346 ; combs, 482 Ireland, an example from, 108 Irish Association's stand- ard hive, 409 Irish Exhibition in London, 193, 377 Irish honey at the Glasgow Exhibition, 76 Italian bees, 153, 164, 301, 373; and red clover, 507 Italian Exhibition, honey and wax in the, 363 Italian strain, 362 Italian works on bees, 41 James, Rev. C. C, large swarm hived by him, 317 Jenkins, W. H., his rever- sible section crate, 264 Jenyns, Rev. C. F. &., death of, 61 ; memoir of, 71 ; resolution of B.B.K.A.on the loss of, 86 ; remini- scence of, 108 Jews, the, and hom-v, (53, 508, 526 Jones, D. A., his extractor, 495 Jones, H. P., Y&wmynydd, 385 Jottings, 496; by "Wood- leigh, 345,558. Stc Ama- teur Expert Journals, British and Ame- rican, 198 Joyce, W. T., his glass sec- tions, 231 Judging hives, 556; single, 516 Junior bee-keeper, from a, 229; cohiQin, 277 Killarney.a voice from, 469 Klinitz, queen-catcher and cage, 95 Koerbs, H., his new arti- ficial comb, 7, 21, 34, 139, 19S Kohler method, 140 Lancashire, expert of, 337 tanffstroth fund, 253, 269, 299, 311, 319, 874, 549; a boy's observations on, 297 Langstroth, Rev. L. L., 257, 264 ; revision of his work on the Honey-bee, 6 ; sympathy for, 18 ; fund for, uV ; visit from, 303 ; acknowledgment by, of contributions of American lice - keepers, 415; his photograph, 459; memoir of, 577 Langstroth hive, 111, 557 Larva; thrown out, 400 ; food for, how prepared, 532 Law on bees, 522 Lectures on bee-keepinc-, 19, 63, 113, 170, 218, 587, 607 Lee, J., hi:; frames, sections, and crates, 1, 5, 41, 218, 294 ; sectious, glazing, 338 Legs of the beo, 414, 583 Lentil flour, 57 Leriche, M., his work on houey, and its com- pounds, 429 Lessons of 1888, 431 Lewis ami Co., their sec- tion factory, 610 Library of the B.B.K.A., 147 lognrian or Italian bees, Ligurian dead queen, 400 Lincolnshire bee-keepers, 896 Lincolnshire B.K.A., re- formation of, 285, 601 Lincolnshire, a honey- yielding county, 502 Louth, T., his extractor for sections, 263 Lyle's suurar, 418 Makeshift hives, 98, 111 Malagasy honey bee, 131 Malta, bees and bee-keep- ing in, 14, 92, 456; notes from, 178, 20 1 Maltwort for feeding, 147 Manipulation, 29, 139,391; in January, 31 Mantis and wirewornis, 369 Markets for honey, 53 Marketing honey, 431 Marsh, Dr., on the cause of hay-fever, 117 Martins, 420 Mason bees, 307 M'Laiu, Professor, his ex- periments in apiculture, 32 ; his report on starved brood, 390; report of some experiments in api- culture, 460, 476, 484; appointed superinten- dent of the American Bee Department at the Paris Exhibition, 601 McNally, E., his section- holders, 290, 355 Mead or metheglin, old receipts for, 303 Meadows, W., his Notting- ham rapid feeder, 447 ; his extractor, 495 Mella and honey, 40 M' llieraton, 595 Mermis, 370 Metheglin, recipe for, 316 Mice in the apiary, 58, 67 Microscopes, 400 Microscopic tests of honey, Minorcau bee3, 181, 339, 591, 573, 580, 591, 602; barricades, 563, 615, 616 Minorcan queens, .557, 372, 425,481; faihu-e in intro- ducing, 344; success in introducing, 345 Mismanagement, 396 Mites on old combs, 560 Modern Bee-keepingfii with the aid of, 178 Modem Bet Form, extract from, 563 Monthly Journal.SO, 85, 129 Moor honey granulating, *1 Moors, a journey from the, 511 More hopeful, 478 Morell Mackenzie, Dr., on hay fever, 117 Mouidy comb, 122, 195, 4*8 Mouldy combs, 206 : pollen, 308 Moving bees. It, 108, 159, 195, 218, 231, 254, 266, 522 ; into dean hives, 135, 147 ; from England to Scotland, 584 Muller, H., onbeesexl ract- ing pollen from flowers, 21 Muskhara manufacturer, affairs of, 487 Nadiring, 109, 207 Nails, a chat about, 127 Nassonow and Krotkow, Messrs., their floating exhibition, 322 Natal, bee-keeping, 546 ; bees and insects m, 369 ; oocoidsa of, 870, 595 N at ional Co-operative Show at Crystal Palace, 1, 339, 377 Natives i\ foreigner-, 34 i Natural bees-wax not white, 358 Natural swarming, 1*7,235 Nectar, the odour of, 166 Neighbour & Sous, their apiary at Bunecfield, 376 New year's greeting, 4 New artificial comb, 7, 21, 34, 167 New hut, a, 143 New Zealand, bees in, 141, 372, 541 ' Nil desperanduni,' 503 Non-alcoholic drink-, 266. 276 North American Conven- tion of Bee-keepers at Chicago, 16, 31 North Wales, bees in, 204 ' Notes and queries, 440 Notes on bee-hives, 50, 68, , 134, 180, 215, 252, 382, 307, 438, 490, 521, 533, 568, 603, 619, 624 Notesoncurrenttopics,315 j ' Nothing new under the , sun,' 91 Nottingham show, romi- j niscences of, 365 ; bee department at the, 380 Notts honey fair, 6 Novice,blnnders,accidents, cover walls and fence, 195; cultivation of, 218 Pleurisy root, 311 Pollen, 136; masses, 2_' ■ food, 27 ; substitutes for, 57 ; gatheriug, 68, 337, 362; whence derived, 147; in conibs, what should be done with, 150; chemical properties of, 212 ; cells clogged with, 231; and bee bread, 288 ; proportion of, carried, 280; the me- dium of introduction of bacillus alvei into the hive, 461 Pollination of flowers, 50 ;, 564 Pollman, Dr., on the differ- ent races of bees, 121 Porches, 2<>t Porto Rico sugar, 184, US Portraits of bee-keepers, 625 Postal arrangements, 49 Practical work in the api- ary, 57, 60, 97, 111, 125, 137, 161, 185, 209, 245, 258, 269, 299, 319, 351, 375, 473 Practical hints from Brother Jonathan, 149, 162 Preparations, 5, 97 ; for summer, 212; tor winter, 391, 395, 509 Preventing sagging of foundation, 209 Preventing swanniug, 77, 91, 195, 196, 283, 372 Prize-takers, 522 ; engage- ments of, 492 Prizes, proposed subscrip- tiou for, 11 Propolised frames, 147 Provincial Associations, 566 Psych idre, 595 Quarterly conversaziones, 260, 353, 513, 526 Queen, securing in aswarm, 28; getting rid of old, 0* ; ascending to third storey, 80; preserving frozen, 95; should she be retained more than two years ? 127; finding, 146, 401; clipping wings of, 218, 499; nursery, 219; drone VI INDEX TO VOLUME XVI. rearing, 231 ; dead, 255, 289,337,318,400; thrown out, 255,317, 383; giving to parent colony imme- diately ;ifter swarming', 275; keeping laying, 289; half a, better than none, 306 ; presence of, 327, 3+9; laying powers o% 327, 359 ; rearing or pro- viding, 349 j missing", 33?), 374, I01;snpereedrag,386, 401 ; failure in introduc- ing, 409; will removing increase the honey yield ? 4-13 ; how recognised, 419 • doubtful, 458 ; age of, 482 ; barren, ib, ; ferti- lised or not? 502; ferti- lised, 536, 518; bailing, 562 Queens, sending by post, 30; virgin, GO, 61 ; super- seding,^, 273, 346,393, 420; doubtful, 243; re- cords of, 273 ; young, 337 ; laying capacity of good, 358 ; rearing, 415 ; mat- ing, 419 ; balled, 432 ; missing, 458 ; do they lay ' eggs in royal cells ? 509 ; she of, 521, 568; prob- ability of pure fertilisa- tion of, 543; introducing, by scent, 557 ; late, 60j Queen-ant, an old, 471 Queen-bleeding, 30, 48, 93 Queen-cage, 604 Queen-cells, old, 2-35; des- troying1, 290 ; in hive, 307 ; preservation of, 432 Queen-excluder, 94, 122 Queen - excluding honey- boards, 211 Queen - introduction, 113, 194, 260, 334, 384, 400, 120, 432, 138, 447, 456, 481, 523 Queen-nurseries, 219, 250 Queen-piping, 457 Queen-raisers, 496, 529 Q nee n- raising, 69, 93, 95, 104, 159, 163, 177, 218, 289, 317, 374, 3S0, 497, 518, 576 Queenless colonies, 113, 147, 223, 239, 250, 254, 294, 310, 374, 429, 457, 458, 475, 492, 568 Queen-wasps, 235, 295, 305 Queries, 336 Quilts, 40, 58, 494; felt, 547; impervious, 617 Qniuby hives, 557 Races of bees, 476 Railway companies and rates', 122, 133, 158, 191, 192 Rapid feeders, 488, 499, 508, 517 Rapid feeding, 445, 446, 617 Rattlesnakes and honey, 508 Ray nor, Rev. G., visit to his apiary, 320 ltaynor feeder, 238, 446; excluding honey boards, 271 ; pipe-cover queen- cage, 457 Recognition by bees, 418 Red shaw, C . , his slotted dividers, 302 ; his Royal Nottingham hive, 356 Red-backed shrike, 353 Reminiscences, 281 Removing from makeshift. hive, 148; fromboxhive, ib. Replacing old combs, 122 Report, my year's, 488 ; No. 2, 533 Reproduction, control of, 484 Re-queening, 391 ; using queen - cells for, 125S ; after a swarm has issued, 422 Rescuing drowning bee?, 146 Rest-harrow, 429 Retrospect, a, 429 Reversing frames, 333 llcvista Apicnla, 336 Ribeauconrt, M. C. de, houo urs eon f erred on , 310 Ripening honey, 326 Robertson, C, on the ex- traction of pollen from flowers, 23, 25 Robbers, 85, 472 Robbing 63, 211,290, 427, 460, 472, 475, 562, 626 Roofs of hives, 85, 611 Ross, J. C, his feeder, 264 Royal jelly, 582 Royal Nottingham hive, 356 Hunches, 302 Russia, hint from, 460; bee-keeping in, 603 Rust from syrup can, 240 Sa idler, J., his cream candy, 584, 586 Salicylic acid, 296, 444, 496 j added to water, 159 ; in i andy, 109 Sambels, J. P., his paper on ' The Future of Asso- ciations,' 261 Save the mark, 478 Saved ! 240 Sawdust, 502 Schedules, 556, 558 ; sug- j gestion for, 481 ; our, 1 again, 581 Schleswig - Holstein, col- onies of bees in, 575 Schonfeld, Pastor, on Pollen food, 12, 27 Schulz, Otto, one - side comb foundation, 139 Scotch bee-keepers and the British Bee Journal, 568 Scraper, 215, 225 Scripture texts, 10 Seager, Rev. J. L., his paper on ' Comity aud District Associations,' ' 526, 539 Season, the, 2, 346, 383, 427, 470 ; mildness of the, 598 Seasonable hints, 477 Second-class examination, ' 551 Sections, 50, 66, 121, 192. , 252,344,490; groove all j round inside of, 66 ; without separators, 79; large, for extracting, HI ; filled with foundation, 119 ; packing for rail, 171 ; size and width for, 176, 193, 221, 249; on swarms, 195; one size, 218; jottings on, 228; glass, ib. ; grooved, ib. ; working, 243 ; two and four bee-way, 249; plac- ing, 297 ; position of, in hive, 312; when they should be put on, ib. ; removing, 322 ; packing and sending, by rail, 3 >2 j unfinished, completion of, by feeding back ex- tracted honey, 371 ; in one rack, is it preferable, or in three sets of sec- tions, 434; glazing, 466 ; storing, 472 ; storing away drawn-out, 472 ; partially finished, 491 ; with artificial attach- ment cells, 603 Section-cases, 301, 475 Section holders, 301 Section honey, 235 Section-racks, 31, 497 Selected queries, 106, 113, 150, 164, 223, 236, 249, 271, 284, 312, 323, 329, 366, 378, 391, 407, 421, 434 449 Separators, 271,300 Shade-boards for hives, 378 Shading hive, 119, 193, 305 Shale, heap of, utilising", 68 Shallow frames, 211, ^240, 259, 265, 273, 442, 470, 626 Shows and rules, 154 Shows to come, 317, et passim Silke-Corkhill hive, 147 Simmins, S., his Modern tia--fanit, 2; his non- swarming system, 81, 108 ; his large frames, 147; his method of queeu-introd action, 181, 191 Simmins' Bee Company, 70, 549 Skep deserted, 13 ; man- agement of, 41, 76 ; not filled, 219; stock in, 374; clearing, 472 ; excited stocks iu, 207 ; and bar- frames, 296 ; reversed, ::24, 317,360; feeding in, 538, 596 Skermev, suctions his glass Mr. 355 Slacr-heap, utilising, 41 Slotted dividers, 55, 302 Smoke, 274, 283 Smokers, 274; fuel for, ib. Snow, 85, 587 Snowdrops, 400 Solar wax extractors, 83 Solid wood feeder, 196 Solitary wasps and bees, 471 Somerset, experience in, 480 Somersham skep, 171 ; tin, 19,34 South African bees, 348; queen, 595 Space below frames and sections, 160, 312, 491 Spain, 531; bee-keeping in, 305 Sparrows, 85, 211, 414, 420, 442, 5i3 Specialisation, paper on, by R. A. H. Grimshaw, 44 Spreading brood, 68, 150, 265, 491 Spring dwindling, 219, 289, and prevention, 135 ; management in, 137,227, 231, 236, 251 Square frame, advantages of, 282 Stra'ght combs, to get, 135 Stands, 85 ; distance from ground, 583 Standard frame, 4, 66, 136, 441 ; best number for brood-nest, 421 ; a diffi- culty, 3S3 Staples, 231 Starvation in the hive, 205 Starved brood, 390 Stimulating, 184. 374 Stimulative feeding, ear- liest time to begin, 547 Stings, 205 ; remedy for, 302, 617 ; to prevent, 408 Stinging, a di'eam, 442 Stingless bee, 589 Stocks, equalising, 270 ; strong, 362, 334; dwin- dling, 570 Stomach mouth of the bee, 569 Stored combs, 60 Stores, amount of, 536 Storifying v. tiering up, 447 Storing comb honey, 160; appliances away, 405, 535 Strain, improving, 362 Strange stock, will thev fight ? 160 Strengthening stock, 218 Sugar, 417, -443, 447, 457, 458, 472, 492; for syrup- niaking, 135; in honey, 400; cane aud beet, ib. ; for feeding, 415; propor- tion of, in syrup, 492 ; if used, to be fed early, 501; burnt, 522; amount of, required by different bees, 601 Sugar-bags, 512 Sugai'-cuke, 511, 547, 571, 584; giving, 194 Sugar candy, 516 Sugar feeding in Canada, 449 Suggestion, a useful, 118; for feeding starving stocks, 398; only a, 479 Suggestions, 118, 193, 333 ; for schedules, 510 Sulphuric acid a cure for foul brood, 550 Sundries, 365 Sunshade, 333 Sunshine in 1838, 505 Super, 415 ; removing) 338 Super foundation, 315; white, 68 Superiug, 338 ; skep, 254 Supers, 289 ; emptying, 334; removal of, 365; and swarms, 219 Surface mixture, 85 Surplus cases, 283 Surplus honey, taking, 228 Suspected comb, disinfect- ing, 159 Suspicious wax, 317 Sussex, jottings from, 479 Swallows, 426 Swan, John, on bees, 397 Swarm, first, 41 ; feeding, 27S; a fair, 297, 317; adding, to weak stock, 307 ; placing racks on, ib, ; returning, 348 ; po- sition of, at time of swarming, 366 ; dividing, 374j forming, with new queen, 400 ; without qneen, ib, ; stinging a young man to death, 464 Swarm-catching, 269 Swarmed colonies, 391 Swarming, 28,259,266,278, 427; preventing, 219,311; delaying, 254; excessive, 374; bees selecting a home before, 500; out, cause of, 550 Swarms, 326, 343,334; cap- turing, 239 ; treatment of, 283, 317; second, 302; last, ib, ; setting up, 333; number of, 319 ; the wind's influence on the direction of, 362 ; late, 467 ; preserving, 522 Syrians, ^54, 413 Syrup, for stimulating, cor- rect quantity of, 135 ; recipe. for, 163 ; in winter, 195; last year's, 219 ; placing in combs, 311 ; making, 444; boiling, 472; feeding, 497; kept in bottles, 522; H. Alley's mods of making, 601 ; over-salted, 617 Temperature of hives, 367 Thick combs, reducing, 807 Things I have learnt, 220 ; worth knowing, 489 Third -class examinations, 80, 119 ; certificates, 187, 374 Three sceptics, 335 Thymol, 496 Tieriug-up hives, 136, 284, 302 Time not wasted, 471 Time-test, the, 93, 118 Tin divider*, 300 Toad story, a, 321 Toads and bees, 361 Todd, A. G. N., memoir of, 142 Tomtits, 85 Top bar, should it be 15'. ? 66 Transferring, 63, 122, 147, 172, 183, 195, 243, 278, 289, 297, 307, 316, 337, 348, 415, 458 Travelling case, 301 Trumpeter among humble beea, 229 Tuoper, Sirs., death of, 198 Twin-hive, a, 396 Two queens in a hive, 400 Unbleached calico as a covering, 449 Uncapping combs, tool for, 229 ; machine, 3S9 Uncertificated bee-keeper, reminiscences of, 133 Uncle, letter to an, 278 Unfinished sections, how to utilise, 65 Uniting, 28, 103, 219, 266, 337, 493, 502, 522, 589 Unsealed food, 147 Useful hints, 4, et nosst'm, Useful suggestion, a, 93 Van Deusen foundation, 209, 315 Varnishing hives, 495 Various matters, 346 Vegetable wax, 449 Ventilation, 14*. 205, 411, 587,612; upper aud lower, 494 Virgil, 534 Virgin queens, 33, 48, 60, 61 , 129, 157, 538; intro- duction, 219, 606 Vogel, M., one-side cell comb foundation, 139 Vulcanite, 138 Wagnev, M. Peter, bis un- capping machine, 38ft Wasp, killed by a, 47S Wasps, 136, 391, 4S1, 5S3 how to destroy, 64, 92, 324,333,348,464; lecture on, 142 ; larva: of, te- nacity of life in, 481; absence of, 571 ; per- forating flowers, 507 nest, 625 War, pestilence, famine, 2 '. Water, its necessity in the apiary, 85, 94, 183, 187, 290 Waterproofing hives, 538 Watkins, A., his lantern slides, 2 Wax, 362; imports of, 1; easy method of render- ing, 67; cleausing, 298, 362 ; is the secretion vol- untary? 370; extracting, 559 ; use of, iu France, 449; purity of, 596 ; re- fining, 613 ; statistics of, 621 Wax-extractors, 495 Wax-guides, 185 Wax-moth, 14, 55, 150,255, 266, 289, 384; in Pales- tine, 156 Wax-secretions, 277 Weak colonies, 255, 401 Weather, 4, c( pcissiai ; aud swarming, 301 ; in Nor- way, 377 Webster.W. B., his section- block, 231 ; his founda- tion-fastener, 264 ; his Book oj Bee-kccpiwj, 297 ; on tht red-backed shrike or butcher bird, 353; his swarm-catcher, 351 Welsh bees and foul brood, 179 West, a voice from the, 341 Wheat-flour, 57 White, C. N., his coiiilu- natiou-foeder and floor- board, 355; his cottager's hive, 350, 381 White-headed bees, 491 White wax, 325, 358 Wighton, J., on inverted hives, 116 Wiley lie, the, 98, 126, 439 Willesden card, 537, 595 Winter, packing for, 10, 20, 360, 395, 475, 494; after the, 276,288; pas- sages, 395, 429, 469, 17s, 431, 193; stores for, 401, 501, 502, 536; aspect of hives, 475; management, 487 ; quarters, 502 ; pro- tecting bees in, 537 ; sup- plies, 608 Wintering, 227, 415, 491, 545,546,601,605; problem, the, 15 ; in United States 32; successful, 33; out- dour, 59 ; nuclei, 294 ; in Russia, 512; preparing hives for, 521 Wire for cage of extractor, 135 ; for foundation, I&. Wired foundation, 179, 231 Wired frames, 159, 19J, 210, 311 Wirc-embedder, 193 Wiiiug frames, 159, 219 ; devices for, 210 Woiblet spur-embedder,210 Woodbury, Mr., his frame- hive, 211; his imported queens, 538 Woodleigh, niems. by, 20, 466 ; jottings by, 15S, 272 Woodley, Mr., his apiary 511 Woodley and Flood, the-.r Goldman's atomiser and sprinkler, 317 Work for the month, 5, ft passim Worker-bees, 485 Writers, old, 612 Yellow races, 121 Yorkshire, large apiaries in, 68; Association, 102, 556 Zinc over feed-hole, 160 ; and syrup, 195 J" 11PT" the: ~^&Ldtdt rs. Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stranoewayb' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, YV.C. [No. 28!). Vol. XVT.] JANUARY 5, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (fbrtoral, Sottas, #r. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The nest Quarterly Conversazione will be held at 105 Jermyn Street, on Wednesday, 18th inst. Members wishing to introduce subjects for dis- cussion should communicate with the Secretary on an early date. A RETROSPECT. About to commence the labours and duties of another year, it seems desirable to cast a glance at the work performed during that through which we have just passed, to note the experience that has been gained, and to recognise the position bee-keep- ing now occupies. Although the past year can in no wise bo cum pared with that which preceded it, when the magnificent exhibition of honey and bee-appliances was held in South Kensington, and when we had the unique opportunity of practising international courtesies to the delegates from the bee-keepers in Canada, yet the year 1887 has been productive of good and varied work, and considerable progress has been made. Several most important exhibitions of the pro- ducts of, and aids to, bee-keeping have been held during the yi'ar; the principal of which have been held under the auspices of the Royal, and the various Counties Agricultural Shows. The intimate con- in .i hi between Agriculture, Horticulture, and Api- Q' Cure, h;i.s herein been recognised ; and we have e lu-L't1 ■ t farmers and bee-keepers are becoming miolv h< d to each other, and that the production of hone; in the future will not be merely a pleasant pasttpe to the few, but a useful adjunct to the other occupations and industries of the farmer. A noticeable exhibition was held at Bury St. Ed- munds in connexion with the Suffolk Agricultural Society Show, which created much interest in that district. The bee department of the Royal Agri- cultural Show at Newcastle fully maintained the prestige which bee-keeping had gained at previous exhibitions of the Royal. The entries were more numerous than on any previous occasion. A series of lectures were also given in that district, which, together with the exhibition, has given birth to an Association in Northumberland. The example thus shown by the Royal has been followed by the Lincolnshire, Hampshire, Norfolk, Glamorganshire, and others. Bee-keeping has also, by the action of the Association, found a place amongst the Co-operative body. The small exhibition of honey held in con- nexion with the National Co-operative Show at South Kensington has resulted in a comprehensive prize-list for honey and appliances being prepared for their next annual show, which it is proposed to hold at the Crystal Palace in the month of August. The increased interest taken by bee-keepers in obtaining certificates fur ability in the manipulation of bees is a hopeful sign, and has been a marked feature during the past year. The number of examinations throughout the country is steadily increasing. Nearly fifty candidates have presented themselves as anxious to obtain honours in the profession. Nearly thirty third-class certificates have been gained by successful competitors, — one of these, we have much pleasure in mentioning, being a lady. A number of first and second-class certificates has also been awarded. Considerable advance has been made in the per- fection of bee-appliances ; and although many of the improvements may be very minute the tendency of them is to make bee-keeping a more pleasing occupation, and, when connected with a knowledge of the management of the honey-bee, to render it more certain of success. We may also mention the greater attention which has been bestowed on the more gentle and humane mode of handling bees. During the year there has been a considerable de- mand for the Apifuge, a knowledge of the virtues of which is due to Mr. R. A. H. Grimshaw. This has been in a majority of instances a great success, and has proved of service in giving confidence to young beginners and to lady-bee-keepers. We have also heard much of, and can testify to, the value of the frames, sections, and crates invented by Mr. James Lee ; but as these are scarcely yet launched on the public market it would be premature at present to do aught but mention them as inventions of the year 1887. During the past year we have arrived at a more definite knowledge of the quantities and values of the honey and wax imported into the United Kingdom. This, when conjoined with the amounts re-exported to other countries, gives as the result that 1755 cwts. of foreign honey have been re- quired to supplement the deficiency of production THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 5, 1888. to satisfy the wants of the British population ; while in wax 20,108 cwts. have been required for the various industries in which it forms a part. To what degree these importations of honey and wax may be reduced depends on the energy and enterprise of the British bee-keeper. We regret in this retrospect to have to notice that the year has not passed away without the loss of some who have in their time done the cause of bee-keeping good service. Amongst these we may mention Mr. Duncan Stewart, one of the most assiduous and energetic members of the Directors of the B. B. K. A. ; and Mr. C. Fox Kenworthy, once Secretary of the B.B.K.A., and at the time of his death Secretary of the Middlesex B. K. A., a young man of great ability, and of singularly amiable and modest demeanour, who did much during the short time he was in office to revive the position of Middlesex amongst County Associations. Amongst the features of the past year it becomes us to mention the visit of Mr. Cowan to the bee- keepers of Canada and the United States. This visit, we rejoice to say, has much gratified our Trans- atlantic brethren, and has cemented bee-keepers in both countries in a closer bond of interest. The literature of the honey-bee has not been neglected during the past year. Mr. Simmins's Modern Bee Farm has been well received ; Mr. Cheshire's work is now completed ; a new edition of Mr. Cowan's Guide-hook has been called for ; and Modern Bee-keeping still maintains the high position * it has always held in the estimation of bee-keepers. The position of the County Associations, being a matter of the greatest moment to bee-keepers, has been dealt with in a separate comment. The season of the past year has been peculiar ; for some time the honey-flow was most plentiful, but it was brought to a stand-still by a long and continuous drought. This had a serious effect on the honey prospects of the southern portion of the kingdom, while in the northern parts of England and in Scotland the harvest was most propitious, and in many instances wonderful results were obtained. In drawing these remarks to a close, we again desire to recognise the assistance we have derived from our numerous friends, — assistance which we trust may be continued towards us during the year on which we are entering, and we hope that the year 1888 may be one marked by prosperity and blessing to all bee-keepers. COUNTY BEE-KEEPING ASSOCIATIONS. Now that the organization of the British Bee- keepers' Association may be regarded as complete, and the County Associations fulfilling in a more or less active manner the functions assigned to them, the internal ivorking of the latter and their indi- vidual condition may be a useful and timely inquiry. The thought is now and then expressed that ' the work for which they were formed has in a great degree been accomplished.' Meetings have been held generally all over the county, the expert has been hjs rounds year by year, shows have beer) held annually, and knowledge on the science of bee-keeping has been widely spread ; the straw skep has been superseded, and the fact driven home that the old-fashioned bee-keeper has been left far behind. The question may now,. therefore, not be out of season, and the consideration of it may throw light upon the more particular aims which the managers of County Associations should set before them. That the spirit in the management of County Associations is on the decline there is evidence, and, had we the facts on which to speak more fully, we fear that the one instance on which we can speak with knowledge would not be an isolated one. In an important county, and with a list of sub- scribers approximating to 300, we learn that, though its committee contains fifteen members, the business of the Association has been carried on by four only, two of whom have attended all the meetings sum- moned, and the other two have each attended once. This, after duo allowance made for inability to attend on the particular days fixed, and the diffi- culty of getting to the places appointed, cannot but be considered as unsatisfactory. In some other counties the circumstances, although differing, are not satisfactory. In one in the south of England all movement appears to have died out, while in another, more northward, the whole management seems to have fallen into the hands of the honorary secretary. That these are alarming symptoms of decline only very sanguine people can doubt, and to arouse attention to the malady and to seek to remedy it should, we think, be the immediate work of the Central Association. The present period of the year is well suited for the purpose of instituting a general inquiry into the working of the various Associations, and for the consideration of sugges- tions which might be applied during the ensuing season. LANTERN-SLIDES. We are pleased to find that Mr. Watkins, the Hon. Secretary of the Hereford Association, has devoted so much time and trouble in preparing such a selection of lantern -slides illustrating bee- keeping. Mr. Watkins has not only illustrated the natural history of the honey-bee, but has gone thoroughly into the processes and manipulating |f the science in general. We notice i.H'n wrv i, teresting subjects, showing the varic - ^ag< bee-keeping, describing the modes . ," nig,' supering, extracting, &c, also a slide of a ^viss apiary, giving us an idea of our Continental friesjlds' bee-hives. The preparation of the slides is not quite satis- factory, some being rather out of focus, thus losing the crisp sharpness which is very essential for lantern work. The slides are generally too intense from over-development, consequently will not show a sufficiently bright transparent image on the screen. Had Mr. Watkins taken more care on these points, we could have pronounced them as a splendid col- lection. We should certainly recommend him to make another selection of transparencies to obtain a more perfect result, or January 5, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. AMATEUR EXPERT 'AT HOME.' Readers of the B. Bee Journal will quite understand my feeling considerable curiosity about and a con- sequent desire to unearth (or smoke out) our genial correspondent, whom I had already met at our Con- versazione. I therefore consulted ' the Sage,' whose kind offices as cicerone I was desirous of obtaining, for I hoped he would prove a ' jolly old buffer ' (if he will pardon the expression) between 'A. E.' and myself, softening the impact and reducing the results of a col- lision to a minimum. My scheme, growing by contempla- tion, was advanced by the despatch of a tentative P. C. (post-card, not pouce-constable) on scout-work to ascertain if our friend would be at home. The defen- sive nature of the reply — just the monosyllabic 'Come' times, when unusually facetious, taunts us Saxons with being ' land robbers.' After serving a youthful appren- ticeship in the cleanest and prettiest town of ' West Barbary ' he has to choose his future path, and hesitates between London and Canada, for several of his school- mates had emigrated and were sending home good reports from that colony. He, however, selects London, and (having started bee-keeping when six years old) it were perhaps as well he did so, or where might he not have been by this in the ranks of Canadian bee-keepers P Eight years' toiling hard at the bench, all his leisure filled in with mission and Sunday-school work, are cut short by an accident which necessitates two long spells and an operation in hospital. These tell on a constitu- — was characteristic, we 1 bought; it might mean any- thing, ' Come and welcome,' or ' Have at you.' Express train from a London terminus took us to within four miles of where ' A. E.' had fixed his ' hive,' and upon that gentleman meeting us we were welcomed as bee-keepers know hoiv to welcome their brethren. The quen , ' Is it to spy out the nakedness of the land ye are comi . ' being met by a reply that X-Traction was the mci ■' •; we were at home. Of course when we enterei' e house we ' uncapped,' but there was no ' slingi done, and the Formic-Aphideau process com- l. I question much if the umpire himself would not decide that it was impossible to determine which was Napoleon and which the Alps — which the ant and which the aphis — at the conclusion of the extracting. I leave you to judge, though, if I did not do well to glean what follows. ' A. E.' not forty, fa v, and fairly fat, is — speaking as a poultry fancier — a ' 1 lymouth rock ; '* a Cornish man, with a Cornish name, and a tread-on-your-Cornish nature if you attack him. I can assure you he is able to ' hold his end up ' in a dispute. Being a Celt he some- * I don't infer he keeps this breed, but was born at Plymouth, where they are said to be favoured with thirteen months annually of rainy weather, tion none too robust, and drive our friend into fresh fields of enterprise — his present business, which he boasts is three miles from ' Civilisation,' i.e., from butcher, baker, chapel, and post. He has been a life abstainer from alcohol, tobacco (Ah!), and the razor. (Some may understand me when I say there has been either a land-slip or a hard frost in the polar regions.) The Band of Hope and the Mutual Improvement Society in the neighbouring town give ' A. E.' scope for his superabundant energy, and he affirms that his happiest hours are spent amongst children. Children, alas! when I looked round for the bairns he told me with a husky voice, ' Our five are where pain and sorrow cannot come.' 'A. E.' lives by activity, and ' jots ' for pure pastime, as a safety-valve for the escape of exuberant fun. I spoke of poultry, and he informed me the secret of poultry-keeping lies in a few words : Avoid fancy breeds; never keep a cockerel two years in succession, but introduce fresh blood annually in the form of a stray young bird; do not keep laying hens more than two seasons, nor allow pullets to sit; for this purpose he reserves three-year-old hens. His hen-house is a pic- turesque affair, having a straw thatch ; the warmth this affords and his general treatment provides him with large eggs and early spring chickens. "When I say I extracted from him that he can forge iron, turn wood, THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 5, 1888. iron and stone, carve and paint, gild and paperhang, do moulding and bricklaying, and even work in wool — specimens of all these I saw — you will admit that he is not only a ' jack-of-all-trades,' but I can testify he masters them too. His literary work gives you a fair sample. Roses and fruit trees, hives and hennery, winter packing (mattresses of bed-ticking, rammed, just too hard I thought, with cork-dust, sewn and wadded down), quilts edged with scarlet binding to prevent fraying, hives painted different colours, roofs covered with canvas and well painted — neatness, neatness everywhere. A ' grand promenade ' for bees, under and in front of hives, is made by battering down into a hard, flat surface what are known as ' breezes,' i.e., the small cinders from a forge. This forms a sacrarium and reservation, absorbing and retaining solar heat, thus providing the bees with a warm, dry alighting ground. The central bee-house, containing six hives, is flanked by two straw- hackled skeps, reminding us that a hackle, like charity, covereth a multitude of sins. Outside these are two 18-frame Abbott's Combination hives, beyond which are six 10-framed, double-walled, home-made hives. The house is surrounded by a six-acre meadow in which hives were formerly kept, but in summer time the cows objected, and Our friend takes great interest in his County Association, and has been county repre- sentative and local adviser for some years, lecturing at frequent intervals to both adults and children on our hobby. He was made 'A. E.' by the late Rev. H. R. Peel, who often met him on long trips with the bee-tent when certified experts were unknown, yet expert work In' never took unless as a stop-gap, when professionals could not be obtained. Fruit gardens on all sides, amidst clover and bean- fields, give the bees ample pasturage for the early harvest, and amongst the surrounding woodlands trees — sycamores, limes, and oaks — -will yield their quota of honey in their season. A stroll in the adjacent park showed us wild thyme still in bloom on the bosses of verdure provided by old tree-stumps. This adds its strong pervading scent to the larger bulk of honey gathered from other flowers, and often, as is the case with labiates, presents us with a puzzle-blend which defies us to brand the honey with its origin. The lanes at every junction open out into large stretches of close green turf, highly suggestive of village-greens, and the hedges areso thickly covered with bramble-berries that we recognise another feeding ground. The bees have been here, and the blackberries show it; the oaks show it, too, for they are laden with acorns, a proof of mature age and insect (not wind) cross-fertilisation. At almost every step immense bushes are literally covered with crimson-scarlet fruit, and these, the seed-pods of the single rose, surely indicate insect visitation. The dazzling-shining hips vie with the autumn tints of the bramble-leaves, which run in a perfect gradation of colour, from bluish-purple through crimson, scarlet, orange, primrose, ami lemon-green, into the pale-green and deeper shades of the still growing foliage. Here, too, are sloes and wild plums in fruit, whilst the masses of haws on the thorns testify that some one has had a good share of hawthorn honey, and that we must ejtpecl a winter of snow-covered ground. Thus does Nature anticipate the requirements of the fruit and seed-eating birds, and prevent their extermination. So, reader, you Irani the tone and subject of our talk as we stroll about, regretful at. the close of another season, yet cheer- fully hopeful in the future. Witt something like a sigh we leave the park, the tine ancestral elms and oaks, the bee-gardens amidst rustic homes, decked with the graceful festoons of the virginian creeper, whose leaves gleam with all the intermediate tints, from deep bronze to a weird living scarlet, as though 'the early frosts of winter' had pierced Auctumnus to the heart, her life-blood dropping from her breast upon the wreaths 'midst which she hid herself. Long may 'Amateur Expert' and his good lady be spared to enjoy the grand gifts with which Dame Nature has surrounded their home ! Long may his ' jottings ' enliven the pages of the B. B.J. ! — Ex-Tractor. USEFUL HINTS. New Year's Greeting. — With the advent of another year we offer a New Year's greeting to all our friends and readers. May it prove a happy and success- ful year to the great fraternity of bee-keepers whereso- ever scattered over the surface of this terrestrial globe. In these days of steam and electricity the term ' isola-' tion ' has become obsolete, and the interest in our anti- podean brethren is as great almost as in our neighbours. Would that, we could exchange a. portion of our fog and cloud for a little of their superabundant sunshine ! Progress. — Great strides indeed is the art of bee- keeping making in our day, and still must ' progress ' ever be our watchword in every department of the science. Apiculturajtoreat amongst all ' nations, kindred, peoples, and tongues,' is the one wish of all our hearts whilst we earnestly strive to hold our own in the great world of apiculture. Great as the advance has already been, visions of future progress appear to us to loom in the future distance, as we read of English bee-farms with increased produce arising from the more perfect fertilisation by our bees, of the fruit grain and fodder crops of our at present sadly depressed agricultural interest. We must sow and water in hope, never for- getting that there is One, and One only, who can give the increase. Weather — that universal theme of the Englishman — has, as we are told on all sides, become ' seasonable,' which at this time, we believe, implies severe frost and heavy snowstorms. The latter, we are truly thankful to say, have not visited us, although we hear from neigh- bouring localities reports of the action of steam-snow ploughs, clearing of roads, &c. Fifteen degrees of frost, kept up nightly for a few weeks, may be of great service to the land and to farming operations, and may also gratify the youthful yearning for skating pastime, and so we who would fain be spared such an ordeal must 'grin and bear it' in the hope that it may result in good to all, our bees not excepted. The Standard Frame, established by the B.B.K. Association in 1882, as was to be expected, has met witli unfavourable criticism at various times, but is now very generally adopted by all British bee-keepers. The point to which most objections have been raised is the length of the top bar, viz., 17 in. A short account of the establishment of the 'Standard' may, perhaps, interest our readers, reference being repeatedly made to it in the columns of the Journal. At the Animal General Meeting of the B.B.K. A., held at 10o .leni i treet on February 15th, 1882, a resolution was prupos and car- ried unanimously, 'That it is desirable that tii . '' \. do set forth a Standard frame, stamped by its t. in and authority, with the view of bringing such frauie into general use ; its size and form to be determined by a Com- mittee appointed for that purpose.' At the same meeting we read that, 'The following gentlemen — Messrs. C. N. Abbott, T. W. Cowan, F. Cheshire, J. G. Desborough, J. M. Hooker, Rev. G. Ray nor, A. Neighbour, and Rev. F. T. Scott, were appointed the Committee to carry out the foregoing resolution.' On the 10th of March follow- ing this Committee held its first meeting at the Langham Hotel, when it was unanimously resolved: 'That tin- outside dimensions of the Standard frame be 14 in. long by 8i in. deep, the top bar g in. thick, the bottom bar i in. thick, and the side bars 7} in. thick. These dimen- sions not to refer to anything outside the rectangle.' At a final meeting of the above Committee, held at South January 5, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. Kensington on August 4th following, it was resolved, ' That the entire length of the top bar be 17 in., allowing li in. projection beyond the rectangle at each end of the frame.' This resolution was also carried unanimously. Also, on the same day, and at the same place, a General Meeting of the B.B.K.A. was held, at whicli it was reported by the Standard Frame Committee, ' That two meetings had been held, and it had been decided that the dimensions of the Standard frame should be in accord- ance with the resolutions,' as quoted above. This report. with its decisions, was accepted unanimously by the General Meeting, and a resolution was carried : ' That the work of the special Committee on a Standard frame be considered terminated.' Thus was completed, perhaps, the most important step of any taken by the Association for the advancement of bee-culture in this kingdom. Pattern Standard frames, duly stamped and labelled with dimensions, were issued by the Association at Is. each, and were freely circulated through the country. It will be noticed from the above account, that no width of the four frame-bars was sanctioned, or even proposed, by the Frame Committee. Upon what authority, therefore, is the width stated to he J in. whenever the dimensions of the Standard frame are given ? In Mr. Cowan's Book, p. 30, we are told ' the width of all the bars is g in.' And Mr. Cheshire in Bees and Bee-keeping (vol. 11., p. 53) says: ' The width on all sides being g in.' In Modern Bee-keeping the widtli of the bars is omitted. It is true that the ' pattern frames' were issued with bars jy in. wide, but there was no authority for this width. Would it not be well that this point, of width, and the length of the top bar, should be reconsidered by the general Committee ? Our own feeling is that the outer dimensions of the rectangle, having been once established, and most extensively used, should remain unchanged, after ' the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not ;' but that the length of the top bars — or, rather, of the lugs, or ears — and the width of the four bars, should not be defined. As the matter at present stands, there is an uncertainty, which, we think, might be removed without reopening the question of the size of the rectangle. As regards the question of standard one and two-pound sections, we are strongly of opinion that the imposition of such standards would be decidedly detri- mental to the advance of apiculture. Inserting Foundation in Sections. — There is a complaint in the American Bee Journal of the 14th ult., by Mr. E. S. Eden — after reviewing the different methods employed to fasten foundation into section- boxes — ' that no one has invented a machine to do the work satisfactorily.' He goes on to say ' that, of the many machines invented, not one has given general satis- faction— that if foundation is fastened by dipping it into a melted mixture, or by pouring wax along each side, to attach it to the section, it will be found that the guide, or the wall to the top row of cells, will be de- stroyed, iMd lie bees will refuse to draw them out un- less thejy 'iv short of room, leaving a very imperfectly- tilled & nil. But if the foundation is fastened neatly they will draw the top row out equally with the rest, leaving the section tilled in a superior manner. The plan of. fixing foundation by pressure has also its draw- backs, as it is almost impossible to make the foundation adhere firmly, especially if the section is smooth and full sheets are used. Some have adopted the plan of heating the section and pressing the foundation upon the heated surface, but this plan has generally failed from the non- adherence of the wax. It is doubtful whether the plan of fastening foundation by pressure will ever be de- veloped sufficiently to give general satisfaction. There are so many conditions that are absolutely necessary to procure the best results, such as temperature of the room, pliability of the foundation, warmth of the section, &c, before the work can be performed successfully. It is to be hoped that some one of the many thousand bee- keepers will discover a plan that will give general satis- faction. Such a person would receive the thanks of every bee-keeper in the country.' Let Mr. Eden rest assured that the plan has already been discovered', and patented, in the old country. Mr. James Lee's sections avoid every evil mentioned above ; take full sheets of foundation, which are inserted while putting the section together in less time than any other section without heating, or smearing with melted wax without any machine at all ; and from the foundation being stretched and tightly held in position, and the use of four-way section-boxes with slotted-dividers, the sections are worked and finished in the most perfect manner of any of which we have knowledge, after an experience of all kinds of section-boxes from the time of their introduction. We are informed that Mr. Lee has taken, or is about to take, out a patent for his invention in America as well as in England. Let our American and Canadian brethren take a note of this. Mr. Lee has also patented a brood-frame on the same principle as his sections, which, we feel well assured, will be the frame of the future, when it once becomes known. With one season's experience of these frames and section-boxes, we have not the slightest hesitation in pronouncing them faciles principes of any which have yet appeared to our knowledge. Work for the Month. — Still we cry aloud, and say, ' Leave the bees severely alone during the present low temperature.' If necessity demands, supply candy, or Good's food, under the quiit, in mild weather, and in case of moisture flowing from the entrances a change of quilts — from damp to dry — is admissible, and, perhaps, a change of floor-boards, but all must be done as quietly and quickly as possible without jarring or disturbance of any kind. After this long confinement to their hives the least excitement will cause untold injury to the bees. If there be any suspicion of internal dampness it may be advantageous to raise the hive and floor-hoard an inch at the back and to wedge up the hive from the floor- board in bant, sufficiently to allow the moisture to escape. We are supposing the hives to be on the ' right- angled system,' in giving these directions. Breeding. — In strong colonies the queens will now begin to breed, and tiie consumption of stores will increase daily. We are well over the shortest day, and in well-conducted aDiaries the busy hum of the work- shop, as well as of the hive will soon be heard in pre- paration for the impending campaign. Preparations. — Hives, sections, crates, foundations, frames, &c, should be procured, and prepared for use whenever leisure affords an opportunity. As the spring months advance, the hives, with their colonies, will require all our attention in feeding, examining, uniting, and in other ways ; hence, January and February afford more leisure, perhaps, to most, than any period of the year for preparing for the honey season. With milder weather bees, after their long confinement, will be eager for sanitary flights, which should be encouraged as much as possible, and on such occasions, let all be on their guard against the tits, ever anxious for an insect meal after their long deprivation. ASSOCIATIONS.. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. List of successful Candidates at the Second Class Examination. 1887, in order of merit: — T. Badcock and J. Palmer equal, W. Coxon, J. J. Shipman, T. Austin, P. Woodward, J. White, F. Wilshaw. A. J. Brown, Mary E. Eyton, and B. S. Rawson. HUNTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual distribution of the prizes gained at the recent show in connexion with the Hunts Bee-keepers 6 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 5, 1888. Association took place at the Fountain Hotel, Huntingdon, on Saturday, the 24th December. Col. A. W. Marshall, treasurer of the Society, occupied the chair, and pre- sented the successful exhibitors with their awards. There were also present Mr. G. N. White (secretary), the Kev. II. S. Budge, Messrs. J. Linton, J. Howard, J. Howard, jun., Allen, Bull, Allpress, Hobbs, &c. The Chairman said that on the notice paper convening the meeting it was stated that Mr. White would find it incumbent upon him to resign the secretaryship of the Association at the end of the year. They would be all very sorry to hear that. He believed, however, that it would be informal to settle the matter at that meeting, because resignations coidd only be accepted at the annual meeting. The consideration of Mr. White's resignation, and the appointment of a fresh secretary, if they could not prevail upon him to alter his determina- tion, would therefore be discussed then. Mr. White's object in putting the matter on the paper was to give due notice of his intention, so that his resignation should not be suddenly sprung upon the Association at the annual meeting. The resignation would cause a uni- versal feeling of regret, and they could only hope that Mr. White's decision was not irrevocable. The distribution of prizes, a list of which we give below, was then proceeded with. At the conclusion of the distribution, Mr. White said that perhaps it would be as well for him to state the reasons which induced him to give notice of his resigna- tion. He felt utterly unable to continue the secretary- ship of the Association. He sincerely regretted this, but he really could not continue to bear the expenditure of time and money to which he had been subjected since the formation of the Society some five years ago. If all the members knew upon whose efforts the carrying on of the Association's work had depended, they would sympathise with him in his present action. It would have been utterly impossible to have carried on the Association so far had it not been for the assistance of the chairman of their meeting that afternoon. lie really could not continue to hold office under this state of things any longer. Then there was another reason which had induced him to resign his office. The Association was originally intended for the benefit /ind careful direction ? He lives in a world of his Own. He needs no other intoxicant to complete his happiness. Horticulture is one of the fine arts ; it requires the skill of a master. It is just as im- possible f^r the thoughtless, brainless clod-hopper to reach the highest round in the ladder in propagating fruit, as it is for him to appreciate it after it is grown. But after all man's skill in planting, after ransacking the earth for improved varieties, after propagating, grafting and hybridizing, he must rely mainly upon Nature's methods of fructification. The favouring winds and industrious bees are needed to fertilise the bloom to insure a harvest of fruit. As a means of accomplishing this end, thei'e is no question but that the bee is of great service to the grower of fruits ; no other insect is multiplied in such vast numbers so early in the spring when their agency is so much needed to fertilise the orchards and smali fruits. If the winds were the only means of carrying the pollen from flower to flower, how often would perfect fertilisation fail from too much or too little wind during the brief opportunity when the bursting buds are sighing for the life-giving dust from the neighbouring flowers. Not only is honey provided in the delicate chalices to entice them, but the pollen so essential to the plant (and just as essential to the bee in furnishing the proper food for its young), is placed in close proximity to the nectar, so that in getting either, the bee is unwittingly carrying the dust from flower to flower, or working out the wise plans of Providence as relates to plants, and catering to man's pleasurable tastes at the same time. The drop of honey is placed then in the flower not because it is needed to perfect the flower or fruit, but to tempt the bee to brush its hairy legs against anthers, and distribute the golden dust. So the bee introduces itself at once to the horticulturist as his friend. The latter ought to meet it half way and acknowledge its two-fold service. It does him a service while on its daily rounds in search of food for itself and young, and again by storing up for his benefit the liquid sweets which it does not need itself, and which ungathered vanish like the morning dew, like the manna which the Israelites ate of — the unfathered portions melted ' when the sun waxed hot.' What, then, is there to hinder these two vocations from going hand in hand, since each is helpful to the other ? They ought at least to be on friendly terms. Each furnishes inducements for the other to exist. But, aside from these considerations of the healthful diversions and pleasing variety of mind, and returning again to the utilitarian side of the question, the horti- culturist will find it profitable to pursue the study and practice of this delightful branch of entomology. The habits and instincts of this ' pattern of industry ' are ever interesting, and the business quite as remunerative as raising tender fruits in an 'iron-clad climate.' This pursuit, once entered upon, possesses charms of its own. No other stimulus is needed to follow it than the fascina- tion of its own creations. A great deal has been said about bees injuring fruit — some fruit-growers having charged that they puncture the ripe grapes, suck the juice, and destroy the crop. But from the physical structure of the bee this is said to be impossible by scientific entomologists. It has no jaws like the hornet; it is made to suck, not to bite; and on close observation, and after repeated experiments, it has been found that where bees are discovered helping themselves to ripe fruit, that the skins had been ruptured by the weather or from over-ripeness, or that hornets or wasps or birds had first been the depredators. After the skin has been broken from any cause, if there is a scarcity of honey, the bees, always anxious to be doing something, will endeavour to get a share of the plunder. Therefore, as to bees injuring fruit, I, as their attorney, shall claim to the jury that the charge is not proven. In dismissing this subject, which to the lover of fruits, flowers, and bees is always a source of infinite delight, I cannot refrain from quoting a few lines from ' The Planting of the Apple Tree,' by that venerable sylvan poet, our own Bryant, who saw so much of future hope and promise as he sifted the soft mould about its tiny rootlets : — ' What plant we in this apple tree ? Sweets for a hundred flowery springs To load the May-winds' restless wings ; When from the orchard row he pours Its fragrance at our open doors A world of blossom for the bee. ' — Eugene Secor, Forest City, Iowa (extracted from the Address of the President of Michigan Bee-heepers' Convention). — American Bee Journrl. PRIZES. [1415.] I have been thinking that if some substantial prizes were offered at our shows jt would give a fresh 12 THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 5, 1888. and increasing impulse to bee-keeping. For instance, think of the thousands of people who keep dogs, fowls, pigeons, canaries, &c, mainly for competition and to win prizes at shows in different parts of England. Men com- pete for prizes at athletic sports who would not take any interest in them if it were not for the competition they caused. I believe we as bee-keepers would all be benefited if something were done in this direction. In this town (Ipswich) we are going to have next year the Agricultural Show, when thousands of people will visit it from all parts of the country, and if a good number of bee-keepers exhibited their honey they would have an excellent opportunity of selling a large quantity, increasing the demand for English honey, improving bee-keeping in our rural districts, and taking prizes worth having which would well repay their trouble. We are living in an age of keen competition, and if we wish to succeed we must keep up with the times, and not leave a stone unturned to make bee-keeping a paying industrial enterprise. In conclusion, I propose that a subscription be started for obtaining money for the prizes, and I am willing to give a donation and join the subscription list if started. Hoping this may meet with my fellow-bee-keepers' approval. — J. Chtjbchyabd, 33 Chevalier Street, Ipswich, WHAT DO BEES USE IN WINTER WHEN THE POLLEN COLLECTED BY THEM HAS BECOME EXHAUSTED ? By Pastoh. Schonfeld op Tentsphel. Any apiarist, with however slight a knowledge of bees, is aware that they require a certain quantity of nitro- genous food, not only for the purpose of supporting life, but also for the maintenance of the brood. The natural food of bees, of course, is honey and pollen. If, there- fore, for some reason or other, there is an absence of pollen in the hive in winter, which unfortunately is tut too often the case in districts without bee-pasture late' in the summer, when there has been a continuance of breed- ing till late in the autumn which has exhausted all the pollen collected by the bees, or when unfavourable weather during the last few weeks in autumn rendered the storage of it impossible, the bees have entirely to content themselves with honey as food for themselves and their brood during the succeeding winter. But according to the valuable investigations of Erlenmeyer and Dr. von Planta (Nordlhujer Bieixmzeituny , 1879 p. !>), the average total quantity of nitrogen in ten different samples of honey was only 0T702 parts in 100 parts of dried honey. It is quite clear that so exceed- ingly small a percentage of nitrogen is altogether in- sufficient to maintain a colony in a normally healthy state during the winter, and still more so to enable healthy brood to be reared from the middle of January till the month of April, during which time breeding no't infrequently takes place. As although, old bees during the first three months of the winter when their vital energy is considerably reduced, are able to dispense with pollen, and from instinct, perhaps intentionally, discon- tinue its use even if present in large quantity, in order to make it possible to lower the vital process, so absolutely necessary in our climate, yet as soon as the impulse for breeding is aroused and the preparation of chyle demands the full use of their vital power, pollen becomes indis- pensable to them and the brood. This is proved by the eagerness and hurry of bees in search of pollen, as soon as their first excursions to cleanse themselves have taken place in spring, by the enormous consumption of pollen while breeding is on the increase, by the diminution or complete cessation of breeding if pollen-gathering is im- peded by continuously unfavourable weather, by the remarkably favourable results obtained by Heath bee- keepers, who feed their colonies stimulatively on honey preserved in casks into which it is pressed, together with the combs, which honey, on account of its high percentage of pollen and nitrogen, ought not, as is usual, to be classed as a stimulant, but as nourishing food ; and lastly, it is proved by the bees becoming- ill and dying, if compelled for any length of time to rear brood or to construct combs in the absence of pollen. (Von Berlepsch, Nui-dtinyer Bienenzeituny, 1854, p. 241.) But how can these notorious facts be made to agree with the equally well-known fact that very many colonies without possessing a single cell of pollen are able to live through the whole winter, and to rear perfectly healthy brood for a period of from eight to ten weeks? Does not this forcibly suggest to us that inside the hive there must be another source from which bees are able to procure the indispensable nitrogen, though the quantity obtain- able may be but small? For no physiologist who is acquainted with the nature and life of the bee will for a moment admit the common assertion which is repeated over and over again, that when bees are compelled to live upon honey exclusively the nitrogen stored up in their body is used as a substitute for weeks or even months in the absence of pollen, just as the bear is said to feed upon its own fat during its long sleep in winter. Chemical change takes place in the. body of the bee so very rapidly and energetically, that without food in the shape of honey starvation would result within thirty-six hours ; on the other hand, the consumption of the raw material — honey and pollen — in the preparation of chyle for the brood is so large, that, when pollen is wanting, a supply of the requisite albuminous constituents of food from the body of the bee for weeks or months is a matter of impossibility. The quick and shortlived bee can only for a short time draw upon its own body for the failing nitrogen, inasmuch as chyle is not an extract from its blood but a product of its stomach. Starting with the fact of bee-keepers frequently making the experience, that second swarms of young and strong bees with a young and vigorous queen and splendid new combs often survive the winter in a worse condition, and with greater loss in population, than colonies with old comb, even if possessing sufficient honey, stored in the proper place in the hive — a fact which is generally explained by saying that old combs are better for keeping bees warm : and having had my attention directed to the very large quantity of whole and undamaged pollen-grains, which during my experi- ments concerning the question of brood-cell cappings I discovered in the cell-walls and the membranes left behind by the nymphs, but principally in the margins of cells of old comb, and in equally large numbers in the excreta of the larvfe at the bottom of the cells, I arrived at the conclusion that in these pollen-grains, as in other nitrogenous matter mixed up with them, the bees have a sufficiently abundant source of this (to them) indis- pensable substance; and as in making brood-cell cappings they are obliged to gnaw down the cell-walls and to masticate the wax and work it up, and likewise, in cleansing the cells have to remove from the bottom of the cells the excreta of the hatched larvi, they become aware of the presence of the pollen, which is thus rendered accessible to them. And the percentage of nitrogenous matter which these excreta contain is very high, seeing that they are largely mixed with unbroken pollen-grains, as mentioned above. The exterior membrane of pollen, called the exine, is known to possess a great resisting force. Besides, the stomach of the bee, much less the stomach of the larvae, is unable to make all pollen-grains discharge their contents of protoplasm. For the discharge of the protoplasm in the natural way takes place, in most cases, not by the exine simply bursting, but through special valves in the exine, which remain closed as long as the pollen is kept dry. In my last article I gave a sketch of an unbroken pollen-grain from a pumpkin blossom to which I have to direct attention once more. It shows the lids of the valves. When the pollen-grain is moistened, the proto- January 5, 1888.] plasm swells and raises the valves, as shown in the figure at a until at last the lids fly back, and the protoplasm discharges itself as seen at b. But this mechanism often THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL. 13 fails to act in the stomach of the bee, and the pollen then remains closed and is of no use to the bee. This is proved by the large number of whole polleu-grains frequently found in the rectum of bees. After these observations there appeared to me some justification for my conjecture that bees, incase of need, seek to obtain the nitrogen they are in want of from old comb and the excreta of larvce, the more so as it is well known that when pollen is wanting during the time bees are in full flight, they have recourse to various sub- stitutes,such as dust from blightedjbarley, from clover seed at thrashing time, and charcoal, and rust from willow- leaves, &c. &c. (Von Berlepsch, Die Biene, I860, p. 136.) Tt therefore became necessary for me to ascertain by experiment, whether my conjecture was correct or un- tenable. For this purpose I made two small trial colonies which I kept without food for two days, in order that any pollen the honey stomach and the chyle stomach might contain should become digested, and the husks be carried into the rectum. Thirty hours later trial colony A received a small comb quite recently constructed, with brood, from one to three days old, and two empty combs also recently made, with a supply of solution of sugar, all the three combs being without a trace of pollen. Colony B received two old black combs with solution of sugar, and in addition one new comb with brood, one to three days old, likewise without pollen. The colonies were then placed in a dark, dry cellar. If, at the end of four days no pollen was found in the rectum of the brood from colony A, while that of the brood from colony B con- tained pollen, this would prove conclusively that the bees in hive B had obtained nitrogenous food from the black combs. The experiment unfortunately gave no result, as at the end of four days it was found that both colonies had torn out and sucked all the brood. Never- theless, this experiment strengthened my supposition that I was on the right track to discover the unknown source from which bees obtain nitrogen, having found out that the chyle stomach of the bees from colony A contained only perfectly pure and clear chyle, while among the contents of thechyle stomach of bees from hive B there were numerous pollen-grains, pollen-husks, and a great many small black bodies, which could only have been derived from the black combs. I therefore made preparations at once for a second experiment, determining to place the trial bees in the middle of the brood-nest of a colony that was at perfect liberty to fly out. I took a newly-made comb, p^ifectly free from pollen, and containing some brood one to three days old, adding the necessary food, con- sisting of a solution of sugar, and surrounded it on all sides with wirework, between which and the upper edges of the cells a space was left of half centimetre, so as to allow the bees to move freely on the comb, but in order to prevent their being fed through the wire- work by the other bees in the hive I fixed a second cage of wirework over the first, leaving a space of one centimetre between them. A black comb, in the middle of which a piece of brood one to three days old had been inserted, was protected in the same way, and then the two combs were placed in the brood-nest of a strong colony after a sufficient number of workers from the first trial colony A, which had already been seven days without any supply of pollen, had been driven into the cages through an opening arranged for that purpose, so as to have the combs well covered with bees. In this way the brood was attended to, and the examination four days later showed the stomach and rectum of the brood iii the black comb to be full of pollen-grains, pollen- husks, and those small black bodies mentioned above, while the same organs of the brood in the other comb contained only pure chyle. This seems to prove that in the absence of collected pollen bees are able to find a substitute in the nitro- genous matter contained in old combs and the excreta of larva;. I make use of the word ' seems,' because the trial bees in their prison, although in the middle of a brood-nest, were, nevertheless, somewhat in a state of distress. llut needs must when the devil drives, and I, therefore, do not judge with certainty of the behaviour of colonies which enjoy perfect freedom by the conduct of bees in confinement. It is consequently necessary that a final experiment should be made. Which of my colleagues will assist me? Who will take the trouble, about the end of October, when all gathering has ceased, to establish a trial colony with combs as new and white as possible, but without pollen, and who will put up a similar colony with vary old combs, likewise without pollen ? The honey for these colonies had best be given in drone-combs, which never contain any pollen, and the most suitable place in the hive for these small colonies would be the division for the storage of honey, provided with special entrances in order that the bees may enjoy the necessary warmth and commence breeding next spring before the opening of the honey season. The greater the number of trial colonics established the more reliable will be the result obtained. Whoever is kind enough to set up trial colonies as described will oblige by sending me about the end of February or beginning of March a small piece of brood- comb ready to be sealed, without, in the first instance, mentioning whether it has been taken from a colony with new or old combs, in order that I may commence my examination unprejudiced by any preconceived opinion. Should any Bee-keepers' Association be willing to take this matter in hand I should be pleased if they would communicate with me. — Translated from Grarenhorsf's Deutuchf illustrierte Bienemeituny, Septembir, 1887. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Letters or queries asking /or addresses of manufacturers or correspon. dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for aduertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issa immediately /ollotcing the receipt oj their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of persona interest will be answered in this column. Rev. J. Davees. — Deserted Skeps. — In all likelihood both colonies became queenless, more especially the one in which you found two clusters of dead drones. On the last occasion, when you noticed these skepswith apparently strong colonies, judging by the number of bees round the entrances, did you observe any chips of wax on the alighting-board ? From j*our description of the condition of the skeps, it seems improbable that they have been tenanted by the rightful owners for some time. If the capped brood found in one was alive, the desertion must have been recent. Bees finding themselves queenless in u THE BRITISH BEE JOUKNAL. [January 5, 1888. the late autumn, will desert to another hive. Would it be inconvenient for you to transfer all you may have in skeps to bar-frame hives in the spring ? The actual condition of a colony can be ascertained with so much greater ease. W. A. T.— Moving Bees to Heath Two Miles Distant.— It there are no extensive woods between you and the heath your bees would most likely find their way to it. The heath is not so good a honey-plant as the heather so frequently mentioned in our pages. Unless your bees have really no forage within a mile or two of home at the time the heath is in bloom it would not be worth while to move them, considering the risks. If you would like to see a piece of real heather, send your name and address to the Editor. C. A. J. — Murmuring Noise in Hives. — Apis mellifica, like the genus Homo, is at times compelled to indulge in exercise to keep warm. This explains the noise you refer to, which is by no means unknown. Malta. — 1, Wax-moth in Frame-hive. — From your de- scription there is no doubt you have wax-moth. Keeping all frames well covered with bees is the best preventative and cure. Any combs not in use should be well fumi- gated with burning sulphur, and either kept in paper or hung in a cupboard where there are plenty of spiders, who will catch any moth that attempts to alight on the combs. A slight brush will remove th> spiders' webs before returning the frames to the hives. Put new quilts on ; burn the old ones. Carefully clean out the hives at the same time. 2. Crooked Combs in. is the extreme distance that should intervene between the centre frame and that next to it. If you cannot put a starter of either foundation or comb, melt some wax, and run a streak of it along the centre of each top-bar and side bars. Take care your hives stand level. 3. Hornets, to Destroy. — You will find (p.9) an interesting communication from Palestine, in which reference is made to the native method of dealing with these pests. 4. Bee-keeping in Malta. — Can you favour us with any particulars con- cerning the present state of bee-keeping in Malta ? if so, it may afford pleasure to many of our readers. J. Fitzgibbons. — Moving Bees. — You will doubtless find sufficient information on pages 39, 149, 210, 409, and 478 of the volume for 1887. Doubtful. — Combs from foul-broody Hives mixed with otiiers. — Spray all your combs with a solution composed of salicylic acid one ounce, borax one ounce, water four pints. As an extra precaution, repeat the operation three or four times between now and the time you will be returning them to the hives in spring. If you can identify those from the diseased hive, give them extra sprayings. C. D. — Unsealed Brood.— It is to be hoped that no serious mischief will be the result of the presence of the un- sealed brood. The bees cannot be disturbed at present. As a counter-attraction candy can be given to them below the quilt. E. W. Shotter.— Bibliography of Bee-Keeping. — The enumeration of the books on bee-keeping that would be ' worth securing ' would fill a large portion of our space ; the catalogue of the library of the B.B.K.A. (a copy of which we have forwarded to you) would render you great assistance in this, and would furnish you with the titles of the best and most precious works that have been written in the English language on bees and bee- keeping. Thomas Wildman's Treatise on the Manage- ment of Bees (1778) would be worth about 8s. Gd. This is the third edition of Wildman's Treatise : the two former were published in 1768 and 1770. The book is not often met with. business ^Directory. 1-» i HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol, Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T, B., Welwyn, Herts, British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Bdrtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Webster, W. B., Wokingham. Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Boad, Beading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St. , Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins, S., Bottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merohants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Boad, London, S.E. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howabd, J. H, Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing AgentB : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin, ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER. W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J. , Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY. W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire. JOHNSTON, A. B., Brickhall, Ballywoolen, Killy- leagh, Co. Down. McNALLT, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 14Q Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON, C. T., Crawley, Sussex. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. Jj Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London ; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHDJSHAW, A.. Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLET, A, D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading-, WREN, h„m lf'Kh Street, Lowestoft, Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stranoewats' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 290. Vol. XVI.] JANUARY 12, 1888. [Published Weekly.] BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Election of the Committee for 1888. The following members have been nominated in accordance with the amended form of rules as passed at the last Annual General Meeting, each member being nominated by two members of the Association : — Rev. E. Bartrum, D.D., Wakes Colne Rectory, Ilalstead, Esses. E. 11. Bellairs, Esq., Christchurch, Hants, Hon. Secretary of the Hants Association. Hon. and Rev. II. Bligh, Hampton Hill, Middlesex. Captain W. Bush, R.N., Southleigh, Stevenage. Captain C. I). Campbell, Box Grove, Guildford. Rev. E. Clay, Great Kimble, Tring. Thos. W. Cowan, Esq., Comptons Lea, Horsham. J. Eastty, Esq., M(3 Grange Road, Bermondsey. Rev. R. Errington, Clewer Rectory, Windsor, Hon. Secretary of the Berkshire Association. J. M. Hooker, Esq., 76 Tyrwhitt Road, St. John's. H. Jonas, Esq., 64 Redcliffe Gardens, S.W. Rev. F. G. Jenyns, Knebworth, Stevenage. W. Lees McClure, Esq., The Lathoms, Frescot, Lancashire, Hon. Secretary of the Lancashire and Cheshire Association. Rev. G. V. Oddie, Aston, Stevenage. Rev. Geo. Raynor, Hazeleigh Rectory, Maldon. Rev.F. S. Sclater, Dropraore Vicarage, Maidenhead. Rev. F. T. Scott, Ilartlipp^AiiSarage, Sittingbourne. Rev. J. L. Seager, Stevenage. Dr. G. Walker, Lingfield Road, Wimbledon. Four of the above named are unable to serve on the Committee, the remaining fifteen therefore stand elected for the ensuing year. Stjbscbiptions, Szc. Subscriptions for the current year become due on January 1st. It is hoped that members will forward the same at the earliest possible date, and, further, use their best endeavours to induce their friends to become Members of the Association. Post Office Orders to be made payable at the Kings Langley Tost Office. Cheques to be crossed ' Bucks and Oxon Bank.' Quarterly Meeting and Conversazione. The next Quarterly Conversazione will be held at 105 Jermyn Street, on Wednesday, January 18th, at six o'clock. Members wishing to introduce subjects for dis- cussion, or to submit new, improved, or interesting appli- ances, are requested to communicate with the Secretary not later than Saturday, the 14th inst. Mr. R, A. H. Grimshaw will read a paper on 'Specialization.' County Representatives will meet at 149 Regent Street, at four o'clock. The Quarterly Conference of the County Repre- sentatives with the Committee of the B. B. K. A., will take place at 105 Jermyn Street, at five o'clock. General Meeting. The Annual General Meeting of the Members will be held at 105 Jermyn Street, at 3..'i0 p.m., on Wednesday, February 8th, the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, President of the Association, in the chair. Notices of motions for this Meeting must reach the Secretary not later than Saturday, January 28th. — John Huckle, Secretary, Kings Langley, Jan. 7th, 1888. THE WINTERING PROBLEM. In the December number of our contemporary, the Record, we notice the details of an interesting experiment in wintering, viz., burying a frame-hive, containing a colony of bees with a proper supply of food, in a shepherd's hut, which is dug out of a hill- side, the door of the hut being blocked up with sods of turf to a considerable thickness. Prior to depositing the stock, it was weighed, and the condition of the bees as to strength and stores carefully noted. It is intended to unearth them at the expiration of five months from the date of their being placed in the hut, when the hive will again be weighed, and full notes taken of the state in which it may be found. We trust success may attend the experiment. The theory that if bees can be maintained at an equable but low temperature of about 40° to 45°, it will tend to conserve the life of the workers during the winter months, and so enable the stock to commence spring strong in numbers, is, no doubt, worth consideration, i.e., that an excitement during the winter, even although it be a cleansing flight, is the occasion of a depletion in numbers. To decide whether it would be a commercial success to incur the outlay necessary to provide a suitable cellar, and also the annual expense of moving the stocks into and from the same, is a question that nothing short of a experiment on a large scale, extending over several years, can solve. Our Canadian friends are, by force of circum- stances, obliged to carry out elaborate arrange- ments in order to prevent their bees being frozen to death. But they certainly seem to have the advantage of us in the numerical strength of their 16 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 12, 1888. colonies in the early spring. The questions that arise in our mind at this point is, Can this greater numerical strength be the result of the bees being so long confined to their hives, and general inaction consequent on the temperature being low and varying so little 1 Also, is such a colony (numeri- cally strong through the prolonged survival of the old bees) not more liable to a sharp attack of ' spring dwindling,' through these old bees all dying off about the same time? In such a variable climate as ours, and one alternating with such rapidity, it is impossible, while bees continue to be left on their summer stands, to avoid a considerable loss of the old bees during the sudden changes of our English winter, which not infrequently in the neighbourhood of London has a temperature varying from 20° to 50° Fahr. within sixty or seventy hours. Such varia- tions effectually prevent our bees, as at present wintered, remaining dormant. Raising the body- box containing the brood-nest some distance up from the floor-board by means of an eke is practised by some eminent apiarists, and considerable success is claimed for this system. In some cases a doubling-box, of the usual depth of a standard frame, is recommended. Such an arrangement will, of course, effectually prevent the dead bees blocking up the passage-way under the combs. In the autumn of 1886 we inspected a stock that had been sadly neglected. As a swarm of that year they had been placed in the box super without foundation, but with empty frames in the hive proper. The bees (nearly pure Italians) built their combs in tkc super, and continued them about five inches down into the hive, as no frames had been placed under the super except at the ends. The colony never became strong, and had not more than six pounds of stores at the date of our examination. The owner gave no additional supply of food, although strongly advised so to do. No extra packing was given, yet in the spring there certainly was not a wineglassful of dead bees on the floor-board. The colony prospered in the early spring, and would, doubtless, have given a good account of themselves if the season had been a normal one. At the end of March, 1887, they still had quite two pounds of stores, a fair patch of brood, and a general healthy appearance. Would this neglected colony have wintered as well if they had been in the hive body, instead of the super, which, by the way, had no upward ventila- tion, as it had a wooden top tightly screwed down 1 We are inclined to think not, because this hive was the only one in the district referred to that did not lose a large number of bees during the time the snow lay on the ground. They took no flights during that period. Is this to be accounted for by the fact that the very free circulation of air through the body-box and around the outside of the super really induced an almost complete hibernation, with a consequent saving of bee life ? Mr. Simmins, in his Modern Bee Farm, expresses his preference for all floor-boards to have a two- inch auger hole through the centre, as providing free ventilation and a ready means for the removal of dead bees, and that hives of twelve -frame capacity have an empty hive-box under the one containing the bees and their stores. In long hives, he further recommends making the swarm comfort- able, with quilts and cork cushion, on a few frames at the back of the hive, having no division-board in front, but merely empty frames, covered by a thin, porous quilt. He states that a colony so wintered will be much stronger in spring than one in a single-storey hive, and confined to a few frames by division-boards, especially by the front one. Is this departure to revolutionise our system of win- tering 1 We shall be glad to receive reports from any of our readers who may give it a trial either in part or in its entirety. The question is not, With how little care can our bees survive the winter'! but, Would a system which provides for a free circulation of air within the bod}' of the hive conduce to the greater strength of our colonies in spring, and a consequent anticipation of the date when such colonies would be in readiness for the honoy-flow 1 JmxtQit. UNITED STATES. The Annual Convention of the North American Bee- keepers' Society took place at Chicago on the 16th, 17th, and 18th Novemher. P/r. C. C. Miller, the President, took the chair, and there were present a great number of the leading bee-keepers. The American Bee Journal gives a very full account of the papers read and the discussions, and from it we are ahle to give our readers a summary of those parts which we consider would prove interesting to them. Mr. J. A. Green read a paper on 'The Production of Comb and Extracted Honey in the same Apiary.' He said that 'in bee-keeping, as in other occupations, the greatest average success will be gained by making a specialty of it, even though an occasional season, such as that just past, may hear hard on some. Yet this principle may be carried too far. AVe have already bee- keeping as a specialty, divided into the sub-specialties of honey-production and the rearing of queens and bees for sale, while some insisf that honey production should be divided, and a specialty made of either comb or extracted honey.' He thinks, although in some places comb-honey cannot be profitably produced, and in others it will not pay to work for extracted, in most cases a judicious combination of the two will give the best results. In working if you have some colonies that do not produce nice-looking comb-honey, pinch off the heads of the queens as soon as convenient, but in the mean- time take their honey with the extractor. Poor ex- tracted honey can be sold for manufacturing purposes, but poor comb-honey is hard to sell anywhere. If honey comes in faster than bees can build comb for it, a few empty combs distributed among the best colonies will pay an enormous profit. In working for extracted honey a large number of extracted combs are wanted, at least one set for each colony. When the honey-flow begins give each colony a set of combs. Bees will begin to work sooner in empty combs than in empty sections. After the bees are weil at work above, remove the extracting combs from as many colonies as you want to work for comb-honey, and give them sections. Pile up the supers of partly filled combs over other colonies, and this will ripen the honey which will be much finer than that usually produced, January 12, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL, 17 Whether for economy or excellence of quality there ia no way of producing extracted honey equal to that of giving the bees plenty of room in which to store it, and then plenty of time to ripen it. Towards the close of the honey-flow, instead of putting on more sections, which are not likely to be finished, take the sections from a part of the colonies and put them on the others to complete, and give those from which they were taken empty combs instead. The advantages of this system are: First, getting the bees started without delay ; second, your comb-honey is nearly all No. 1, and the extracted honey is the finest that can be produced ; last, and not least, you are rid of nearly all the trouble and expense of unfinished sections in the fall, and having few now you have few in the spring, and this is the reason why the comb-honey is finer. Honey stored in combs built the year before is never equal in quality or appearance to honey in newly-built combs. On being asked by F. Wilcox how much more ex- tracted than comb-honey was produced, Mr. Green said if first-class honey about twice as much, but if such as is usually produced three times as much. In answer to Dr. Miller, he said that he secured a poorer class of honey by using drawn combs in the sections. Honey is more inclined to leak when stored in old combs. Mr. Betsinger said that it was more inclined to granulate, because any comb or vessel that has once con- tained granulated honey will cause the granulation of any honey placed therein. President Miller introduced the subject of ' Legislation for Bee-keepers.' He said as a man could not farm without land he could not keep bees without pasture, and believed that legislation securing to each bee-keeper a certain amount of territory was desirable, although it might not be feasible. Dr. Mason concurred, and F. Wilcox suggested that bees should be exempt from taxation, and that licenses should be granted giving the right to a certain territory. Mr. II. R. Boardman considered small bee-keepers needed protection more than large ones. Professor Cook thought if there were a large number of specialists all over the country such legislation might be advisable; but these were few and scattered, and he thought that reasoning woidd be the better plan with any one coming to set up bee-keeping close to him, and pointing out that coming so near meant disaster to both. It was voted that in the present stage of bee-culture legislation was neither desirable nor feasible. Mr. Thomas G. Newman read the next paper on 'Objects and Methods of a thorough Organization of the Bee-keepers of North America.' He said he desired to inspire them to undertake a ' progressive step' in the direction of organization. The pursuit of modern bee- keeping is in its infancy, yet at the present day its devotees in North America number ^00,000 persons, and its annual product of honey amounted to 100,000,000 of pounds, and its value about fifteen million dollars. Some of the principal wants were : A systematic en- couragement of bee and honey shows at fairs, providing bee-tents at bee exhibitions, inaugurating a system of education of bee-keepers, and by certificate or otherwise guaranteeing to those who wish to hire assistants that they possess a practical knowledge of the business for which they are wanted. The constitution of the Society should be amended to make it a representative Society ; this would not be difficult to carry into effect, and he proposed a number of rules and bye-laws, thirteen in number. These are in the main taken from the Rules and Regulations of our British Bee-keepers' Association, the working of which we explained to Mr. Newman when at Chicago, and full details of which we wrote out at his request. The proposed constitution would alter the name of the Society to ' The Inter-National American B;e-keepers' Association,' and is to include all of the United States and Canada. Any state, district, territory, or province, can become affiliated on payment of five dollars a-year ; the presidents of these to be ex-officio vice-presidents of the Inter-National. Experts are to be examined by an expert committee and certificates awarded. Two medals are to be given to each affiliated Society as prizes for honey shown by its members, and they shall be entitled to the privileges of the Honey Company, which it is proposed to form in connexion with the Society. Delegates are to be appointed to attend the annual meeting of the Society. The proposed organization differs from ours in having a Honey Company in connexion with it, otherwise it is very similar ; and we are glad to find that our Society has been taken as a model, and hope that the Inter- National may be as successful and as useful as ours has been. A change is not made in a day, and it will, of course, take some time before it can equal ours in efficiency, but we welcome the step as a progressive movement. On the motion of Dr. Mason the consideration of the subject was put into the hands of a committee consisting of Professor A. J. Cook, YV. Z. Hutchinson, and A. 1. Root. Before the close of the Convention the Committee reported that they had given the scheme all the thought and consideration it was possible in so short a time, and while thanking Mr. Newman for the great labour and thought bestowed on the subject, in view of the some- what intricate and involved plan proposed, they recom- mended that the consideration of the matter be post- poned for one year, at the end of which they would be better able to present a report commensurate with so important a subject. The next subject was introduced by Mr. A. 1. Root, on ' Foul Brood, how shall we treat it!'' He said as soon as foul brood appeared in his apiary he began burning all the colonies affected. After burning fi rty colonies he found that in nearly every case tin' col inies adjoining the stand of the destroyed colony b"came affected, so he began to look out for another cure — spraying with phenol after tearing off the capping- with a wire-hair brush in such a manner as not to injure the healthy brood. This treatment does not always cure the disease, but it prevents its spreading to other colonies. With a small apiary he would burn up the • whole business' if he found it infested with foul brood. N. N. Betsinger said there are certain conditions that will bring about fold brood. He can produce it in tin days and can cure it in the same length of time with salt. Mix it with sawdust, put it into a keg. add water and keep it in the apiary where the bees have access to it. Dr. Mason said he had known many who had tried salt and failed. Professor Cook said odour was not a sure test, hut the elasticity or ropy mass was. B. T. Davenport had had trouble from 'dry' foul brood. The larva will break in two when attempt is made to remove it, but there is no ropiness or elasticity. The trouble is greater with dark than with Italian bees. He has cured it by change of queens. The next paper was by Mr. C. P. Dadant, on : Comb Foundation, ite Manufacture and Use.' To make good foundation pure wax must be produced. Compounds of wax and paraffine or ceresine have been tried and will not do. They melt at a lower temperature than wax and endanger the safety of the colony. Paraffine and ceresine are detected by their lighter specific gravity, and tallow, which is a frequent adulterant, is noticed bv the greasy and dull appearance of the cakes. Such wax should be rejected. After selecting the wax it is 18 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 12, 1888. melted and kept hot for twenty-four hours or more to allow impurities to settle. The sheets are made by dipping damp boards, and are thick enough to stretch in the rolls when moulded. In this wax all the in- equalities on the surface are eliminated out, and from the pressure all moisture is driven off. In this branch of industry, as in all others, practice is required to acquire skill and speed in manipulation. J. A. Green used 1500 sections one year, rilled some with old and others with new foundation. Those with the new foundation were finished first, and those with old foundation completed last. In reply to a question by Mr. Root, R. R. Murphy stated he had tried starters only, and found sections furnished with them were last finished. F. Wilcox could not understand how Mr. Doolittle can secure and use natural comb, as he advocates. R. R. Murphy puts on an upper storey in the fall and allows the bees to build combs in the frames, then extracts the honey and uses the comb next year. J. Heddon prefers foundation to drawn combs, as it is quicker finished and looks better. A. I. Root said that in using combs the cells are deep, and the honey does not ripen so quickly as when the cells are filled as they are drawn. W. Z. Hutchinson preferred combs as it induced the bees to store the honey above instead of in the brood- nests. With him they commence to work in the supers when combs are used, and finish the honey sooner. An essay on ' Production of Extracted Honey for Table Use' was read by T. F. Bingham, in which he stated that honey, like other non-crystallised saccharine substances, had a tendency to absorb water and undergo fermentation^ If the honey was thick its changes are slower, but if thin they are more rapid. The honey should be left a long time in the hive of a populous colony before extracting, and then put up in neat two- pound bottles. If extracted late in the season it should be kept in a clean pine-barrel, bunged tightly if stored in a cool place. When taking out the honey he removes one or two inches of the surface honey, so as to avoid mixing that which has been in contact with the air witli that which has not. The surface may be soft and foamy ; this could be used for making into vinegar, the remainder melted in a water-bath and put into glass jars in a cool place. It will remain clear a long time, and will be as fine as if just taken from the combs. If only such honey were offered to the public, the market would not be overstocked and the prices would be satis- factory. In the discussion most of the speakers advocated tin for storing instead of wood. ' At this time Professor A. J. Cook, of Agricultural College, Michigan, took occasion to speak of the recent enjoyable visit to America of Mr. Thomas W. Cowan, the distinguished editor of the British Bee Journal, who had called on so many prominent apiarists of the New World. The Professor said that it had never been his pleasure to meet with one so familiar with everything connected with bee-keeping, and with every person of any reputation as a bee-keeper. That, in the future, this visit of Mr. Cowan's would often be referred to, by those who were so fortunate as to meet him, as being one of the brightest events occurring in the history of progressive American apiculture. In view of the many resulting benefits, and the pleasant and profitable recol- lections following such a visit, the Professor moved that the thanks of the Society be tendered to Mr. Cowan for his visit, and that he be elected an honorary member of the "North American Bee-keepers' Society." The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.' Immediately after this Professor Cook spoke about the Rev. L. L. Langstroth, and said that the Society could not do itself more honour, and express its appreciation of his efforts, than to forward a goodly purse to Mr. Langstroth, who, in his long-continued sickness, would receive it with much grateful appreciation. It was re- solved to make a collection and add it to the amount remaining in the treasury, and after paying all the legitimate expenses of the Convention, to send the whole of the balance to Mr. Langstroth. (To be continued.) CANADA. I have just returned from the North American Bee-keepers' Association which met at Chicago, Novem- ber 16, 17, and 18. Canada had but one representative. The season has been a severe one for bee-keepers throughout America, reports from about forty bee- keepers show the following results : — Number of colonies in spring (1887), 3761 ; number of colonies in fall (1887), 4342 ; number of lbs. comb honey secured, 33,290 ; number of lbs. extracted secured, 28,100 ; number of lbs. beeswax secured, 1136 ; number of lbs. fed back, 10,260. This shows an average yield of about 6 lbs. of comb honey and 6 lbs. of extracted honey per colony after deducting the number of pounds fed back. Amongst the reports there is only one from Canada, my own, which is : — Spring count, 39 ; fall, 48 ; lbs. of extracted honey secured, 3100; lbs. fed back, 200; lb9. of wax secured, none given, as it has not yet been rendered. From all reports it is however safe to say we have been more fortunate than the bee-keepers of the United States, and throughout the entire American continent the markets will be entirely free of honey long before next year's honey crop will be harvested in even the more southern parts. The prices secured at present are very much above what they have been for some years, especially so in the United States, and for comb honey we are looking hopefully forward to keeping the prices up for the future. Mr. Cowan's visit to us has been during an excep- tionally poor honey season, and we have regretted our inability to show him what honey flows we have, and what honey exhibits we can make. His visit to Canada has been, to those with whom he has come in contact, one of the bright spots of a season which to so many, especially those who depend upon the profits of their apiary, has been a rather depressing one. We all feel that we owe Mr. Cowan a debt of gratitude for his visit. His unselfishness in caring for and carrying about a heavy microscope, and labouring for hours to show to us new wonders in regard to the structure of the honey bee, and creating in us a higher interest in apiculture, cannot soon be forgotten. The information which he possesses as to bee-keeping in all parts of the world and past ages has also been of interest to us; and, as will be seen by past numbers of the British Bee Journal, we have attempted in some small measure to show Mr. Cowan our hearty appreciation of his kindly visit amongst us. The North American Bee-keepers' Associ- ation, by a unanimous vote, passed a resolution thanking Mr. Cowan for bis visit, and the great trouble and expense he had gone to in visiting us, regretting his inability to remain and be with them at their meeting. One point which must have struck Mr. Cowan very forcibly, and does us in a measure, is the fact that we keep our bees, first and foremost, for the profits which we may derive from them financially ; all else is secondary. We, in a measure, appreciate the study of the bee, but not as leading British bee-keepers do. From what I can learn their motives are different to ours, and few of us can devote our labours to apiculture, its spread and study, aside from financial return. This must be the case in every new country, and our struggle for money, or, in other words, the means of subsistence, debars us often from other pleasures and studies which would be quite as much in accordance with our inclinations. The structure of the bee as revealei by the microscope ia January 12, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. ID therefore something new to most of us, and this more intimate study of the bee, for which such are indebted to Mr. Cowan, will awaken interest in a new direction, and give us ever after keener enjoyment from the source from which we must derive our means of subsistence. FRANCE. The annual Bee and Honey Fair, which is held at Chartres on St. Andrew's day, has, this year, been a complete success, and several transactions of considerable importance are known to have taken place. Bee-keepers came in from the surrounding districts in large numbers, and, after having attended the annual general meeting of the Bee Association, repaired to the ' < 'afci Bordier,' Place des Halles, where, for the convenience of intending buyers, the names of those who had either honey, bees, or implements to sell, were exhibited in a large frame ; and it was noticed that many were those who made notes of what there was to be sold and of seller's name and address. Bee-keepers are again reminded that applications for exhibiting in the great forthcoming exhibition of 1880, must be sent in before the 1st of February next, ad- dressed to the ' Miuistere du Commerce,' or ' Avenue de La Bourdonnais, au Champ de Mars, Paris.' In again repeating this information, the Apiculteur of that city suggests that, as far as possible, Bee Associations should not exhibit individually, but rather collectively. ASSOCIATIONS. GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. We would desire to direct the attention of bee- keepers in England and Ireland to a letter from Mr. E. M'Nally, who, with his brother, John, has taken measures for the proper representation of the honey industry at the Glasgow International Exhibition, which will be held during the present year. He is anxious to get the names of manufacturers who use honey in their goods, and any information which will assist him in making the special classes interesting and instructive. Mr. E. M'Nally 's address is ' Main Street, Rutherglen.' Corasponftewt. IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Committee met on 3rd inst. Present — Mr. Gillies in the chair, Rev. P. Kavanagh, Messrs. Sproule and Stanford, and the Hon. Secretary. The drawing up of the annual report for 1887 was referred to a sub-com- mittee, and arrangements were made for having it printed. Additional steps were taken with respect to the Association's standard hive, in order to ensure its being sent out perfectly complete. Lf.ctuke on Bee-keeping. — Mr. R. A. H. Grim- shaw, of Horsforth, near Leeds, gave a very interesting lecture on ' The Wonders of Bee Life,' in the schools of St. John the Evangelist, Walton-on-the-Hill, near Liver- pool, to a large and appreciative audience on Tuesday gvening 3rd inst. The chair was taken by Mr. E. Bird, Esq., J. P. The lecturer traced, in a most amusing and instructive manner, the various stages of growth, with the anatomy, habits, and customs, and use of these won- derful creatures and held his audience from first to last thoroughly interested. It was particularly noticed that the younger members of the audience were kept amused and instructed from first to last, the lecture lasting one hour and twenty minutes. After several interesting questions were answered by the lecturer, which were put by two bee-keepers, Mr. E. Fowler and Mr. J. A. Bally, and some clever diagrams explained, a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer was proposed by Mr. J. A. Bally and seconded by Rev. F. B. Plummer, B.A., and suitably responded to by the lecturer. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, ic, must be addressed only to *The Editor of the " British Bee Journal," cjo Messrs. Strangeivays and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C All business communications relating to .tiluertisemcnts, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 2nd page o/.4duertisemeuts). *m* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query preuionsly inserted, icill obliye by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. OUR HONES IMPORTS. The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom during the month of December, 1887, amounted to 481/. [From a Return furnished by the Statistical Department Her Majesty's Customs to E. H. Bellairs, Wingfield House, Christchurch.] HIVES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT FOR COTTAGERS. [1416.] The first question a cottager must solve is, 'What hive shall I line?' and we who endeavour to carry out the primary object of the existence of the British and County Associations, viz., the bettering of the condition of the cottager by urging him to adopt a more humane and more profitable system of bee-keeping, should, if we intend to assist him. have put to ourselves and solved this question,' What hive shall I recommend/' It has frequently been stated that almost anything will do to put bees into. That is quite true ; bees may be kept in almost anything in which combs may be built — straw-skep, box or bar-frame hive. I have even seen stocks in old casks, wooden and zinc pails, and have taken from them for the owners a nice lot of honey. But although almost anything ma)- be used and a nice surplus obtained, both the pleasure and the profit are much increased if the bees are kept in suitable hives, well and accurately made, and whether straw skep, box or bar-frame hive, well painted. The best and most economical materials for hive construction are certainly- straw and wood. It would, I think, be a pity to banish the straw skep from modern apiaries, for it has a rustic appearance which is greatly valued by many old and some advanced bee-keepers. Personally, I should not like to see my apiary without a few stocks in straw skeps, because I like to see that most pleasant (sometimes most annoying) of all sights to a bee-keeper — bees swarming. Hence nothing would induce me to entirely prevent natural swarming from skeps. The object of this article being to assist the cottager I shall be glad, with the Editor's permission, to more fully explain at a future time any part I may not make sufficiently clear. In the first place, I must recommend the beginner straw skeps worked on the system explained below, or if it is his intention to become possessed of bar-frame hives I should say commence with the 'Champion Cottager.' This is a hive which I have designed with a view to its being used on the fixed-comb principle, as when skeps are used, and for the production of sections or run honey. When the fixed-comb system has been given up this hive will not have to be discarded as useless, but may then be used permanently as a section-crate. Somersham Skep System. The. Hives. — Two kinds of hives are used, and these I term stock hive, and super. Both should be closely and neatly made so as to fit accurately either above or below 20 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 12, 1888. each other ; and they are exactly alike in every respect except depth, the stock hive being ten inches and the super .six inches without the crown-boards. The outside measurement is exactly fifteen inches across, while the crown-board is sixteen inches across, half an inch thus projecting all round. The crown-board is made of two pieces of light wood about half an inch thick, securely fastened across the grain to prevent warping, the upper half being bevelled half an inch, so that the rain running down the side of a super will fall on the bevel of the lower hive and drop from the projecting half inch of the lower half of the crown-board. The floor-board is similar to the crown-board, except that a piece about six inches wide and three inches deep is cut out of the lower half to give the bees access to the hive through a hole H inches wide by six inches long, cut in the upper half about three inches from the edge. A piece of wood projecting about four inches is then nailed under to act as an alighting-board, and form the floor of the passage into the hive. The object of this arrangement is to allow the bottom edge of the skep to remain perfectly level all round. This is not the case when the entrance is cut out of the floor-board, as that part of the skep im- mediately over the entrance is sure to fall by pressure above and will then fit no other part of the floor-board. The hole in the crown-boards of this kind of hive now in use in this district is two inches wide and eight inches long. This hole is apt to give a little trouble, though the immense advantage it gives over a small circular hole should be more than compensation for it. I now, therefore, recommend what I have found to give little or no trouble, viz., six holes eight inches long, | inch wide, | inch apart and running parallel in the centre of the crown-board. Management. — For each swarm there should be pro- /' vided one stock hive and at least two supers, a floor- board and cover — an earthen pan if not too heavy. First give the outside of the hives at least two coats of light-coloured paint ; if white is used the combs will be less likely to give way when the hive is exposed to the full rays of the sun. In very hot weather it is advisable to shade the hives a little. The bottom edge of the skeps and inside for about an inch from the bottom should be painted. The edges and about two inches of the floor and crown-boards should also be paiuted, so that the rain may not draw under. This would happen, and the edge of the skeps would soon rot if it and that part of the crown-board and floor-board where it rests were not painted. Having got the hives well painted and thoroughly dry, a swarm headed with a young queen should be obtained. It should weigh about four pounds. Although the hive is ready we have not considered the site. An open space facing the south should be chosen when practicable, and with the path running behind the hives. Now clear away (and keep away) all •weeds and make the ground firm. Four or eight bricks will make a sufficiently good stand, but the one I should prefer, where sleepers can be got, would be two laid side by side with the soil made slanting up to the top edge of the front sleeper, so that heavily-laden bees falling in front of the hive would easily get into it. The stand should be set as level as possible and then the floor- hoard should be placed on the spot the stock will occupy. This must be made perfectly level both ways by means of a spirit-level, which may be obtained for a few pence, and should always find a place in every apiary. This done, raise the back of the floor-board half an inch, because the combs should be built across the long holes in the crown-hoard, thus allowing the bees access to the supers from between all but the outer combs. Having stopped the holes in the crown-board with a piece of cloth the swarm may be put in (hived in if got from a neighbour) and the hive then placed mouth downwards in front of the stand, not on it. Put a stone under the edge of the skep, and so let it remain until the bees have clustered in it. Then lift the hive carefully so as not to disturb the cluster and place it with the holes in the crown-board pointing east and west. As the entrance which points to the south is half an inch lower than the back the combs will be built from front to back across the holes. The swarm need not now be touched again for a week or ten days, unless the weather should be unfavourable for honey-gathering, in which case it should be fed with dry sugar. If the weather be fine for a week or ten days a good swarm will have built combs nearly half way down to the floor-board, and unless super room is given every comb will be clogged with honey almost as fast as the comb is built, with the result that the hive, if left alone till the end of the season, would contain a lot of honey and a small quantity of bees. To super, place on the stock-hive, after carefully removing the cloth in the holes, so that the tender combs are not broken, a six-inch super with the holes in the crown-board pointing east and west. The super must be made secure so that there is no escape of heat. These operations are best done in the evening, the bees being kept down by a puff of smoke, or by smearing the edges of the holes with a feather which has been dipped in carbolic acid. If the swarm be a good one, the season early, and the district a good one for bee-pasturage, the bees will quickly take to the super, and when it is about three-parts rilled it should be raised and another placed between it and the stock-hive. Both these supers will most probably be filled with delicious honey, while the combs below will be one mass of brood. If the bee-keeper prefer to have no bother with feeding he might be content with one super, when the stock-hive would as regards bees and honey by the end of the season be in a condition to winter successfully. When, however, it is found that after taking off the supers there is not sufficient food in the stock-hive to last the winter, syrup should bo given as described in this Journal and the various bee-books. The swarm will be termed a stock the following spring, and the treatment it will require will be similar to that recommended for the swarm. But as our object in the spring will be to prevent swarming, the super should be placed on the stock-hivo early, that is, when the hive is well filled with bees and when honey- gathering in quantity has commenced. But it must be borne in mind that the super must not be allowed to get more than three-parts full before it is raised and another is placed between it and the stock-hive. The upper super will be first completed and may then be removed, and the remaining one treated as was the super, first placed on the stock-hive. Thus treated the stock will most probably give a large surplus in the supers, and swarming will be prevented. If there should be a fear when the supers are on that a swarm will issue raise the stock-hive and supers bodily and place under all on the floor-board an empty super. This will be used as a brood-chamber, ami at the end of the season the combs should be cut out and melted in order that the super may be ready for use the following season. — C. N. White. (To be continued.) GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1888. [141 7.] As the season of 1886 proved to be a most inter- esting one in connexion with the honey exhibition in Eng- land, so the present 3'ear(1888)promises to be an eventful one in the history of Scotch bee-keeping. A year ago when the proposal to hold a Grand International Ex- hibition in Glasgow was introduced, I put myself in com- munication with the executive, and urged the importance of having our national industry duly represented. This suggestion was generously agreed to, and the name of January 12, 188&] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 21 Mr. K. J. Bennett, the energetic secretary of our Cale- donian Apiarian Society, was added to the list of directors. At the annual meeting- of this Association the whole subject was fully considered, but it was felt that the great expense necessary, and at the same time the fact, that no awards were to be offered, would debar many from coming forward during the full period of six months which the exhibition is expected to be open. Mr. Bennett had, however, arranged to get up a two- weeks exhibition during the month of July, to be held about the time when the annual show of the Caledonian is held which happens this year to be also in Glasgow. This, however, still left the three sections granted us, viz., honey, honey goods, and apiarian appliances, unrepresented during the remainder of the exhibition. At this stage I consulted with my brother, Mr. John D. McNally, Springburn, who, like myself, lives convenient to Glasgow, and we finally agreed to apply for fifty square feet of space for two sectious, viz., honey and honey goods, with the intention of getting up one or two cases, which we estimate will cost over .'10/. each, exclusive of exhibits. We have now secured the necessary space for one case, and the other is under consideration. It is ex- pected that the Exhibition will be opened in May by JI.R.H. the Prince of Wales, and already we have se- cured samples of honey from England, Ireland, Scotland, &c, and are still open to purchase special samples so as to fully illustrate the varieties and high qualities of British honey. In taking this matter in hand, it is only right to mention that neither my brother nor myself make bee-keeping part of our profession, others in our family do, but are too far resident from Glasgow. It is only an earnest desire on our part to see our 'hobby' getting more popular, of seeing new outlets opened for the sale and use of honey, and, at this particular stage, to show that honey is, and can still be classified, as one of our important food productions, which has encouraged us to make this venture, which we are hopeful will eventually meet the object we have in view. We are anxious to get the names of those manufacturers who use honey in their goods, and any information as to articles which will assist us in those special classes, in making them as interesting as possible. At a later stage we hope to submit the extent of our exhibits more fully, meanwhile will be glad to get all the information possible. — E. McNally, Main Street, Rutherglen. COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS. [1418.] Your article on page - should make every office-bearer of any such association hasten to set his house in order, for there is no disguising the fact that some of our County Associations are far from being so prosperous as they might and should be. I have just been looking through the Keports of the Affiliated Associations for 1886, and I have found one that ought to prosper amazingly, viz., Leicestershire, for they offer ' a sure market fur honey ' as one of the advantages of membership. I must join that, I think. Why, Mr. Editor, the bee-keepers' millennium must be at hand. The objects of the Hertfordshire B.K.A. deserve re- capitulation: — 'To teach the residents of the county a more humane and profitable system of bee-culture, and the increase of the home supply of pure, whole- some food among the labouring classes.' Is it not possible that, if our different B.K.A.s had been satisfied with this pithy extract from our Hert- fordshire friends' report as their text, and then worked up to it, that you would never have felt the necessity of laying on the rod of correction. Have we not one and all promised too much and done too little ? I am much afraid the profits of bee-keeping have been made too prominent a feature when recommending the modern system, forgetting that many of our hearers would, through their own inattention, fail to get any profit, Would it not be well to at once adopt the lines laid down by the Hertfordshire B.K.A. , and do our best to show all how they may, at a comparatively small cost, become possessed of a good, wholesome table delicacy, leaving the few, who eventually prove successful, to be helped according to their various necessities, and en- couraged to make a business of it ? Even of the few who succeed, there will be many who cannot manage more than perhaps six colonies. Such should have no difficulty in disposing of their surplus locally, either by their own efforts entirely or with a little assistance from the local secretary of their association. I have great faith in the idea propounded in the last paragraph but one of your remarks on ' Keep your colonies strong ' which appear on page 509 of the 1887 volume, and I propose inviting all members in my province to com- municate to me particulars of their wants, and idso any of surplus they may have for disposal, with a view to making our M.B.K.A. more useful. Will any <>no kindly discuss the present status of our Associations, and suggest useful remedies? — W. M. Graham, 1'ro- oincial Secretary of the Middlesex B.K.A., Latymer Lodije, Lower Edmonton. COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS. [141!).] The county association of which I am honorary secretary, has not begun to fill the place it was intended to take amongst the bee-keepers in its radius, therefore it is, to say the least, discouraging to read the remarks under the heading ' County Bee-keep- ing Associations' on page 2 of your issue of the -~>t li January, 1888. If the committee of the B. B. K. A. consider their organization perfect, by all means let them come and a-sist their country cousins, but do not let then: organ write or call stinking fish when it is nut in a position to know what, many of the county Associations are doing. Instead of the old-fashioned bee-keeper bring left far behind, we have those amongst us, lately unearthed, bee-keepers who have been bee-keepers long before the Journal existed, and who are (as far as is generally known) a long way ahead of the recognised savants in the successful management of apiaries. Out of the list, ' approximating to 300 subscribers,' how many were bee-keepers? I am quite ready to acknowledge that the subscriptions of non-bee-keepera are valuable to treasurers of county associations, but their interest will not continue : and my aim is and will be to get bee-keepers throughout the county at as short distances apart as possible to work their districts' lip : by this means I believe county bee-keepers' associations will prosper. These district workers will be a great assistance to county secretaries, but at the same time they will give him more work, as there will he more shows to organize and more honey to negotiate the sale of. What will all this lead to ? I would venture to assert an honorary treasurer in every county, with a paid secre- tary ; is not this the experience of floral, horticultural, and agricultural shows ? My committee consists of eleven members, they have been called together twelve times, and have put in eighty-two appearances. I have no record of their attendances at shows, but this would add materially to the time the committee have given to the cause. Please do not make our work harder by writing about alarm- ing symptoms of decline, but rather, I would suggest, in every issue impress on your readers how intelligent bee-keepers could assist the cause by joining their county association, and bringing before its working head the 22 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 12, 1888. •way in which he could best benefit their particular neighbourhoods. As an association we are ready to send out lecturers in the winter, experts or advisers in the spring and summer, and to arrange for the sale of surplus honey ; in return we ask that bee-keepers in each district will get so many subscribers that the association is not put to a large money cest. — W. Lees McClube. MEMS. BY ' WOODLEIGH.' [1420.] As regards the statement of the 'Iowa Home- stead ' about bees selecting a home before swarming, I can endorse it somewhat. There is a village called Peasemore about two miles from where I live in a ' bee line.' Now, nearly all the stray swarms from our part go straight off in a direct ' bee Hue ' for Peasemore. The only conspicuous object in the village is the church spire. Now, bees have tenanted the said church roof, also the tower, many times, but rarely live through the winter. One would suppose that scouts or spies had investigated the district for a suitable spot in which to start a new colony, or why should bees start off in a particular direction as soon as out of the hive if there was no preconcerted plan decided on before the swarm- ing took place. Nine miles seems a long distance for bees to travel, and a longer distance for scouts to go in search of a dulee domum, but I can vouch for a swarm of bees flying six miles in a bee line. It happened some years ago, and the man who rode horseback after them told me himnelf. His master, a farmer, kept a large apiary in those days of 100 stocks, and a man used to have to attend to them, and a very busy time he had in May and June, during swarming time, as they were all in straw skeps. The swarm in question, a very large one, came off just as the farmer returned from the fields on his horse. The beeman says, ' Maister, they means off.' ' Here, George,' says the farmer to his factotum, ' take a hive, jump on my horse and follow them.' George followed over hedges and ditches, through fields of waving corn, across commons of gorse, still keeping them well in view, till weary of wing they settled in a piece of wheat. Here George hived them, gave his horse a rest, borrowed an old woman's apron, tied them in, and trotted back home with them. Evidently, if this particular swarm had selected a cavity in some wall they never reached their intended destination. I notice ' Mr. T. H.' considers his winter packing more simple than friend ' A. E.'s,' and as I consider my system more simple, more economical, and more utilitarian than ' T. H.'s,' I give it for what it is worth. I buy some cheap unbleached calico at lfrf. or 2d. per yard, and form it into bags 20 or 21 inches wide. The sewing-machine comes in handy here, as a dozen or two bags or cases can soon be run up together, leaving one end partly open. Now take your clean wheat-chaff with dust sifted out, and about half fill your bags, or, as my little girl calls them, the pillow-cases, then finish the sewing up. Hero you have a wrap that you can mould to your frames, and long enough to lap or hang down to the bottom of the hive behind the frames or dummy. I always use two or three quilts of hemp carpet, then the chaff pillow or cushions over them. Then if a lump of candy is required by the bees, what is more easy than to roll back the cushion, place your candy over feed-hole, and replace your cushion, retaining the heat of the hive, and causing no disturbance to the bees. Then in spring, during feeding time the cushion will cover the feeding bottle by lapping over it and reaching the outsides or ends of frames, thus retaining the heat when most needed for the well-being of the colony. Then later on, when the crates of sections are on, their winter cushion still holds its own and mounts the upper deck, keeping the super warm and comfortable, and preventing the chill night air and lower temperature driving the bees out of the sections down to the brood nest below for warmth. Auent the mention of honey in the Old Testament, Genesis, chap, xliii. ver. 11, one would think the Patriarch must have been a bee-keeper on a large scale, as we find him possessed of honey a long time after the corn was all consumed, and we should expect the famine was caused by drought, consequently herbage and flowers suffered equally with cereals. — Woodleigh. KOERBS' NEW ARTIFICIAL COMB AND CELLS. [1421.] I have read about Koerbs' new artificial comb with great interest in yesterday's Journal. I yuess he does away with the mid-rib as then the queen would not have a place to deposit her eggs ; and if he makes the cells right through the combs the whole of the honey could be extracted at one operation without having to take them out and reverse. — J. Hall, Station Hill, TViyton, Cumberland, January 6, 1888. A NEW ARTIFICIAL COMB. [1422.] Is it possible that the comb invented by Mr. Koerbs, an announcement of which appeared in your valuable Journal of the 5th inst. (No. 1407), may simply turn out to be combs with cells of a yet larger size than such as are built by the bees for the purpose of raising drones? We do not find pollen deposited in drone- comb, therefore, is it not probable that foundation with cells somewhat larger still would readily be drawn out by the bees which, from their size, would be avoided by the queen when depositing eggs, but which would be utilised by the workers when storing honey ? Such is, perhaps, not improbable. May I suggest the use of foundation with cells measuring H of an inch in cross section. Should the queen deposit eggs in these the size might be somewhat increased. The matter could be easily tested, but the cost of machines for impressing foundation for experimental purposes would be greater than most bee-keepers could afford. I should, however, be glad to contribute my share towards the cost if a few bee-keepers could be found to unite for this purpose. — T. M. NEW ARTIFICIAL COMB, &c. [1423.] After reading article on (1407) p. 7 of last week's Journal on ' A New Artificial Comb, I said to myself, What a simpleton I have been ! Why, for the last two years I have had combs, and newly drawn out at that ; that the bees would not breed in or store pollen ; they would use them for nothing but houey, even when placed in the centre of brood-nest, and for that very reason I threw them all into the melting-pot. I thought to myself now, If I had but got them by me now how useful they would be. The thought then struck me, Had I cooked them all ? I went straight away to the honey room and pulled down (empty) comb after comb in hopes that one had escaped the melting-pot. I had almost given it up as a bad job, when well nigh the last comb had been removed I came across one, but much damaged. How- ever, I have cut out a sample large enough to show what it is like. Now, the thought never struck me of making comb-foundation after the same pattern until I read the above article. I set to work straight away and made a sample foundation,5which I think will fill the bill to a T. Now I don't say that the bees would not breed in them if all the combs in the hive were of the same pattern (for they will do some very curious things sometimes), but I am certain that if they had a fair amount of ordinary worker and drone comb in the hive to breed in they would not use these said combs for anything but honey, January 12, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 23 I write this simply to show that the discovery is not new (that is, if Mr. Koerbs' discovery is the same as mine ; I don't know whether it is or not), although I had not taken advantage of this discovery until reading the article ahove referred to. I have sent samples of both comb and foundation, with explanation, to Mr. A. Neigh- bour by the same post as this. I have no doubt Mr. N. will show you the same upon application ; he also will inform you whether he is disposed to patent it or not, or whether he intends making it for sale ; if he does we can soon get a mill cut for making it. I have also sent him a sample of new comb-foundation, which perhaps he will show you, invented by me, which I think will do away with wired frames and wired foundation. It has other advantages which, if it turns out as I anticipate, will make a revolution in bee-keeping. I am getting up a new section case, which I think will be welcomed by many. Mr. N., no doubt, will send a description (when ready) to the Journal ; if he does not I will. Yesterday (Sunday) was a splendid day for the bees. I walked through the apiary and put them through the roll-call, and they all (60) answered to it. Of course I never opened them, but if we get such a nice day sometime this week I shall remove all the covers and chaff-cushions to give them a good airing in the sun. — Wai.tkh Marshall, Messrs. Neighbour's Bee Farm, Bvmcefield, Hemel Hempstead. [We received the above communication too late to allow an opportunity of seeing the samples referred to ; but if there be any merit in the discovery we are pleased to give our correspondent the credit of priority. — -Ed.] HONEY SCRIPTURE TEXTS. [1424.] 1403, and 1411, on 'Scripture texts,' still need a little clearing and addition. ' Honey ' is named fifty-two times in the Old Testament and four times in the New. 'Honeycomb' is named eight times in Old Testament and once in New Testament, making sixty- five times in all. 'Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb' should surely be reckoned once for each word, &c. I add the whole of the passages naming 'honeycomb' for clearness. 1 Sam. xiv. 27. l'sa. xix. 10. Pro v. v. 3, and xvi. 24, and xxiv. 13, and xxvii. 7 (not xxvi. 7). Cant. iv. 11, and v. 1 . Add for 'Bees' J udg. xiv. 8, and Psa. cxviii. 12, making four occurrences. Add for 'wax' Psa. xxii. 14, and Micah, i. 4, making four occurrences. Add for 'hornet' Exod. xxiii. 2S, and Josh. xxiv. 12, making three occurrences. ' Stingeth ' (but, like an adder) Prov. xxiii. 32, and 'Sting1 ICor. xv. 55,56. 'Swarm' is mentioned only in Judg. xiv. 8, in con- nexion with bees. It is worth noting that no queen-bee is mentioned ; while their undesirable tenacity of pursuit is the point of Dent. i. 44. Their older and industry are not referred to, but the ant instead is the entomological pattern for us in these respects. Qy. 1. Is it because bees sting so readily ? Qy. 2. Do all bee-keepers, if so, learn the implied warning ? — E. C. P. HOW BEES EXTRACT POLhEN FROM FLOWERS. [1425.] In regard to the visitors of Asclepias cornuti (common milkweed) Dr. Hermann Muller observes that they ' slip upon the smooth parts of the flower until the foot enters the wide inferior part of the slit, in which it at last gets a firm hold,' Mr. T. H. Corry describes the insect as grasping the back of a nectary, and plunging its proboscis into its cavity, ' endeavouring at the same time to get a firm and sure foothold on the unstable flowers,' until the insect at length places one of its feet into the wider part of an alar fissure. Having collected insects on the flowers of six species of Asclepias, I regard the normal action of the most common and most efficient to be that they hold on to a flower, or several flowers, in such a way that their feet go down below the angles of the alae, and when the legs are drawn upwards they are caught between the strongly projecting hoods and guided by them over the entrance of the stigmatic chamber, which occupies the narrow interval between their bases. Of native in- sects, the most common visitors I have observed on A. Sullivantii, are humble bees (Bombus separatus, B. Penn- sylvanicuf, and B. scuteUans) and Danais Archippus. The feet of humble bees reach down as far as the basis of the petals, and I have often found the polliuia fastened upon their tibial spurs as well as on their claws. I have also found polliuia of this species on the spurs and claws of Danais Archippus, and high up on tarsal hairs of Priononyx Thoma;. In a similar way a specimen of Scolia bicincta shows pollinia of A. cornuti on the tarsal hairs. However, the gynostegia of these species are so large that the feet of many visitors will not reach far below the angles of the wings, and when this occurs the claws are the only parts which are readily caught. The importance of the hoods in guiding the legs of insects over the angles of the wings is more apparent in the smaller flowered species, since the more delicate wings catch hairs which are not only very fine and short, but which are also sit- uated much higher up on the legs. Thus hive bees caught on A. Sullivantii and A. cornuti show pollinia only on their claws and pulvilli, but they have the pollinia of A. tuberosa, A. incarnata, and A. verticillata scat- tered upon the hairs of the tarsi. A specimen of Argvnnis Cybele, which I caught on A. cornuti has pollinia of this plant on its claws, and pollinia of A. tube- rosa on the tarsal hairs II. Muller, who supposes that the whole foot enters the stigmatic chamber, says : ' When the insect tries to draw its foot out in order to proceed further, the diverg- ing claws are caught by the apposed edges of the anther- wings, and guided upwards in the slit so that one or other of the two claws is brought without fail into the notch in the lower border of the corpusculum and there held fast.' On the same subject Mr. Corry says : ' When the foot reaches the superior end of the alar chamber in which it has been guided, one at least of the two hooked claws upon it, or some part of the foot in the case of Diptera, must easily enter the hollow cavity of the corpusculum, which lies in such a position that this result is inevitable.' The importance which these authors attach to the view that the whole foot enters the chamber, in my opinion, rests on a misunderstanding of the mode of in- sertion of the pollinia, and has led them to overlook the precision with which a corpusculum comes to be fastened to a hair or claw. The corpusculum is placed so nicely at the top of the wings that its cleft is fairly continuous with the slit between them, and I cannot conceive that the contrivance works normally unless the particular part, i.e., a single claw, hair, or pulvillus, to which the corpusculum becomes attached, is caught between the wings and guided by them into the cleft. Believing that all processes are caught as the leg of the insect passes over the angle of the wing, I suppose that only a single process is caught, and that a claw is caught in exactly the same manner as a hair or spur. In a careful examination of the feet of 116 hive-bees which were killed by being caught on the flowers of A. Sullivantii, I have found that, with but two exceptions, when a foot was held by the wings, only one claw was f>4 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January ii, 188& between them, the other being free, or less often the pulvillus was held between the wings and both claws were outside. When first withdrawn the pollinia lie in the same plane. In a few minutes the twisting of the retinacula brings the pollinia into nearly parallel planes, but the upper ends are still separated by quite an interval. Ac- cording to the authors to whom reference has been made the pollinia are inserted by the corpusculum. From the analogy of observations made on the movements of the pol- linia of some OrchidaceK some advantage might be looked for in the slow movement of the pollinia of Asclepias. Indeed, Mr. Corry, who has observed this phenomenon in A. cornuti, states that it is of advantage, although he fails to show it; and I think it impossible so to do on the supposition that the pollinia are introduced by the corpuscula. He says : — ' Some considerable time, moreover, must elapse after the pollinia are extracted before the corpuscular append- ages are so far dried that both pollinia of the same cor- pusculum can be introduced through the fissure into the alar chamber, and in the meantime the insect has had time to reach another flower or plant.' On another page he observes : • If the movement did not occur on the part of the pollinia, their broad surfaces would lie at right angles to the alar fissure, and their insertion into it in this position through the notch would in consequence be rendered a much more difficult, if not an altogether impossible operation, or else the pollinia in being slipped in would become folded in the opposite direction, and the less curved border which emits no pollen tubes would be first inserted into the fissure.' lint what is to prevent this consequence before the move- ment takes place ? Whatever might happen there is obviously nothing to render the introduction of the cor- pusculum itself more difficult before the movement oc- curs than afterwards, so that the slowness of the move- ment is hardly an average under this view. If the corpusculuni were very slender or flattened so that a thin edge could be presented to the slits, there would be no difficulty in understanding how it could readily slip into the stigmatic chamber ; but it is a rounded body, and is relatively large in comparison with the entrance to the cavity. Of comae, if the whole foot of an insect commonly enters the stigmatic chamber, it is not hard to under- stand how the corpusculum should go in with it. But when the corpusculum is fastened to a hair which is directed outward and downward from the leg of the in- sect, and which is often so short that the corpusculum is fairly in contact with the leg, the difficulty increases. In the examination of the feet of hive-bees killed on the flowers, I have failed to find a single case in which a corpusculum was attached to that part of the foot which was held between the anther wings. In my opinion, therefore, the structure of the corpusculum is so far from facilitating the introduction of the pollinia that it prevents the part to which it is attached from being again caught in the slits, and until the movement occurs the corpusculuni with its two pollinia will pass over the entrance to the stigmatic chamber without being injured. After the movement occurs, if the corpusculum be ex- amined from one side, it will be observed that the retin- acula project outward and downward. Since the parts to which the corpuscula are attached themselves project outward and downward, the retinacula finally stand nearly at right angles to the leg of the insect. The re- tinaculum near the point where it joins the pollinium, is bent rather suddenly, so that the pollinium appears to be flexed upon it. This flexure, which Mr. W. II. Leggett has called the knee, is very prominent. There is quite an interval between the knees, and the membrane of the retinaculum of the knee is expanded transversely to the plane of the pollinium. .Robert Brown has observed in A. purpurascens, that the part of the retinaculum extended between the knee, and lli'ij polliuiuni remains attached to the latter when it is found in the stigmatic chamber. This expansion of the membrane serves to prevent the withdrawal of the pol- linium after it has been inserted into the cavity, and when drawn against the closely opposed edges of the alae in the upper part of the stigmatic chamber, facilitates the rupture of the retinaculum. Judging from the structure of parts which are readily caught between the anther wings nothing could be more natural than for one of the knees to slip into the entrance to the stigmatic chamber, and the movement is intended to turn them into such a position that this will occur. When, therefore, the movement has taken place, and the insect draws its ieg over the angle of the wings, the cor- pusculum with the claw or hair to which it is attached, passes on without being caught, while one of the knees of the pollinia readily enters the stigmatic chamber, and the polliniurn enters with it. "When the knee has reached the upper part of the cavity, and will go no further, the retinaculum is torn across and escapes, leaving the pol- linium in position to effect fertilisation. In repeated trials at artificial pollination of the flowers of A. cornuti, A. Sullivantii, and A. incarnata, I suc- ceeded three times in thecase of A. Sullivantii in separating the pollinium from the retinaculum without withdrawing the latter from the slit, and thus was enabled to insert a pollinium, and to draw out a corpusculum at the top of the alas with its two pollinia by the same movement. But in all other cases a pull that seemed sufficient to break the retinaculum, freed it from the slit so that the corpusculum at the top remained intact. Accordingly I have seen no difficulty on the supposition that the pol- linia are introduced by the knees, in the observation of II. Miiller, who says : ' In several flowers which I dissected, the corpuscula and pollen-masses were still in their places, though pol- linia, which must have come from other flowers, had been inserted into the stigmatic chamber.' In a number of cases observed by me on A. Sullivantii the movement which turns the knees toward tlio flower is completed in about seven minutes, though it has proceeded sufficiently in five minutes to turn the flexure far enough to render insertion quite likely. "With the view of pollination stated in this paper, the slow movement is plainly of advantage, because a knee can hardly be caught by the wings until it has occurred. Now, since only one pollinium is inserted into the stig- matic chamber, there is an economic disposal of the pol- linia. The interval between the flexures is so great that only one of them can be caught, while the other passes by the slit uninjured. There are, therefore, two chances of a pollinium being transferred to another plant. If both pollinia were left at each act of pollination, there would be but one chance of cross fertilisation. More- over the chances of cross-fertilisation would be reduced from the fact that the stigmatic chambers would be more nearly filled by pollinia from the same source, while if they are introduced singly, there are more chances of a chamber receiving a pollinium from a dis- tinct plant. As two pollinia are fastened together, there would be but one chance of pollination occurring if the pollinia were inserted by the corpuscula, while there are two chances of a knee being caught. When a pollinium has been removed the broken retinaculum may be caught in a slit, and remove a second corpusculum with its two pollinia. When this combination of two corpuscula and three pollinia is drawn over the angle of the wings, there are three chances of a pollinium being caught. Whenever a pollinium is removed two new pollinia may be substi- tuted for it, and a large combination of pollinia may result arranged either in a unilateral series or dichoto- mously. In either case the chances of the insertion of pollinium equals the number of pollinia in the combination. January 12, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 25 If the foot to which the first corpusculum of the com- bination is attached must enter the stigmatic chamber, of course there would be but one chance of pollination taking place without regard to the number of pollinia. Such an accident would be likely to destroy the whole combination. As already observed, on the large flowers of A. Sullivantii and A. cornuti,the shorter hairs on the legs of insects are not readily caught, so that the number of parts to which the corpuscula may be attached are re- duced to the minimum. For instance, the only parts of the leg of a hive-bee which can remove the corpuscula of theso species, are the two claws and the pul villus. The leg will thus remove three corpuscula, and since these bodies render useless the parts to which they are attached, the broken retin- acula not only take the place of the parts disqualified, but increase the number of parts to which the corpus- cula can be attached. By means of thse combinations, therefore, the leg of an insect has its capacity for carry- ing pollinia greatly increased. . . . Finally, I have seen the pollinia of A. Sullivantii in- troduced into the stigmatic chambers in the manner de- scribed. The pollinia and the entrance to the chamber in this species are very large and are easily seen, and hive-bees move so slowly in effecting pollination that, after a knee is caught, one can see the pollinium slowly disappear between the wings, so that there can be no doubt as to the manner of insertion. Commonly, h iw- ever, the insertion of pollinia occurs so rapidly that it is impossible to see how it really happens. After a pol- linium has been introduced into the chamber, hive-bees always have difficulty in breaking the retinaculum, and they lose their lives on account of this as well as on account of the difficulty in drawing their claws through the slit. Winn a fool is held by a retinaculum the pol- linium is found in the chamber, with every indication that it was introduced by the knee. — Professor Charles Robertson, Blackburn University, Chicago, HI. (Botanical Gazette.) THE BLUNDERS, ACCIDENTS, &c, OF A NOVICE. [1426.] Twelve months ago last Michaelmas we decided to 'go in' for bees in a small way. A hale, drooping old man, who had drawn the sickle and swung the scythe for fifty harvests, and flung the flail for fifty winters, now in his eighty-fourth year, offered us four straw hives for 24s. Bargain was struck, and night fixed for removal; and, forsooth, this first step was a step in the dark, for we knew absolutely nothing about bees — had never heard of bar-frame hives. In our ignorance we made what we considered a good bee-house, capable of accommodating eight colonies in straw hives. This was firmly fixed in the ground, facing uitli, aud fully exposed to the strong winds that swept with such great force athwart this flat part of the country. The night for removal was very dark. We joined the old man, son, grandson, donkey and cart, and soon arrived at the old stand. With the lantern the old man led the way, and cautioned us not to talk, or nothing could be done. Superstitious old man, as we shall see. About the hive entrances there was quite a hubbub, as if the bees had been disturbed. The clothes were spread, donkey and cart at the garden gate, ' we four ' ready for action, but after looking under one of the hives it was decided to leave them till another night, for the bees covered the board. Just at this moment the old man exclaimed that they were about his noddle, and fumbled about, expecting every moment to feel the dreaded stings. ' We four ' went the following evening. The donkey stayed at home. The bees were quiet. The father and son carried two, and the grandson and I two ; their two on the old stand, our two slung on a pole. We had a mile to carry them. Half way we halted ; my pole end rested upon railings, my companion's peril- ously upon the end of a stick. The pole slipped, and the heavy skeps went suddenly to the ground. No damage was suspected, so you may imagine our feelings when it was found that the comb in the hive which struck the ground first was all broken from its holding. The hive was lifted in the cloth and put upon its new stand, and left till the morrow. But before leaving the bees the hale old man of eighty-three said, ' Now yow must talk tu 'em, tell 'em tha'r yars, an' that yow'll be a good master tu 'em.' We did as he bade, of course, there and then, and they have stayed with us, although, like us, they have had new experiences. As we were walking home, the old man had other and stranger things to tell us about these mysterious little ' critters.' ' It's many years sin we bought our fust skip. We got 'em fro Mrs. K , an' forgot to talk tu 'em, an' tell V:n tha wus ours. We had bad luck wi' them lot. N< it long arter Mrs. K died, an' wen har funeral wus passen our gate, we wus reminded of the bees, an' went down an' hiked at 'em. Bleeve me bor, wen we got there them bees wus awready awasten, and wen we tand up the skip nearly all the bees wus dead.' We suggested that the bees might have died from want of food. 'Oh, no, tha din't ! no, no ; tha had plenty t' ate, but we din't talk tu 'em bor, that wus the reason. The next skip 1 got fro .Mrs. 1! , an' wen I got em' hum 1 laned over 'em an' napped on the skin wi' my finger, an' told 'em tha blongM tu me, an' bor, them bees done well, an' I never bought no more. An yow mussen't ha no weirds about 'em, du tha VOtl't Stop wi' ye.' We were anxious next morning to get to the ill-fated hive. It was a complete wreck — honey running, dead and dying lees, and what to do? We scarcely know what we did. Knew, however, that all the bees were lost, a few pounds of honey only saved. Not many weeks had passed when, during a cold and windy night, our new bee-house was blown over on its back, where it lay till the morning, and each of the three hives upset. All were made more secure than before, and no further inconvenience or loss resulted. A farmer friend, who was the only one in the village at the time who had modern hives, when passing one day, intimated that our hives were disgraceful old things, and that we must not expect much from them. He advised Cowan's Guide, which we immediately pro- cured, and went through and through with the greatest avidity. We became fascinated, ordered one of Walton's 10*. hives, had it fitted ready for a reception. In driving for the first time we were very successful, cut the old skep in twain, and gave the best comb to the bees in the new hive. But whether from want of a more prolific queen, or experience on our part, we know not, at the end of the summer they had not stored enough for winter, which necessitated feeding, and to strengthen them driven bees were united. Late in May both the remaining skeps showed signs of swarming, and clustered about for many days — one of them for weeks. We watched them constantly, and with absorbing interest. The first swarm issued and clustered very awkwardly round the lower part of the trunk of a pyramid pear-tree, just near the bee-house. With much difficulty we succeeded in getting them into a straw hive, and in the evening placed them upon the stand near their old home. Being our first swarm we were delighted at having secured them. Next morning, when amongst the fruit trees, we heard such commotion in the air, and sure enough there was another (?) swarm out. We hastened to the spot, re- garding nothing but the bees. It was soon evident they meant flight, and forthwith, in a direct line, made for 26 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 12, 1888. an old willow-tree in the next meadow. We followed, determined not to lose them. They must have selected this place before swarming, as will appear more evident presently. A. ladder was procured and a skep, and we tried all ways to get them out of the tree, but to no purpose ; we had to leave them in the end, though most reluctantly. We returned, therefore, disappointed, to find — what ? Why, that the very bees which had given us so much trouble and delight the day previous were the same bees which had reissued without provocation and gone to the tree. We have reason to think with ' Iowa Homestead ' (1413) in this week's Journal that bees do select a place before swarming. At the back of our bee-house is a hedge and not long before our second swarm issued a score or so of bees were observed hovering about one place. We guessed then that the bees were selecting a place to cluster, which proved true, for soon after a swarm came out with a rush and went direct to the spot over which the few had hovered, and in a few minutes they were all clustered upon a slender thorn twig. As if to recom- pense us for the loss of our first swarm, the same day our attention was hurriedly directed to some bees which were clustering near the ground not far from the bee- house. With a straw hive we hastened to the spot, and quite a curious phenomenon presented itself, — a cast, undoubtedly, and all clustering upon a common nettle. The skep was placed over them, and in five minutes most of them were safely hived. We knocked together a hive to take standard frames and drove the bees from the hive whence the lost swarrn had issued and stood thorn where the old hive had been ; but they resented, though dry-sugar feeder and full sheets of foundation seemed all that were required for their comfort. They left ; how and whither we never knew, but think they went to the other hives. We did not move the hive, however, and about this time we left and were away about a month. It was August, a month when most of us would rather be at home, the time of harvest and of fruit. It was especially hard to leave the bees, for some might get lost — a flight or two perhaps. But we had no thought of gaining a swarm, which, to our amazement, was only too true, for we found on returning that the frame-hive which we had left empty of bees, but with sugar and founda- tion still in, was full of wasps. Here was a job. The store they had stolen who could tell? For hours we waged war with those yellow thieves, and, as we thought, killed nearly all of them. They were trouble- some, however, till late autumn. Faint heart never won fair anything. We began to take the B. Bee Journal, which has been a pleasure and profit to us to this day. Driving bees is a novelty here, but having been begun we hope the days of the sulphur-pit are numbered ; of the old straw hive we cannot hope so much. The apathy of the cottager, speaking generally, is extra- ordinary; they are for the some part thriftless, sensual, poor. After work the pipe and the pint seem the only attractions. We had little difficulty in obtaining the consent of cottagers to allow us to drive their bees. Altogether during the autumn we drove eighteen lots and intro- duced them after uniting into modern hives. Wishing to get rid of our new bee-house we changed it for a skep of bees, which is the only stock now that is not in a bar-frame hive. Through autumn we had five feeders going (syrup), and had united in the five hives eighteen lots of driven bees. The most united in one hive were five lots, which is our best, and are wintered on eight frames. We had great difficulty in driving in every instance where cross sticks had been used. Late in the autumn we drove to a neighbouring village with the intention of driving ten out of fifteen colonies. The comb was so firm with the sticks that at the end of half an hour many bees were left in the first hive, and at the end of the third we were almost fagged out and disgusted. No. 2, which was placed on its old stand after being driven, was a dis- appointment, for just afterwards when we turned up the hive not a bee was left. They had forced their way into the adjacent hives only to meet their death. We could not wonder, for the hives stood all in a row not an inch apart. The other hives were brought home here and driven with perfect ease. Let us caution any readers who from inexperience may be tempted to draw the cross- sticks out of the straw hives before driving. They are generally so firm that in pulling them there is great danger of breaking the comb from its holding and thereby crushing and impeding the exit of the bees. Now perhaps some one will be good enough to assist us over a difficulty. It was our fault that father made an observatory hive in the autumn, which does not take a standard frame. The top bar is just fifteen inches, and as we found it necessary to transfer the bees to another hive prepared for winter we found the frames only just long enough to lie upon the inner walls. After transferring we united three lots more of driven bees to them, making five lots in all in the one hive. It was necessary to take two unfinished frames out now and give them finished ones, which we did. So now they have six top bars fifteen inches and two seventeen inches long. As this is our strongest stock we wish to transfer them in spring into a storifying hive. We have made a capital hive four-storey, and we want to know how to proceed so that the short top bars may be replaced by standard frames. If a change can be made we have enough of the latter unfinished. Supposing frames can be changed will it be wise to stirify when we have no finished frames of comb for use in the second, third and fourth storeys ? To-day (Satur- day) the bees have been out in large numbers ; their first duty was to brins? out all the dead, which they carried quite away. We allowed the sun to shine upon the quilts awhile and ventured to peep at the stores, as there was some doubt. In conclusion, we are sure that our worthy Editor will agree with us in thinking that, whilst Guide-books are good and indispensable, there is no school like experience. Our blunders, accidents, and disappoint- ments, have not in the least diminished our interest. We have a larger hope than at the first. We are satisfied that the step from the straw skep to the modern bar-frame villa was progress, and having started, our watchword ought, can, and must be still, Progress. — F. Goodrich, Methwold, Norfolk, January 7. THE PPJCE OF HONEY. [1427.] Mr. C. Howes [1406] pays me, I think, a very poor compliment in thinking that I do not take the trouble to read carefully what has appeared in the Journal from the pens of several writers to whom lie refers, ' Mr. Useful Hints,' Messrs. Godfrey, Siminins, &c. Evidently Mr. Howes still labours under the same delusion that in this district we possess the same advan- tage as he enjoys. Let me undeceive him again, once for all, by telling him that we have no market or other place within twenty miles at least, nor do I know of any such a place anywhere where ' honey vendors ' have a chance of standing side by side with their several ' gets-up,' as he calls them, therefore we have no chance of showing any superior ' get-up ' in our goods for sale, neither do I rush into the market to sell at a low figure just because others do. I have sold none for less than Sd., more for Wd. and Is. per section ; but it has been a very difficult matter to do. I, however, cleared out my last about a month since at 8^., not a great price after waiting three months, and then had to go to January 12, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 27 London to do it. I have found two or three markets for another year by doing so, which is some small consolation. I am very pleased to receive any hints on any subject, but I flatter myself that I have a little common sense not to put the ' sulpher pit ' honey on the same level as extracted. It is not I, but the uneducated public who do it. There is no chance of comparison. Honey is honey, that is all they know, and if you try to explain and endeavour to show how and why the difference, they only look at you in blank amazement, as much as to say, Do you think me a fool not to know honey ? No doubt, if the B. B. K. A. were to publish some leaflets on the different qualities of honey, it would have a most salutary effect. Mr. Howes next refers to 'our great masters,' trying to increase the number of bee-keepers in this country, yet advocating the 'down-grade' in the price of honey. I do not see this; I do not think they .trouble much about the price of honey, they are generally great producers or manufacturers of bee-furniture and appliances generally ; if they seek to push and extend their business it is no more than they have a perfect right to do. If bee- keeping is to be a paying industry, it must be conducted on ordinary business principles of profit and loss, and consider time as money spent in its cultivation. This, I think, is where the mischief arises to a great extent, men with their regular salary, and clergymen to a large extent, as if they had just begun to realise the ad- vantage or wisdom of acting on a celebrated bishop's advice to his clergy, ' Keep bees, Keep bees,' have gone in for many things latterly, fruit, vegetables, bees, and photography. Another reason is the middle man, who advertises for honey at G%(1. per lb., this also tends to make a false impression and lower the price, while the middleman makes his thirty and over forty per cent profit, so that the consumer is not in any way benefited by the low price the producer gets. What then are bee- keepers to do ? In the first place (if it is not practical for the B. B. K. A. through county associations to assist bee-keepers to sell their honey, which I submit they could without much difficulty), let all bee-keepers refuse to sell their honey to those middlemen and look out for the retail seller who supplies the consumer direct, thus dividing the profit between two instead of three parties. Considering the uncertainty of the weather season, honey cannot in many districts be produced at Qd, per lb. if time has to be paid for in producing it, as it clearly should be, or else those who have to give all their time to it had better look out for even a chimney-sweep's business, where he can"get his time paid for. There are but very few businesses one can combine with it, to ■work either successfully ; even at this season, I find every day brings something to do, or to bo locked into.— Sherborne, Dorset, January 4, 1888. POLLEN FOOD. By Pastor Schonfeld of Tentschel. In my last article I endeavoured to prove that bees are unable to prepare for any length of timo the chyle required for the nourishment of the brood, unless they have a supply of nitrogenous food, and that, in the absence of collected poDen, from some reason or other at the commencement of breeding they extract it from old combs which contain an abundance of it. All prac- tical apiarists will have concluded from this that it is well to insert one or two old combs in the neighbour- hood of the winter quarter of the bees when a colony is ■without pollen at the end of the season, and when there are only new combs in the hive. By this simple and easy expedient such a colony is very materially assisted in the preparation of the necessary chyle : without it, indeed, the bees would be unable to subsist, for as the brood require albuminous food to build up their body, so the bees require it for their maintenance. It is quite incorrect to suppose that a colony without pollen is able to survive the winter in a perfectly healthy condition as long as it has a plentiful supply of honey. During the whole winter it is impossible to find a single bee the intestinal canal of which is not full of particles of pollen, being an undeniable proof that pollen is an indispensable food of bees. Bees found without particles of pollen always, and without exception, belong to a colony which had no pollen, and only newly made combs at the beginning of winter, but such colony would hardly sur- vive the winter. How indispensable albuminous food is to drones I learnt last summer. It is a well-known fact that queens and drones do not consume pollen, but only honey which they take from the cells, the neces- sary albuminous food being supplied to them in the chyle with which they are fed by the workers. In order to find out how long drones are able to live, if merely fed on honey, I made the following experiment : I took two combs, containing about 2—300 grains each of freshly gathered honey and surrounded each comb with wlrework, a space of i centimetre being left between it and the upper ends of the cells, so as to enable any drones on the combs to move comfort- ably in every direction. One of the two combs was protected by a second screen of wirework, a space of 1 centimetre being left between the two, so that any drones on this honeycomb would be compelled to exist upon honey alone, as they could not possibly receivo food from the worker bees on the outside, while the drones on the first honeycomb were not prevented from re- ceiving chyle through the grating. During a week of cold and rainy weather in June, when the drones showed no particular inclination to leave the hive, I took 200 drones from one large colony, dividing this number equally between the two honey- combs, described as above, 'and then placed the two combs in the middle of the brood-nest, where I watched them carefully. In the .veiling of the fourth day the in the" double cage which could nut be fed by worker bees from without, were in such a feeble condi- tion that they seemed to be unable to live much longer. In fact, on the fifth day all were found dead, except four, which were just able to move. The drones on the comb which the workers were able to supply with chyle, remained in perfect health, and flew off briskly wlien I liberated them a few dajs afterwards. What had caused the death of those unfortunate 100 drones which in all respects, save one, were in exactly the same position as the surviving drones on the first comb? Surely it was the want of nitrogenous food alone. Worker bees, subjected to a similar test, remain alive much longer than drones— for though the latter appear most phlegmatic, they are in reality very sensi- tive creatures — if it were possible to keep worker bees in confinement as long as they are able to exist with- out nitrogen. In any case, my experiment on drones should be an inducement to bee-keepers to satisfy them- selves, more than has hitherto been done, that their colonies are not in want of pollen at the commence- ment of winter.— Translated from Gravenhorst's Illus- trierte Bienenzeitung, December, 1887. (grfrots from % Situs, Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, January 9f/i, 1838.— On the 13th and Uth of December a few stocks were having what I might term a partial flight, but the majority were quiet, with, perhaps, just a single bee or two going in and out ; after this all were quiet till about the 29th and 30th, when the sun was shining quite warm during the middle of the day, and fetched out the bees from stocks that are in half-inch makeshift hives, but it has been reserved for the four last days of the week just passed for the bees to have grand flights every day, so much, that any one might almost say they were swarming. They look remarkably 28 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 12, 1888. clean and healthy. I have scattered some nice clean straw among the hives, which I believe has saved the lives of many bees, as it saved them from the damp ground. — John Walton. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for lis to go to press in advance of the date of issite, qiteries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt oj their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of persona interest will be answered in this column. C. Whiting. — Uniting. — .March will be soon enough to unite. Move the colonies near to each other, and feed both if necessary. When uniting remove the queen from one hive and place its combs alternately with those of the other, at the same time throwing in a little smoke. The evening is the best time for uniting. H. Schwakz. — Nuclei, Swarming, d-c. — Your proposed plan would not work well, since each hive would suffer from a cessation of breeding for at least fourteen days in the midst of the honey season. The usual plan of rearing queens in nuclei is far better ; but if you object to the trouble, when the honey season is over — say about the end of July — remove the old queen from each hive, and allow the bees to raise another. The smallest nucleus we advise you to use is one containing three standard frames. To secure the queen in a swarm shake the swarm on to a sheet, and with a carbolised feather direct the bees to the entrance of an empty hive, raised slightly in front, preventing them from crowding in too hastily, when you will easily discover the queen as she leisurely marches in. This should be done in the evening. W. H. Jenkins. — Honey Leaflet.— The B. B. E. A. have issued a leaflet entitled, ' Honey as Food,' which may be procured from the Secretary, Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. Sherborne. — Holy Writ. — The questions raised by you in your letter respecting the authenticity and inspiration of the Scriptures are beyond the limits of discussion allow- able in the Bee Journal. If your letter appeared in our columns it would most probably give rise to a very wide, perhaps angry, and altogether useless controversy, which is much to be deprecated, Our views are dissimilar to yours, but to rebut your opinions would be going beyond our crepida. R. Chapman, — The Best Frames. — We should advise you to give frames of botli the makers mentioned a fair trial, and report to us the result at the end of the season. Both the kinds of frames have special merits. Charles Wade. — Crooked Combs. — When the weather will admit lift the frames, on to which the combs have been irregularly built, bodily out of the hive by means of two pieces of lath placed beneath the ends of the top-bars. Lay two pieces of tape on the transferring board, and lay the comb upon it. Straighten the combs by cutting down to the mid-rib and press it flat, the convex side will compress sufficiently ; lay a frame round the comb, and tie it on tightly ; keep the mid-rib in the centre of the top-bar, and be sure to keep the comb close up against the top-bar. Preserve all the brood, and keep it out of the hive but a short time. The drone-comb can be dis- carded. As each frame is finished return it to the bees in the hive. After two days examine the hive, and if the combs are firmly fixed, remove the tapes. If any have slipped tie them on again more firmly. The bees will repair all damages. business directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenehurch St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Webster, W. B., Wokingham. Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard.Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenehurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenehurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDliEU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DDRRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire. JOHNSTON, A. B., Brickhall, Ballywoolen, Killy- leagh, Co. Down. MeNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON, C. T., Crawley, Sussex. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich. RTJDKLN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rat . way Bookstalls. WITHINSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Heading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stranqewayb' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 291. Vol. XVI.] JANUARY 19, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (fitoitaxfal, Ifaitas, #r. 'THE PITTS' APIARY, SOUTHALL. We could scarcely have selected a more un- propitious time for visiting a Lee-garden than a recent Saturday afternoon, and when we saw the locale of ' The Pitts ' it was a double source of regret that a season of ' ethereal mildness, gentle spring,' was not chosen. Messrs. Abbott Brothers have hit it to a T (or, rather, two T's) in fixing upon the Old Gravel Pits as the groundwork of what they consider a beau ideal apiary should be. In a snug excavation, many years old, now covered with rich vegetation growing rankly on its gravelly sides, and sheltered from strong winds, are seen bifurcating canals filled to their margins with fresh, green watercress (what magnificent drinking fountains for the bees !),[whilst ' the pitts ' are belted along the eastern side with willows what early pollen !), recalling visions of spring. 'Behold, yon bordering fence of sallow trees Is fraught with flowers, the flowers are fraught with bees.' Tangled brambles, too, are there in plenty, so that there is food and drink, at least, at hand, eked out by whatsoever the bees can forage out in the adjoining meadows, for in the magnificent country between Hanwell and Southall, some ten miles from London, lies this bee-garden ; indeed, there should surely be considerable surplus honey gathered in this locality. We do not exaggerate when we say that there is no sight in these islands to equal, from a bee- keeper's point of view, the one before us this dismal, dark December day. Here are seventy new hives filled with new frames ; the frames are filled with new comb, the combs 'all fraught with bees ;' hives of white and hives of red alternate with others of blue, green, orange, and slate colour, these colours being so arranged with regard to each other that each one is in juxtaposition with others bearing the greatest contrast to it. The hives are arranged in what gardeners call ' quincunx ' form, i.e., straight lines are seen from whatever point one stands at, instead of a confused, disorderly medley. Messrs. Abbott Brothers' idea in establishing this bee-garden is that they may be able to supply at a moment's notice any reasonable number of perfect hives in thorough working order, their intention being to use wired foundation throughout, so that there may be no risk of breakdowns in transit ; all that remains, therefore, for the purchaser to do on receipt of his hives, supposing the season be suit- able, is to uncork the bees and put on sections. The hives at present in use are of the Gayton type, and very pretty they look. We shall be glad to revisit ' the pitts ' on an insect hunt in due season, for by repute, and to all appearance, the place is a true home of rarities amongst the Lepidoptera. USEFUL HINTS. Wkatiikr. — A variation of 45° — from 15° to <~>0" Fahr. — in the course of a few clays, maintains the character of our climate fur fickleness. And now we have day after day of densest fog in most parts of the country. Saturday, the 7th inst.. and the three fol- lowing days, were days of brilliant sunshine, while the thermometer at mid-day in the open air stood at 60°. Cleansing, Flights. — The bees were only too willing to take advantage of weather so unusual, and the apiary resounded with the pleasant hum of a bright day in June. After many weeks' confinement a thorough cleansing flight was obtained, and the health of the colonies thereby has been improved and assured for the future. Manipulation. — So great was the inducement to examine several colonies, of whose condition we felt rather uncertain, that we took up our carbolised cloth, stripped off the qudts, and inspected the combs one by one, only to find that the bees were flourishing, and the hives dry, snug, and cosy, beneath enamelled cloth and ether quilts. All were breeding, and the queens with distended abdomens, as in the summer months. Notably one colony, formed in the autumn from condemned bees, to which an imported Italian queen had been given, possessed four frames of sealed brood, together with e^°:^ and larvaj. Such a proceeding, on the ~th of January, is without a parallel in our records of nearly half a century. The murmur of the bees, their flitting around in the sunshine, the feeble crawling over the brood combs of the newly hatched, and the short flights of others, for the first time trying their tiny wings, are things to be noted and remembered. As quickly as possible the hives were closed, the quilts returned, and the hive-covers turned up towards the sun for an airing, and we trust that these colonies will be found none the worse for so untimely a disturbance when the honey season comes. But it behoves us all to remember that there is time enough yet for winter storms to reassert their rule. On January 18th, 1881, we experienced in this country a snowstorm of such violence that it might well be termed a hurricane, and to which our meteorological records contain no equal. So that it is 30 THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 19, 1888. well to bear in mind the uncertainty of our climate, and not to ' cry before we are out of the wood.' Queen-breeding. — It either is, or ought to be, the object of every bee-keeper to obtain the most hardy and prolific queens ; indeed, there is no truer motto than that adopted by one of our principal firms of caterers in bee-appliances, viz., Nihil sine Regina. How many tons of honey have been lost by allowing effete and worn-out queens to remain over colonies until the honey season has passed away, and the bees have dwindled and died ! There can be little doubt, too, that hives in such con- dition are meet receptacles for the germs of foul brood. That what is termed in-and-in breeding has a tendency towards depreciating the good qualities of queens — such as fecundity, longevity, energy, and so forth, — is generally admitted. But are we making any effort to procure the fecundation of our queens by drones of fresh blood ? Certainly we are not if we allow fecundation in the same apiary in which the queens are bred, since in that case a young queen may, and probably will, mate with her own brother. It is true that our best strains of cattle, sheep, and pigs, have been raised by a constant succession of in-and-in breeding, but mating brother and sister, or parent and child, has always been avoided ; and although the highest perfection as regards shape and development of .particular point, has been reached in this way, yet it cannot be denied that fecundity has been impaired. Ask any farmer who has tried breeding pigs, for instance, from the higher class of pure bred prize- winning varieties, and he will tell you that their produce is very small in number. In our own experience the farrows have consisted of from three to five in the best and purest breeds, whilst these same breeds when crossed with entirely new blood have produced farrows of from ten to fifteen. And our belief is that the same rule applies equally in the case of bees. Hence the amount of benefit derived by English bee-keepers from the introduction of the Italian and other foreign races of bees into this country, can scarcely be estimated. The hybrids are acknowledged on all sides, both at home and abroad, to be the best bees, which at once proves our point ; and our object in introducing the subject is to suggest a remedy for this in-and-in breeding, by which we mean the mating of queens in the same apiary in which they are bred. There are various ways by which fresh blood can be introduced into our apiaries. Imported queens of the various races may be used, but the expense is consider- able. English-bred queens of these races may be obtained from trustworthy breeders at home, but here there is some doubt as to the possibility of obtaining the pure race ; in all cases, nevertheless, fresh blood will have been obtained. But there is another, and a very simple method, which we do not remember to have seen recommended in this country, viz., exchange of virgin queens between apiarists living at a distance of not less than eight miles from each other, or of sending such queens to a greater distance, solely for the purpose of fecundation. If it be an object to keep pure races only, we find greater difficulty, but even thus, by giving a little more time to the work, and by practising the Kbhler plan, we can obtain our object under the exchange system. We will suppose, for illustration, two apiaries situated at a distance of ten or more miles from each other, one consisting entirely of black bees, and the other of Italians, in both a fair quantity of drones being tolerated. If the virgin queens are sent from each of these apiaries to the other, and introduced to nuclei, or >.o colonies which have just swarmed, in a few days they will have mated and can bo returned to their owners. The worker progeny of such queens will be hybrid, but their drone offspring will be pure, and consequently there will be no danger of contamination to either race if the hybridised queens are not used for queen -breeding — always supposing that both apiaries are sufficiently isolated from other races. If only we could obtain the privilege of sending queens by post, a virgin queen, with a dozen attendant workers, could be forwarded, in a Peet or Benton cage, to a distant friend for fecundation, as easily as a letter is now transmitted, and returned in the course of a few days. That such a system would be largely and beneficially carried out, simply with the object of infusing fresh blood, independently of breeding the pure races, we have no manner of doubt. Or, again, supposing a breeder of queens for sale, who would, for a small consideration, receive virgin queens for fecuuda- tion by drones of any specified race, how great would be the convenience and advantage to most bee-keepers, and how great the saving of time and trouble ! Without interfering with honey production — comb or extracted, with or without increase of colonies — by the above means we might annually introduce fresh blood into our apiaries, to any extent desired, and at little expense. The manner of proceeding we recommend is that stated in 'Useful Hints' (vol. xiv., p. 162, B.B.J.) under ' Preventing After-Swarms,' in which, when a natural swarm issues from a honey-storing colony, the swarm takes the position, and continues the surplus storage of the parent hive, the latter being placed beside the former for use as a nucleus (or otherwise) and for raising a queen. In this parent colony the queen may be allowed to hatch, in accordance with nature's law, and forthwith be transmitted for fecundation to some distant apiary, and afterwards returned to her hive. Or if the ordinary plan of natural swarming be allowed, the supernumerary queens — of which there are often from two to six with each swarm — may be secured from the after-swarms, and treated in a similar manner, for super- seding old queens, or for any other purpose. A change of blood may be obtained also by purchasing virgin queens from the breeders, and introducing them into our own apiaries. For such lower prices should be charged than for fecundated ones. In artificial swarming, the plan may be carried out by giving a frame of brood to the colony during the absence of its queen. Under present postal regulations we have successfully carried out this plan, by sending by rail the virgin queens in the boxes from which we had taken imported Italian queens, but time occupied in transmission is more than it would be in remitting by post. May the Post-office authorities soon be induced, by our incessant importunities, if by no other means, to grant us the boon of sending our queens through the post. Young queens, weather permitting, will generally mate about the fifth day of their age ; it it evident, therefore, that they should be despatched on these excursious as soon as possible after emerging from the cell. Hot on Cold ? — We are indebted to Messrs. Can- and ltaitt for complying with our request that they would give their views on the subject of ' Parallel v. Right- angled Frames.' Their pertinent remarks, given in the last issue of the Record, should be read by all who are interested (and who are not?) in this controversy. Their views, after a fair amount of experience, we can fully en- dorse, especially in regard to the advantages of tiering up over lateral extension, for either extracted or comb- honey, and free passage for the bees. We still hope to have the experience of other practical apiarists on this subject, which appears, in our little world, to be assuming the position of the old controversy of ' Broad v. Narrow gauge,' in the railway world. The truth of the old proverb, that ' habit becomes second nature,' will account for the variety of opinions as regards the use or difficulty of manipulation under either system. To ourselves manipulation is far easier and more pleasant with frames ranging from back to front than when placed transversely. Our rule is never to stand before the entrance to a hive when manipulating; but how to avoid doing so, in comfort, witli transverse frames, we know not, since reaching over the whole January 19, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 31 length of a, fifteen or twenty-frame hive, well tenanted with angry bees, or even crossing the arms from side to side, is certainly not a pleasant operation. With frames at right angles we always work from side to centre of hive, changing position from one side to the Other, which causes the minimum of disturbance to the bees and facility in handling the frames. Mr. Godfrey's experience — that in roofs of houses, or other buildings, bees build their combs from rafter to rafter, or joist to joist —is exactly what we should have expected, even when such combs cross the entrance ; but we do not think they do so in order to avoid draft — since in such situa- tions this would simply be an impossibility — but to obtain a solid foundation for their combs. But we are strongly of opinion that, given a hive, with perfectly horizontal base and roof, tenanted by a swarm large pin ugh to fill, or nearly to fill it, with an entrance on tin' Bcuth side, we shall find that the bees will range their combs from back to front. Sko. .ion-backs. — We are often asked which is the best way to range the section-boxes on the hive — whether parallel, or transversely with the combs beneath. Our own plan is to place them transversely, but we do not think that it makes the slightest difference if placed the other way, if a full bee-space is left between brood-combs and sections. From a trial last season of Ileddon's honey- board we are inclined to think favourably of it, and hope to give it a more extensive trial in the coming season. Manipulation, Feeding, and other work. — Man- ipulation must only be tolerated in cases of dire nesessity, such as dysentery, starvation, &c, when a change from wet to dry hive, in a warm room, or out-of-doors in a temperature of 60°, will prove of advantage. In such case moderate feeding with warm syrup will also do good, but otherwise candy should still be given. Keep all hives well and warmly covered, with dry quilts, winter packing, and sound roofs, and let there be no disturbance of any kind. Continue to preparo hives and sections in anticipa- tion of the good time coming. UNITED STATES. The Annual Convention op North American Bee-keepers at Chicago. (Continued from p. 18.) Professor Cook gave a lecture on 'The Legs of the Bee,' which we hope to reproduce in full, together with illustrations, which the Professor has kindly offered to forward to us. Mr. T. G. Newman introduced the question of ' The Best name for Extracted Honey.' Efai'ty-three names had been suggrsted, some of them very peculiar ones, such as ' Divorced Honey,' ' Cycloned Honey,' ' Loose Honey,' ' Honeyseim.' None of them appeared as good as ' Extracted,' and the meeting voted unani- mously that no more appropriate name for ' Extracted Honey ' can be. selected than its present one. Mr. J. H. Martin's essay on ' Cost of Production of Honey' was next read. He said, in computing the cost of production, the figures should show the cost for several years. He found the cost in his bee-yards has varied from 2 cents to CO cents per pound. He values his bees at 5 dollars per colony. In 188G he had 200 colonies, valued at 1000 dollars; empty combs, hives, fixtures, &c, .'300 dollars ; hired help, rent of apiary, &c, 72 dollars ; his own labour, five months at 30 dollars a month, ISO dollars; total expenses, .'100 dollars. He secured 10,000 pounds of honey at a cost of 3 cents per pound. In 1883 the cost was 2 cents per pound. In 1882 it was 50 cents per pound. This year the yield is 6000 pounds at 4 cents per pound. If comb honey is produced tho bee-keeper prepares his own crates, sec- tions, &c, three months more time should be added and 50 per cent should be added to the cost, making the cost of comb honey at least 10 cents per pound. lie thinks an expert ought to manage 300 colonies in one yard, with little or no help. The next was an essay by Mr. G. M. Doolittle on ' Honey Production — Its first cost, and how much the Bee-keeper should obtain for his Labour.' He considers a bee-keeper's time is worth more than that of the man who cuts wood, carries the hod, or breaks stones upon the highways, men whose working value is lj dollars a-day. Bee-keeping requires study and brain-work which should be paid for. After carefully considering the position, he believes that 45 pounds of comb honey per colony is as a rule an average crop. Allowing that a man can manage 100 colonies of bees he will get 4500 pounds of comb honey as the result of a year's labour. This is not clear gain, there is interest on his 36 dollars, taxes, 4 dollars ; sections, 25 dollars ; foundation, 30 dollars ; shipping, 40 dollars ; double interest on 200 dollars invested in hives, which would be needed to keep them in repair ; rent of shop and land, 30 dollars; carting honey to railroad, 11 dollars; making a cash outlay of 200 dollars a-year. Taking a hod- carrier's wages at \\ dollars a-day, or 391^ dollars for 313 working days, and this added to the 200 dollars gives the actual cost at 5'Jlj dollars, or a trifle over 13 cents per pound. If one half more of extracted honey is obtained the cost is 8f cents as the cost of a pound of extracted honey. He says whoever sells for less than these figures works for less than lj dollars a-day. A paper on ' Price of Honey — how to control it ' was read by M. M. Baldridge, in which he advocated the bee-keeper to fix the price and sell only to consumers. Honey in small sections should sell at 15 to 25 cents per pound. He proposes to sell to consumers through retail agents, supplying the growers with a can of honey and giving them a commission of 10 to 20 per cent, as they would have no cash invested in it. It should be constantly kept on sale and in sight every month of the year. The money may be collected every month, so that there would be little risk of bad debts. The distant markets should be supplied through agents, who would also receive a commission. In this way it would do away with the necessity of more than one wholesale supply house in each state. On the question of statistics it was resolved that a committee of three be appointed by the President to use their influence in securing the placing of bees and honey upon the statistical list issued by the Govern- ment. Professor A. J. Cook and Dr. Mason were ap- pointed. Reports were then read from the Vice-Presidents from Ontario, Florida, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Indiana, Vermont, and Quebec. Mr. W. Z. Hutchinson then gave a short address on ' The Production of Comb Honey.' He said : To produce comb honey we must have populous colonies at the beginning of the honey harvest, and to secure these breeding must go on rapidly and uninterruptedly for two months previous to the honey harvest. Aside from food in abundance, warmth is one great requisite for breeding. The heat from a colony of bees is sufficient ; the difficulty is that it is lost by radiation. To prevent this loss pack the colonies when taken from the cellars, and allow the packing to remain until time for putting on the supers. He packs by putting on an outer case and filling between with sawdust. Uses supers one tier high, the sections being filled with foundation. Although straight er combs are obtained by using separators, he can secure combs that are straight enough without them. Mr. Ileddon then took up the subject of ' Hives and Fixtures,' and at the request of several members gave a description of the construction and working of his hive, in which he said by reversing it the bees would S2 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 19, 1888. completely fill the frames with comb, while the screws holding' the frames tight enabled the bee-keeper to shake out the bees. The break-joint principle of his honey- board prevented the building of brace combs. Mr. Betsiuger said he could shake bees from a Lani*- stroth hive quite as quickly as they can be shaken from a Heddou hive. Mr. Eugene Secor, in his essay on 'Bee-keeping alone, or w jth other pursuits,' advocated the combining some- thing else with bee-keeping. He did not believe in specialists in bee-keeping anv more than in hog-rearing. He believed that bees ought to form part of the sur- roundings of every ideal rural home ; not only because it adds to the beauty of the landscape picture, but because, in the economy of nature, bees are necessary to the perfect fertilisation and fructification of the vegetable kingdom, and that object can be best attained by the proper distribution of the means to accomplish the end sought. If bee-keeping were in the hands only of specialists, some localities would be overstocked. The man who knows only one thing is a one-idea man. His capacity for enjoyments in this world is also limited. His horizon is narrow, bound by a single thought. It produces and developes a man to know more than one thing. All who have given the subject a thought know that the massing together of large numbers of either animals or men, soon developes disease and death — Nature's remedy for restoring the proper equilibrium of life. Who shall say that foul brood is not Nature's punishment for overstocking, and a gentle hint to more widely distribute the bees which she intended to act as marriage priest to all the plants in her flowery kingdom ? In his judgment 100 colonies in one yard come very near the limit of profitable increase. Dairying or stock- raising could be combined with bee-keeping. In this case the increase of bee-pasturage will also increase his available food for stock and vice versa. Raising fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, and gooseberries, apples, and plums, are also recommended, as well as the keeping of poultry, either of which, combined with bee-keeping, could be managed successfully by an energetic and suit- able person. Mr. Ileddon stood up for the specialist, and said that taking one year with another the advantages were all with specialty. Mr. Boot thought it better that the eggs should not all be in one basket, especially in a bad season. Of the bee-keepers present, on the call of the President, twenty-five stood up as specialists. Mr. B. L. Taylor next read a paper on ' Wintering Bees in the Northern States.' He attributed the heavy losses in wintering to allowing the bees to retain their honey, which was frequently unfit for them. When he winters out-of-doors he gives full hive-entrance and ventilating without draught. He gave several instances of bad wintering of bees traced to bad food, and recom- mends that all honey should be removed, and the bees fed up on syrup. In 1870 he had fifteen colonies, and fed each with sugar syrup. Wintered out-of-doors, and in the spring, one pint cup would have contained all the dead bees from all the colonies. He began the disastrous winter of 1880-81 with sixty colonies, thirty were fed with a limited amount of sugar, and of these sixteen survived ; of the thirty not fed only three survived. In 1884 he gave all his 500 colonies empty combs and fed them on sugar. The result was that although all other bees in that part of Michigan, with but few excep- tions, perished, there was not one of his in a normal condition ; but, so far as he could judge, wintered per- fectly. Next year his loss was 12 per cent, on stores partly honey and partly syrup. In 1886-87 he had 400 colonies, two-thirds had honey stores, the remainder were supplied with sugar syrup. There was a marked difference between the two, those on sugar stores were the picture of comfort and contentment, quiet, closely clustered, not easily disturbed, not a diarrhetic sign, and only now and then a dead bee dropping out of the cluster. Those on honey stores were uneasy, not closely clustered, easily disturbed, dying by the thousand, and many of the hives bearing unmistakable signs of disease. Colonies with plenty of good stores always winter well, while those with stores of a doubtful character winter more or less disastrously. Mr. McLain then gave an interesting account of his practical accomplishments and experiments in scientific bee-keeping during the past year, referring to the in- terest displayed by the United States' Department of Agriculture in the valuable and rapidly increasing in- dustry of bee-keeping and the honey product. The last essay was by Mr. D. A. Jones on ' Establish- ing out apiaries.' He said there were some localities where 500 colonies might be kept, and others where 100 to 200 colonies would overstock them. He considered 100 to 200 as many as could be profitably kept in one apiary. Instead of increasing at home he would establish out apiaries, commencing with fifty colonies. One man is required at each place during the season of five months. He has himself located one from his home apiary one and a half miles north-west, the next four miles north-west, then one seven miles to the north-east ; next one five miles north, one six miles north-west, and one ten miles north-west, with sometimes smaller ones between. From personal experience he considers that in good localities, from two to three miles is far enough apart. If the locality were suitable he would prefer to have them so that he could visit them all by driving the shortest possible distance. With a good practical foreman to visit the yards and see after them, as much can be realised from the out apiaries as from the home ones. Often they bring in a better return, because they are selected on account of their fitness, while the home apiary may only be tolerated because of its being your ' home ' rather than the most favourable place for an apiary. Almost any number of apiaries may be managed in this way, if the owner is thoroughly practical, and will devote his entire attention to the business. He believes that all such apiaries should be managed both for honey and increase, unless the sale of bees is impos- sible. It was decided to hold the next Convention at Toledo, with Dr. A. B. Mason as President. KENT BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of this Association was held, by the kind permission of the Royal Society for the Pre- vention of Cruelty to Animals at 105 Jermyn Street, London, on Thursday, the 12th January, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. The attendance of members was meagre in the extreme. Mr. J. M. Hooker, by unanimous consent, occupied the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Report of the Council for the past year touched upon the chief events occurring within that period, and adverted to the improved financial position as compared with previous years, the accounts showing the balance on the right side. The addition of forty-live new members had been made ; on the other hand, sixty- five had withdrawn, removed, or allowed their connexion to lapse. The remarks upon the condition of the honey market were decidedly hopeful, and calculated to allay the anxiety whicli we have sometimes expressed. The season of 1887, like that of 1886, was not regarded as a favourable one for the county of Kent, the spring having been marked by too long-continued easterly winds. The Association held its annual exhibition at Ashford, and although its extent showed some decline, the classes appropriated to cottagers showed a marked advance in every way. Attention was drawn to the sparse attend- ance at the Council meetings which had been held, and January 19, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 33 the hope expressed that by a careful selection of the localities in which the meeting's might be held, an im- provement would possibly result. A feature in the work of the Association during the year was the insti- tuting of a competition for the best-managed cottage apiary, the result of which was so completely satisfactory that it will probably be adopted as a regular practice. The usual recognition of the services of the officers and Council was observed, votes of thanks being accorded to them, as was also done to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for the privilege of holding the meeting in their Board-room. The election of the Council, into which six new names were intro- duced, and the re-election of the Hon. Treasurer and Secretary, was performed. The choice of President for the ensuing year fell upon the Right Hon. Earl Stanhope, and the representatives to attend the Quarterly Confer- ences of the British Bee-keepers' Association were Mr. F. II. Cudd and Mr. Garratt, the Hon. Secretary of the Association. The proceedings were brought to a conclusion by the drawing for three prize hives for cottagers, of whom there are ninety, resulting in the favour of Richard Wilmshurst of Kilndown, Goudhurst; Frederick Dean of Lamberhurst ; and George Bowers of Betteshanger. Cruel Punishment for Destroying or Inter- fering with Bees. — In the territory of Lauenburg and Biitow, which was ceded by Poland to the Elector of Brandenburg in the year 1667, and incorporated by him with Pomerania, bee-keeping at that time was carried on very extensively under the protection of an edict which dated from pre-Brandenburg times. This edict contained some very severe and even cruel punishments. Para- graph l(i states that ' any one who wilfully takes bees belonging to others, or unlawfully deprives them of their honey, shall be condemned to death on the gallows.' Bees at that time were kept in decayed trees in the forests. A still more severe punishment was exacted in the following paragraph, viz.: 'Whosoever destroys an entire colony of bees, no matter whether they belong to himself or to anybody else, shall be handed oyer to the public executioner, who shall take out his entrails and wind them round the tree in which the bees were wil- fully destroyed, and shall afterwards hang him on the same tree.' Thus protection was afforded to bees by this paragraph even against their own masters. There are other offences mentioued in this edict that were also punishable by death, minor offences by lines or other- wise.— Translated from the ' Qartenlawe' \i. ls^r. Bees Stealing Honey. — A gentleman of this city who keeps bees, and has always been touched with their simple, hard-working, honest ways, has recently had that sentiment very severely tried. He had taken a large amount of honey from his hives, and put it into a small hi lose in his yard that he provides for such storage. There were thirty-two pounds of it. He neglected to close the door, however, and the honey was left in the open boxes just as it came from the hives. Business called the amateur away for a couple of hours, and when he returned he went with pleasing- anticipation for his honey. He found, however, that somebody had been there before him. Through the open door was to be seen a black mass, which seemed like all the bees in the Satte of Rhode Island, if not in the country. They were gathered about the honey, and were making the most of their time in carrying- it off to spots more convenient for their own use. After entrance was gained, it was found that more than twenty-live pounds of honey had been ab- stracted within the two hours that he had been gone. The worst of it was that the honey had been diffused so generally by his bee neighbours. It would be interesting to know how the intelligence was spread so quickly for so great a distance. — Detroit Free Press, January 14, 1888. (fcrespottflma. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested tn write on one side of the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, £c, must be addressed only to *The Editor of the " British Bee Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.' All business communications relatingto ^Iduertzsements, Xc, must be addressed to Mr. J. Hdckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). *«* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. VIRGIN QUEENS— COXSAXt iUIXITY. [14i'S.] Many have been the disappointments ex- perienced by, I may say, all bee-keepers in the British Isles at the almost insurmountable difficulties presented to them on their endeavouring to keep a certain variety or varieties of bees distinct. It is, without doubt, next to an impossibility to breed a certain race or perpetuate a certain strain of bees in these islands with a certainty of true mating. In what county of England can we go at the present time where it can be guaranteed that there are not colonies of bees within two or three miles of any position we like to take in that county 'i I venture to say there is not one. True, there may be a few isolated places where apiaries are few and sufficiently distant from each other that a desired cross may now and then be made between drones and queens of one's own apiary ; but even in these isolated places, if strict search were made, stray colonies could be found, perhaps high up in the church sieeple, or under the eaves of the roof of some house, or maybe in the hollow trunk of some patriarch of a neighbouring copse or hedgerow, where, owing to the vigilance and jealousy — they are very jealous of an outsider even looking in— of the game- keeper, an entree is exceedingly difficult to satisfy oneself that such a colony is existent or non-existent. These views will be supported b}r many a disappointed apiarist who has given a long price for a queen of a certain variety only to find in the end that her progeny have become mongrel breeders —albeit mostly the best honey-gatherers — and in two seasons a pure bee of the variety introduced is not to be found in any of the hives, but nearly all the other colonies in the apiary have received a taint of the fresh blood introduced, the bee- keeper in the meantime can console himself with the reflection that he has provided all his neighbours for miles around with a, perhaps, advantageous cross to their stocks, or trice versa according to the qualities of th bee introduced. Where the Italian race has been introduced into a district — and where has it not, more or less':' — the original black race has been improved- -I hope in this matter I shall not bring down any very rabid controversialist upon me very strong — and, I may add, superlatively improved. I will not include districts above latitude 54 ', as there I do not find so great an improvement in the bees by such an introduction; perhaps in course of time climatic influences will not have so marked an effect on them. This no doubt will account for so varied an opinion ex- pressed by many as to the policy of introducing Italians to their apiaries. I have been turning over a file of the British Bee Journal for 1886, and comparing the tabulated state- ments made by many bee-keepers who have introduced Italians into their apiaries. In by far the majority of cases the advantage gained is very marked ; not that the superiority shows itself in so decided a manner with the pure Itahans, but when the stocks have become hybri- dized the amount of honey gathered shows a moat 34 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 19, 1888. important gain, especially in the first cross : my own experience of the superiority of such a cross I have frequently expressed before. The large returns per hive now obtained in comparison to those of a few years ago are in a great measure owing to the knowledge now in the possession of many apiarists as to the method of manipu- jating their stocks, and in taking advantage of every advantageous trait in the bee's character, and utilising it for their own profit. But we must not flatter our- selves that this is entirely the result of our own or others' practical knowledge ; a great deal of this is the result of the introduction, not entirely of a fresh race, but the intermingling of fresh blood — a judicious crossing. In animals the advantage of so doing is very marked, and I think, although our little dependants are only insects, the same rule applies to them. Would a dairy farmer, in order to obtain a larger return of milk, keep a race of pure bred cows ? He would, without doubt, choose cross-breds ; in like manner no poultry keeper would expect a larger return of eggs from pedigree fowls, but would mate these with another variety — that is, introduce fresh blood to his yard. Such are the lines upon which all stock-keepers work who depend upon the produce from their stocks only. We here see the advantage of having those among us who, through the peculiar situations occupied by their apiaries, are enabled to keep the different varieties distinct, breeding a true race, that they may in the course of trade spread abroad the advantages gained by the introduction of fresh blood to their customers' stocks. But in introducing this blood to our stocks the variety introduced must be taken cognizance of. It would not do for a dairyman to introduce, we will say for example, a wild Chillingham bull into his farmyard ; if he did, deterioration instead of improvement would ensue. He must choose a variety which will correct, the failings exhibited in his particular stock, that is, if a richer milk is required, his cows being deficient in that quality, although perhaps large producers, he must introduce a variety that are pre-eminently renowned for that richness, and perhaps a subsequent cross to correct any reverting to a loss of quantity that may take place in such cross that he may obtain both quantity and quality. We bee-keepers will be bound to work upon these same lines, gradually working out the short- comings of our colonies by the introduction of correc- tives in the form of other varieties or strains. It is becoming absolutely imperative that we obtain a maximum return from our colonies with a minimum of expense. Every advantage that can be gained by a low rate of expenditure is a point gained towards success ; but such an expenditure must not be made simply be- cause it is very small, as often the dearest turns out the cheapest in the end ; the price must be governed by tho results and the profits deduced from this. In the above particular I note that the Americans have got just a little ahead of us by the trade that is springing up in virgin queens, and also the despatching virgin queens, in nuclei, for fertilisation to some distant apiary, which afterwards arc returned to their owners mated. We will first take the case of the trade in virgin queens. These, as all queen-breeders are aware, can be produced at a very low cost, as all the time, trouble, and anxiety of pure fertilisation is avoided ; fresh blood can be introduced by these means at a minimum of cost. — W. B. Webster. ( To be continued.) successes. But upon carefully considering M. Koerbs' letter (1-407) and the subsequent article upon the subject, f have a curious conviction that I have stumbled upon precisely the same principle in the construction of new combs. And though I do not for one moment desire to attract any reflected honour, and am not, just now, guessing Koerbs' principle and applying it to myself, still it is strange that the description of the advantages claimed (in 1407) are precisely similar and equally applicable to that of tho combs I have been experi- menting with lately. Unfortunately the honey - flow ceased rather too early last season for me to have arrived definitely at the fact that the queen would not breed in these combs and other perfectly reliable results, but the publication of M. Koerbs' perfected invention has hastened my action in a rather premature manner, for 1 had not intended applying for letters patent until I had proved without doubt the actual fact of the non- breeding of the queen in the new combs. Still, now that the subject is mooted there may be a possibility of some one ' stepping in ' before me without having arrived at any proof at all ; hence my present action. It is certainly rather unfortunate for me that I did not put my scheme into action earlier in the season, but the honey harvest came so abundantly upon us, all at once, that every moment was occupied in immediate require- ment and work in the apiary, leaving no time for experi- menting with queens. Still, I feel very confident from the vague descriptions we have to hand that M. Koerbs' invention must be very similar to my own, which is simplicity itself, and I wonder why and if it has never previously been thought of. The principles may, how- ever, be entirely different. I may say I should not have written this explanation at all, but I see in your last issue several correspondents are taking up the matter; and, in common with your correspondent Mr. W. Marshall (1423), I write in self- justification, and without in any degree laying claim to an invention which will revolutionise bee-keeping, but a simple matter which will, I confidently hope, be of practical utility, and also to show that others are keeping an open eye and to save some of the credit for all new ideas from going abroad, for it will be very useless to say after we all know M. Koerbs' process, ' Why! I thought of that long ago.1 I may say, in conclusion, my principle is entirely con- fined to the production of honey and is not intended for use in the brood-nest. — W. G. Preece, Jun., Local Hon. Secretary, Salop, U.S. KOERBS' NEW ARTIFICIAL COMBS. [1429.] It is with very considerable diffidence that, for the first time, I send you a communication, though I have long been a practical bee-keeper, and (I hope I may say without conceit) have experienced some gratifying THE NEW ARTIFICIAL COMB. [1430.] Re Artificial Comb, as mentioned in last week's B.B.J., 1 think, if it is tried, you will find if a comb foundation is made of cell bases a size larger than drone comb it will be similar to what our German friend wants Is. (id. from each bee-keeper for. I intend trying such a base this season. — W. Rouinson. HIVES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT FOR COTTAGERS. (Continued from page 20.) 'Cottager Champion.' [1431.] This hive is designed for the use of the cottager who intends adopting bar-frame hives when he shall have had sufficient knowledge of the manage- ment of his bees to warrant him in turning to that more modern, more interesting, and more profitable method of bee-keeping. It is also recommended to those bee- keepers who may not feel inclined to adopt the bar- frame hive, but who prefer something more modern than a skep in which to keep bees on the fixed-comb principle. January 19, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 35 Description. — The hive, in reality a section crate, consists simply of four walls with a reversible lid. The wood, after planing, should be f in. thick. The inside dimensions are 14i x 14A in., and the outside 16 in. The sides are 4J in. deep. The lid is 10 in. square, and clamped to prevent warping. Upon this lid, on one side only, a rim 2 in. wide and J in. thick, is nailed round, leaving a recess in the centre 12 in. square. Two pieces in. thick and | in., full, wide (latter face of wood, j '" downwards), are nailed along the grain of the wood 3f in. from the opposite inner sides of the rim. These afford rests for the centre row of sections and the bottom corners of the outer rows, and they make three spaces or recesses 3| in. wide and 12 in. long. In these recesses running parallel with the section rests are holes through the lid § in. wide and 12 in. long. There are two of these holes in each recess \ in. from each side, so that when a piece of excluder zinc 12 x 3| in. be dropped in, it just fits, and the bees have access from below through two rows of holes in each recess to the super above whether for sections or fixed combs. (Only one hole in each recess is shown in the illustration.) The lid is secured to the body of the hive by four screws, one in the centre of each side. As I set my hives perfectly level both ways, and always recommend that plan, pro- vision in this hive is made for guides. (Skeps are an exception to this rule on account of the difficulty of fixing guides.) The under side of the lid is marked with ten saw-cuts across the grain of the wood, which will be across the holes as guides for the fixing of narrow or deep pieces of foundation. The bottom two in the illus- tration are fixed as described above, while the top one is shown with the lid reversed, and in use as a; section- crate. When used as a section-crate it will be noted, from the dimensions given, that there is a space between the ends of the outer rows of sections and the inner side walls. This is filled with blocks, which slide in. On one side, as shown in the illustration, there is a \ in. recess, permitting bees to pass round the ends of the sections. If this facility be not preferred, by reversing the block a plain side is turned to the ends of the sections. The roof recommended is a plain ' Simmins.' Floor-board. — The floor-board is 1(5 in. square, nailed on side pieces projecting 4 in., and that much rounded. A piece \\ in. deep and 12 in. long is cut out of the front of the tloor-board. Under this, and between the projecting parts of the side pieces, is nailed a piece of thick wood which has also been rounded to correspond with the ends of the side pieces, and to throw off the rain. A rim \ in. thick and 2 in. wide is nailed on the sides and back of the floor-board (not shown in illustration), this allowing of inverting if the bee-keeper wishes to practise it. Management. — Having chosen the site and provided a stand as already recommended, preparations should be made for a swarm. Three bodies, floor- board, and roof should be provided, and they should be well painted, not only the sides but the edges. The swarm should be allowed to cluster in a skep, and it may be then, or in the evening, brought near to the stand prepared for it. Now place the floor-board on the ground in front of the stand and upon it a body prepared with starters of foundation, and with sheets of excluder zinc in the recesses on the lid. Upon this place a super, which may be prepared with sections, or with guides of foundation exactly like the first. The upper body — super — should now be covered carefully with cloth and the roof placed upon it. The swarm should then be thrown on the ground in front of the entrance, and the bees urged in by smoke or a feather dipped in carbolic acid. When the bulk of the bees have entered the whole arrangement may be lifted into position and the top of the super tested with the spirit-level, to be sure that it is perfectly level both ways. A good swarm will not be provided with sufficient accommodation in the lower body, which I will term the brood-chamber, and therefore a good pro- portion will go into the upper body, the super, while the queen, full of eggs, will be kept by the excluder below. When the bees are thus forced into the super, storing, if necessary conditions are favourable, commences at once, and continues so rapidly that more room will soon be needed. (The progress of the work is seen through a circular window in one side.) The extra super room, if it is decided to give it, should be a similar super placed between the one already on and the brood-chamber. If, however, one super is all that can be expected or is cared for, instead of giving more super room above the brood-nest a body shoidd be prepared with wide starters and placed under the brood-chamber. When two supers are used this is how t he first taken off should be served when emptied. In either case the swarm will then have a partly filled super and two body boxes for brood-chamber, and it should be the bee-keepers' endeavour to get these two bodies filled with combs and have a strong stock well supplied with food by, say October 1st, when a farewell should be taken of them as far as interference is con- cerned until early in February, when on a very fine day a slight examination to see how the food is holding out may be made. A thorough examination should be made on a really warm day on or as near as possible to March 1st. When brood-rearing has progressed satisfactorily it will be a great advantage to change the positions of the boxes ; that is, the upper box may be put on the floor- board and the lower one upon it. This operation would, as a rule, take place in this district, where we are sur- rounded with orchards, early in April, if not earlier. When supering, if the two bodies have been so managed as to contain little but brood and bees by the commence- ment of the honey flow, excluders between the brood- chamber — now consisting of two bodies — and the super are not necessary. 36 THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 19, 1888. There are many ways in which a stock in these two boxes may be manipulated to the advantage of the bee- keeper. For instance, if from neglect to give sufficient super room there is a quantity of honey stored in the upper section of the brood-chamber, it may be inverted and placed on the floor-board, that the honey may be taken from it to the super (of course in inverting the combs must be kept in a perpendicular position). When the honey has been removed from the inverted chamber it should be restored to its previous position, but remain on the floor-board. Again, when the time for supering has arrived the bees may be driven from the body containing the least brood to the other, and then having placed upon that single body excluders a sectional or other super would be taken to at once. One caution is necessary when the stock is thus treated, the bees will be cramped for want of room in a few days by the rapid storing in the super and the increase of the population, and it will be probably advisable to place a body of starters only on the floor- board before giving a second super, or swarming may take place, but for sectional work the bees should be crowded as much as possible without causing swarming. — C. N. White. FRUIT CULTURE AND APICULTURE. [1432.] Speaking superficially we are decidedly in favour of the two going together. We can testify to the unalloyed pleasure experienced when labouring amid some hundreds of pyramid fruit trees. And it was our daily and irresistible pleasure too, last slimmer, to leave awhile the hoe, and lie or sit opposite the hives. The experience was so charmingly new to us. The bees were ever visiting the profusion of thorn, cherry, plum, apple, pear, and raspberry blossom. The great advantage of being always near the bees cannot well be over-estimated. Especially is this so during the swarming season. But there appears to be one draw- back, viz., wasps ; and it would be a considerable gain to some of us if any effectual means were known of pre- venting or destroying these very troublesome and an- noying insects. The summer before last, when we had no bees, wasps were not so troublesome, nor half so numerous, as they were last summer. Wherever bees were kept there were the robber wasps, and the pickle bottles with sugar and water as counter-attractions. The latter, however, seem to entrap as many bees as wasps. But last summer the wasps were not only exceedingly annoying to the bees, but the fruit of every apple, pear, and plum tree was attacked and seriously damaged. So general was the destruction that we had to gather all the fruit ere it was ripe, or lose it altogether. Not a single pair was left to ripen. We frequently found three or four wasps inside an apple or pear. And, of course, when the fruit was all gathered the wasps attacked in greater force the bees. We were glad, however, to find that our bees were quite equal in fighting capacity to the wasps. We had the opportunity of watching scores of combats, and it was very seldom that the bees lost their lives in battle. Generally they would fight and fly again. After, when we lifted the roofs off hives, the severed bodies of wasps lay scattered about the quilt, and just as often the bees seized the opportunity of lugging their victims off the premises. And yet how daring and cunning is the wasp, how she watches her opportunity to enter the hive, and, though often repulsed, at last succeeds. We object to this wholesale depredation, and shall be very grateful for any information of means of prevention. I suppose we must follow the wasp line till we reach their nest, and there put an end to them. On the 7th, 8th, and 9th, our bees were much on the wing. The weather was remarkably mild and bright between the morning and evening mists. Manv of the bees returned home after sundown, which to us was rather a surprise. To many the pleasure was very brief. On the morning of the 10th, scores of them hung with the grip of death upon wood and stone, white with the prevailing fog. — F. Goodrich, Methwold, Norfolk, Jan. \Wi. FOUL BROOD. [1433.] Foul brood is not a thing of yesierday, and was in existence in Ireland long before the introduction of the bar-frame hive or Ligurian bee. Of late years bees have been going to the bad in the old skep, and died out in many places, due in part to the sulphur-pit, and the survival of the unfittest which was kept as a stock ; but in many cases, also, to the foul brood. On making in- quiries of many as to the condition of the hives on the death of the stocks, they had plenty of honey, and the wonder was, why they had died. I saw combs thrown out of hives that had foul brood most decidedly, though I did not know it then ; but know it too well now, having got it from a skep apiary of several hives that died right out of the same. Being hardly a mile from this, my bees brought it home through robbing the deserted hives. An error of mine may act as a warning to others. I extracted and fed back the phenolated honey to infected hives (had then but two), gave it driven lots in autumn, and fed it to others besides, with the result of sowing the disease broadcast, so that out of thirty-five hives 1 had but two clean the following spring. Through doubling up weak and dwindling stocks, and then treating all infected hives as swarms, placing a new clean queen at the head of each I got a good many into a healthy state again ; boiled down old combs and burned the frames. If the queen is infected no cure can be made until she is superseded, for though the phenolised syrup may be freely used the source of the disease is there still, for though you may cure it in one part of the hive it will break out in another. Many would advocate stamping it out by destroying the whole lot. That to my mind is very wasteful, as with care, and a good deal of' trouble, you can get them clean again ; and if a good season get a little honey too, with carefully disinfected hives, but with new frames and quilts I do not think there is much danger of an outbreak in the same hive again. I have them in use, and the stocks are now well. Camphor I found of no use against foul brood. To show bow widespread this disease is, and how little is known about it in Ireland in its southern counties, I was made a present of a skep some time since from a place where foul brood was said to be unknown, and it was simply rotten with it. Died out in one month. A diseased stock may be cured by treating it as a swarm in May if you have a young and clean queen to put at the head of it ; place in a clean or thoroughly disin- fected hive, and feed with phenolated syrup while comb- building, and I would consider acure assured. Some may differ, and if a better way is shown no one will be better pleased than yours, truly, — John J. Smyth. COUNTY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATIONS. [14.34.] In your article on page 2 of this year's B.J., under this heading, there are still some remarks that I think should not pass without notice. It will not be conceded that the County Associations have already accomplished the work for which they were formed, and I am glad to see that Mr. McClure (the energetic Hon. Secretary of the Lancashire and Cheshire Association) takes exception to this statement in a very able manner in his letter [1410]. He naturally is_ sur- prised to find such gloomy and discouraging remarks in an editorial of the B.B.J. 'I may say that although this is the recognised organ of the B.B.K.A., the Committee are in no way responsible for the article in question, and January 19, 1888.] 'THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. :i7 do not in the least share the desponding feelings of the writer. Considerable progress has been made by some of the county Associations, the quantity and quality of the honey exhibited, the number and keenness of the competitors, the able management of the exhibitions, the questions asked by visitors anxious to commence bee- keeping, and the general interest taken, all tend to show this. Still, much remains to be done. I have, during the last season, had many opportunities of noticing all this at the exhibitions where I have attended to act as one of the judges, and 1 think the B.B.K.A. has much reason to be satisfied with the efforts being made and the success achieved in most counties. Depend upon it that where then' is this decline and want of interest there is something wanting in the organization and management. One Association not having fulfilled the conditions of affiliation, is not acknowledged by the 15.I3.lv. A. No general meetings have been held, no Committee of Management has been appointed, and no report and balance-sheet have been issued for several year.-. Under these circumstances it would not be matter of surprise if such an Association was on the ' dec! inc. ' This state of things exists in one of the best honey-producing counties in England, where there are some of our most enthusiastic and successful bee-keepers living. They are ready to support and subscribe handsomely if an Associ- ation can be properly organized and affiliated to the British. Surely some effort will be made before another season to place this Association upon a proper footing. There are other Associations in which parts of counties only have been properly worked, and this must be the ease in large counties unless they are subdivided into districts, each having its district Secretary and its local adviser, who should hold a third-class certificate at least, working with and under the county Hon. Secretary. By this division of labour the work would be easier, and, at the same time, thoroughly done, and all bee-keepers could be reached. Where the counties are thus sub- divided, the number of members would be increased, the entries at shows more numerous, the different districts vying with each other in friendly rivalry for the credit of a particular part of the county. The district Secre- tary should arrange for periodical meetings for the friendly discussion of all matters connected with bee- keeping, lectures, and local exhibitions. Prizes should be offered to cottagers for the best-managed apiary in each district much in the same way that Horticultural Societies give prizes for the best-managed garden, A county subdivided in this way can be more econo- mically worked, the travelling expenses of the expert will be saved, and the adviee given at the time it is wanted, which is not the case where there is only one expert for a whole county. Several counties have not yet started Associations. In some instances members are ready to lie enrolled, and are only waiting to find honorary secretaries among the clergy or persons well known and respected who have time, and who will volunteer their services, and throw sjuie energy into the work of formation. The Secretary of the B.B.K.A. will be very glad to give advice and assistance in this work. The county Associations were formed with the object of assisting the British in spreading the knowledge of the humane and scientific method of bee-keeping, of teaching the agricultural and other labourers how they could occupy their leisure time in an interesting and profitable manner, and so improve their condition. Surely you, Mr. Editor, do not admit that even in the most prosperous county Associations ' the work for which the}' were formed has in a great degree been accomplished,' and that there is not much more to be done before any appreciable number of cottage bee-keepers are taught that they can keep bees in such a way, in their leisure hours, that they may pay their rent out of the profits derived from bee-keeping? — John M. Hooker, 76 Ti/rwhitt Road, St. Johns, S.E. [The object of the institution of the British Bee- keepers' Association cannot be said to be accomplished until the great object to which the late Rev. II. R. Peel devoted himself with so much earnestness —viz., that an Association should be established in every county of England and Wales — is effected. That gentleman took the trouble to publish in the columns of the Bee Journal a map with the counties marked dark and light — the dark indicating where no Associations were formed, and tlie light where they were. A reference to this map will at once show how matters have progressed, or retro- gressed, since his time. Many that were then light should now have to be made dark, and a few the reverse. A great advance has been effected by the division of counties into provinces, and the provinces again being subdivided into districts. But toiling secre- taries (see in a recent number Mr. ('. X. White's reasons for his resignation of the Hon. Secretary-hip of the Hunts B.K.A.) have sad reminiscences of the cix inertia' of bee-keepers yet to be overcome before the desire of Mr. Peel can be realised. — Ed.] COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS. [1435.] Mr. \V. M. Graham (141--) is probably not far wrong in thinking that County Associations have 'one and all promised too much and done to > little.' I have been connected with two Associations, of both of which this was certainly true ; and I quite agree with our Editor in thinking that the time has now arrived when 'the internal working of tic Associations and their individual condition may he a useful ami timely inquiry- 1 trust that the matter will lie freely and fully dis- cussed in the Journal and at the quarterly m oi the Central Association, and thai some of the County Organizations will thus be induced to reform their in ides of procedure. Like all other public bodies we must learn from experience, modify our rules and action ac- cordingly, and move with the times. There is still much good work to be done. There is ample room for more lectures in winter, as well as shows in summer; but both the lectures and the shows should be ' up to the times.' Then, again, certificated experts cotdd still do im- portant work in most counties, and every intelligent amateur who has a little spare time could become an apostle of advanced bee-keeping. The fact is, many of the older bee-keepers have fallen out of the rank- or lost their enthusiasm, and the time has come for rousing up and re-organizing the younger men. Bee-keeping is now such an important industry that it is well worth while to take this matter seriously in hand, and to try to put our local machinery in gear again. In the part of the country where I recently lived, we never did so well as when there was a metropolitan show, which was something to look forward to and prepare for, as well as a rallying point for our best workers, who brought back from it a stock of knowdedgeand a fund of enthusiasm that helped most materially to keep things moving in our shire. Then we had our own local shows, lectures, and experts; now- we have neither. At our shows honey producers sold their surplus stock, and local hive-makers booked their orders ; they could still do so, I feel convinced, if things were properly managed. The practical lessons conveyed during the manipulations were invaluable, because they carried conviction to the minds of the sceptical, and taught those who could not or would not read. But deaths, removals, and changes of cir- cumstances, thinned the old ranks; depression of trade and agriculture reduced the subscriptions, and a little want of discretion in management put the finishing touch THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 19, 1888. to what was at one time a flourishing association — the result being debt and temporary despair. There is hope yet, however ; and a time of revival is, I trust, at hand. It will help us in re-organising, and others also probably, if bee-keeping friends will tell us candidly, during this discussion, the secrets of success and the causes of failure. — An Old Bee-keeper. THE PRICE OF HONEY. [1430.] On page 27, ' Sherborne,' lamenting the low price of hone}', is allowed to take occasion to have a fling at the clergy. As far as I can understand his meaning from the construction of his sentences (and I am in doubt between ' I ' and ' the uneducated public ' whether I am not one of the latter), he attributes the ' mischief ' in part to ' men with their regular salary, and clergymen to a large extent .... going in for fruit, vegetables, bees, and photography.' Now, clergymen have not a 'salary' in the ordinary acceptation of the term, but an income given to them originally by those who had it to give; and it is not regular in one sense, viz., that it does not maintain its level, but is on, what ' Sherborne ' calls, a ' down-grade,' to an extent which he is evidently unaware of, and which, if he understood or believed it, I am inclined to think would not distress him. From a pecuniary point of view — if one is not too nice as to the use of the words 'salary,' ' business,' and suchlike— very likely the information lie gives us as to the superior importance of chimney-sweeping is quite correct. It seems to be attributed to ' Sherborne ' that he does not ' read care- fully,' &c. Has lie observed the many names of clergy- men on the list of the committee of B. B. K. A.? and does he think that one of the objects of these gentlemen is to lower the price of his tenpenny sections ? Would he be surprised to hear (I expect he would) that the interest of many a clergyman who keeps bees is quite the other way through diminution of salary ? and will he give others credit for having for years, with the secretary and perhaps his assistant, done nearly the whole of the work of their County Associations, till they feel bitterly the wrong of such a ' foul ' blow, as that which ' Sherborne ' has delivered, and clergymen to a large extent ? I see, sir, that you have had to sit on this same individual anent ' Holy Writ.' Whether or not he used the word 'holy' I am unaware, but one is astounded that he should have attempted to introduce such a subject to your columns, and one feels more than it. is well tn say; mi 1 will only add that if you had but ' deled ' that unhappy expression you would not have been troubled with these lines by — Clericus. IMPRESSED FOUNDATION. [1437.] I see in B. B. J. Messrs. Neighbour have in- vented an impressed foundation. I have made foundation for some time with thread or twine embedded, also thin strips of wood — which foundation is unbreakable — also foundation on paper base. The idea of embedding other material than wire is mine. — Geo. Stotiiarh, Welwyn, January 13. FOUNDATION v. WORKED COMBS. [1438.] Instead of replying to my query, as to his ex- perience of tiering clean combs, Mr. Saddler asks a question and refers me to the practice of another corre- spondent; this may be a reply, but is scarcely an answer. 1 urther, I did not write concerning the replies to Query No. '2, but to Mr. Saddler's strictures thereon — which I am glad to hear were not meant to be uncourteous. By the method advised of extending the brood-nest by the insertion of foundation, at least three examinations are necessary in place of one where a comb would be used in which food could also be supplied in its most available form ; further, to work out the foundation an additional strain would be imposed on the colony (and therefore an increase of food) whose every effort might otherwise be employed in raising brood at this critical time, which may be in April or May, according to the latitude of the stock, or the forwardness or the reverse of the season. It is further advised that the frame of foundation be placed in centre of brood - nest, when, should a cold snap occur, the bees and brood will be divided by a com- paratively cold wall of wax and air-space on each side, which if they fill, other portions of the brood must be con- sequently depopulated. Now had a frame (with stores) warmed to the temperature of the hive been placed on the outside of the brood-nest, the colony woidd be com- fortable in any weather and could be left safely until it was practicable to divide the brood-nest by additional combs. An easy and safe method of storing combs is to fill the body of a hive that will ' tier up ' with frames, give the bottom board a strong dressing of carbolic acid, double on another hive body — de novo — until the ceiling is reached if your combs hold out. Place on cover, close up the single bottom entrance, and all is secure from mice, moth, and foul brood; at least, that is our ex- perience in dealing annually with about three hundred combs, if packed in Edey's doubler. — Joun Edey, St. NeoVs. CHILIAN HONEY— SUCCESSFUL WINTERING. [1430.] A few weeks back you referred to the import of Chilian honey. It occurred to me that my father, having at one time imported the article, could give some account of the use made of this honey, and I wrote him accordingly. In reply he says, ' The Chilian honey of which I formerly got consignments was mostly sold in Liverpool through a broker. The few parcels that came to London were given to my drug-brokers, who took samples and submitted them to the wholesale con- fectioners. The latter relied upon their being given impartially by the brokers, and made offers which were submitted to me. I afterwards received a contract of sale. ' Or the brokers advertised the honey for sale by public auction, when they exhibited samples at their offices for intending buyers to examine. Chilian, Cali- fornian, and Cuban honey comes generally to Liverpool, has every appearance of rough handling and of wanting a great deal of civilisation yet. It is not likely that any methods exist in those countries by which you could learn anything. These outlandish honeys are at present (after the season) unsaleable, and only worth "25s. per cwt., whereas British honeys might still be sold at GOs. The principal season is two months before Christmas, and the principal buyers are the wholesale confectioners and cake-manufacturers. They absorb the whole import, the difference in price between British and Chilian being so great. The rough quality of the latter is quite sufficient for the common cakes. These articles are generally sold for cash in fourteen days and usually through a broker, who acts as an impartial middle man.' With regard to successful wintering, I am of opinion that the size of the hive is of little consequence in the matter; the main point being that there is only one opening to the hive. I don't know if any one has ever tried having the entrance at top of the hive, but probably even in such a case the bees would winter well enough. The great danger is to have ventilation as usually understood, viz., in at one hole below out at another above. With a quilt of double or treble felt, or thick chaff cushion, there is, of course, no ventilation to speak of, any more than there is through our plaster ceilings. January 19, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 3D Gases do find their way out, but by no means as fast as generated, and when a stock is packed for the winter with propolised top covering their abode may be prac- tically considered as air-tight above. Anyway they will do their best to make it so, and no one has ever given an instance in which his bees have left a hole above unpropolised for ventilation. My bees enter below the floor-board through a !)-inch opening f-inch wide. The alighting-board is underneath also, and is always dry. No rain can blow in, and robbers have no chance of entering and a poor one of even alighting. It is known that a roof by itself placed above plants will keep off frost, for the reason that the colder air is always descending, I suppose. Thus the floor-board keeps the frost from the entrance in my hives, being a roof to the alighting board. Though I consider this plan much better than having a direct opening in the side of the hive, I am unable to say yet if there is any marked effect, advantageously or other- wise, on the colonies. The only decided point noticed so far in comparing the two plans are : on frosty days there is distinct buzzing at each floor entrance, none at the side entrances. Looking in at the top I find the colonies with floor opening down low, some bees on the floor-board at times, the others close up against quilt. The bees with side entrance come out in great numbers on warm days, the others only sparingly. I may also state that the driven bees put on empty combs reared brood to end of November over the floor-holes, and there is no sign of mortality so far. I shall be pleased to report further if the matter is of any interest. My winter packing is ticking, two felts, wood in pieces, and, as extra precaution against frost, four straw bottle covers. The latter are cut loose at the top and make a neat covering, and can easily, if wanted, be strung together as a mat. The two felts are laid together, and then, with a round tin canister having one or two notches filed in the edge, two neat circular bits of felt are cut out of the middle of the quilts. These are stitched together and a loop of string attached, over the quilt-hole, fits the hole in the centre bit of wood, which is covered in feeding time with gauze. By removing a straw bundle and pulling up the felt bung one can get a hasty glimpse of the condition of the nest. — Silke. SAFE ARRIVAL OF TWO STOCKS OF ITALIAN BEES IN INDIA. [1440.] Mr. A. G. Nicholson, Hawthorne Estate, Yercand Sheraroy Hills, Madras Presidency, India, writing to Messrs. Geo. Neighbour & Sons in December last, aclcnowledging the receipt of two stocks of Italian bees, says : ' You will be glad to hear that both stocks you sent me have arrived at their destination in perfect condition, in spite of many bees having died, but then we had terrible storms to start with and very hot weather. I was greatly surprised to find both hives full of brood, and in one the queen actually continued depositing eggs whilst I held the frame of comb in my hand. I am, as you may imagine, greatly pleased with the success so far, but they are having a trying time just now, for we have been having days of pouring rain and Scotch mist ever since their arrival, and the time for flowers will not begin before April next.' These two stocks of Italian bees were sent on November the 4th, by order of the Indian Government, in the steamship Pekin, and I shall endeavour to prevail on Mr. Nicholson to let me know their future condition, so that I may report the same to this Journal. — Alfred Neighbour, London. WHAT INDUCED ME TO KEEP BEES. [1441.] ' Will you accept of a hive of bees ? ' I must confess that I have a very great weakness in always trying to please : as the questioner was a lady I said, ' With pleasure.' So in due time I received — ' none of your new-fangled notions about bar-hives, observatory- hives ' — a skep with a strong lot of bees; but this was an extraordinary hive, an old skep which I presume had been used in a case of emergency. It was a very crazy sort of tiling, very rustic ; one skep on the top of another, and a large bell-glass on the top with a cosy over. I don't believe that ever a tom-tit would approach within a few yards. Talk of strong stocks, there was almost a swarm in the bell-glass. I have given a minute description because I wish to refer to it again, and see what lesson we may learn from it. I got a covered stand and put the skep on facing south. My neighbours and friends called out in passing, ' I see you are going to keep bees.' Just to digress for a moment. — A minister once over- heard a conversation which was carried on so that he might hear, — this occurred on the platform, — ' Do you know the reverend gentleman ? ' Only that he once kept a shoe-shop.' The reverend gentleman was called upon to speak, and he said that he had heard that he once kept a shoe-shop, ' I can assure you, Mr. Chairman, I never did keep a shoe-shop, but that the shoe-shop kept me.' Within a few days a lady brought me a Parish Magazine. She said, ' Here is something that may be of service to you, as then' is an article about bees.' I was very glad, because 1 knew nothing whatever about bees, only that they stung and gave honey ; my wife appeared to know a great deal, as her father kept bees for many years. I soon found out that he belonged to the old school — honey and brimstone. 1 found the article, and something like a parson with a veil on; the article was about quieting bees, my wife's father knew all about that. I read it more than once, then I got excited and wished to know more about the dear bees. Now I must go in for a bar-frame hive. I sent for one, and all fitted up with foundation, &e. I got a letter from the Station Master that it had arrived. I shall never forget the misery I was in at this time; a day or two before the arrival of the hive a lady friend called and told me that the bar-frame hives would not answer. Her brother had had several, but the bees all died in them ; and that his place was much better than mine as it was high and dry. My dear half gave me no rest: 'Oh! send the hive back, and get the man to allow you something,' and suchlike. I still had a besetting sin in that line of bees keeping me, or at least that they would pay their way. Well, I painted the hive a nice green colour, and was careful to leave the opening same size as thej skep. I had to do nothing now but wait until my bees swarmed. Coming from church one Sunday morning 1 met a man who worked for the lady that gave me the hive ; he had his shirt-sleeves rolled up. I said, ' Whatever are you going to do, and on a Sunday ?' he said lie had been sent for to go and hive a swarm of bees. What a chance for me, only that it was Sunday ! That besetting sin again got the mastery, and I went to arrange to have them. I had not to ask twice. Two men brought them, a skep full as full could be of bees ; it happened that two hives bad swarmed at the same time, both on the same bough about three feet from each other, and the men put them all in, or tried to do so. Here was uniting. I was quite ready for them when two men brought them. I had got a platform in front of the hive, and covered with a white table-cloth. The men said, ' There they are.' I said, 'I want you to throw the skep down, and then take it up.' ' No fear ; you do it yourself,' said one of the men. He added, ' You nor no other man will ever get them into a thing like that ; how can you expect it ? My master once tried it, but he soon tired of it.' I had no other alternative than to commence without help. The man undid the cover, and then I bumped them on to the platform, about half of the bees fell out. I was 40 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 19, 1888. very glad I did not get stung. ' Now then, look ; just as I told you,' chimed in one of the men ; ' they Will never go into such a thing as that.' The bees ran here and there. I was glad it was getting rather dark because they did not fly. I could see the bees clustering in front of hive up to the very top. Just then my wife called me in to supper. She said, ' How long will you be in getting the bees into the hive, as it is getting very cold ?' I said, ' You had better go to bed.' 'All!' she said, 'you told me they would all he in in the course of half an hour.' When I got to the hive most of the bees had found their way back into the skep. I bad to commence again. This time I got a brick and placed it in the centre of the white table-cloth, and I soon humped them out ; they hissed just like an egg in a frying-pan. Necessity is the mother of invention. I had no smoker, so I got all the brown paper 1 coidd, and a box of matches. The paper smoked away very nicely, and 1 kept getting them in ; about half of them were in when it struck three o'clock. I was very cold and chilly. I thru and there promised that if ever I again got another swarm I would have a smoker. About six o'clock I heard a door open, and then a voice twitting me, ' Why, have you not got them in yet ? ' Then my wife came to look at the bees, and then she looked at me. < Hi, what a lecture I got on bee-keeping! Her father never had any of those foolish things; just nice, comfortable skeps, and at the end of the season used a very small piece of brim- stone and took the' honey and got Is. per pound. How humiliated I was ! My wife said, ' Just look, they come out as fast as they go in.' At eight o'clock I gave it up for a bad job. Friends came to see my success ; alas ! they saw thousands of bees clustering outside. I was very like Job; you may be sure they gave me a lot of comfort. I wrote to a friend stating that I had put the bees on six frames according to directions. I got a reply, and what a relief! — 'Give them all the frames.' Oh, how happy I felt! It was only the work of a few moments to remove dummy, ami then to my relief they scampered in ; but it was .strong work on account of the narrow doorway; still, a great many refused to go to work, just basked in the sunshine. I wrote again. Reply came, ' Put sections on.' I was very thankful for this piece of advice ; it was worth lis. 8cl. You may be sure 1 put them on within twenty minutes. There was not a bee outside — 1 mean basking in the sun ; there they were in the sections looking through the glass. Next day I could see honey. I felt like Coiumbus now, repaid for all the worry and trouble. And there was a gnat change in my appearance, especially my head : if Barnum hud been about I would not have been safe in nine days. I took twenty-two pounds of honey from tlio hive; if I had known then what I do now I could have had fifty pounds. My friends came again this time ; they said, ' Who would have thought it r' others, 'I could not have believed it!' I shall never forget when I took the honey into the house. My wife opened her eyes and looked at the honey, not at me, and said, ' Well, well,' and ran for some dishes. I wrote to friend iluckle, and I soon got a wrinkle or two fri im Modern Bee-keepinff and Mr. Cowan's hook. By the time I had read these books I really had got bee- keeping on the brain. I found that I had done all things which I ought not to have done and left undone the things which I ought to have done. {To be continued.) HONEY AND MELLA. Has the taste for honey died out in this country, or has it been benumbed by the atrocious imitations and adulterations with which, in a time of scarcity, the market has been flooded ? It is doubtful which, for the introduction of sugar and the subsequent removal of the sugar tax has decidedly told its tale upon the demand, honey being used where sugar is now for domestic use or confection. The tax upon mead and metheglin, our rare old ancestral honey beverages, stopped their manufacture in a great measure, and with the consequent decrease in the demand followed the decrease in the supply, until the reaction went, as all reactions do, too far, and then the supply of real honey became deficient, insufficient even for the reduced demand; consequently fictitious manufactures, that a bee had never known, found a sale as the genuine thing, and the taste for real honey- died out. Now there is another tide of reaction setting in, and a demand for real honey is greatly on the increase. Medical men prescribe it as a health-giving diet for children, and especially invalids, or others ; and beverage-makers, in their quest for ' something new,' are inclined to go back to ' something old,' and take up the honey drinks again. All this means a renewed supply, and that of the genuine article only, wherefore there seems to he a wide field for the cultivator and collector. Great Britain can supply many thousand times more honey than it does, and ladies yvould find bee-keeping a very lucrative home employment, and a very pleasant and interesting occupation. The British Honey Company Limited (17 King William Street, Strand ; depot : Columbia Market, Shoreditch) have sent us some samples yvhich are truly delicious, and should be found on every breakfast or tea- table where cheap and nasty jams are now too often to he found. The same Company manufactures an effervescing, non-intoxicating drink which they call 'Mella.' It is rather too sweet for ordinary drinking, but it is by no means insipid, and the honey is there in full flavour, The adulterations of honey to increase bulk and profit are perhaps more numerous than samples of fictitious honey, and they are as bad and injurious as any can be. Without going into the methods of their detection, it must suffice in this article to enumerate those more generally met with, and not a trace of one of them can be detected in the honey sold by the British noney Company. Amongst them starch, potato, wheat, and cane-sugar, are the least injurious ; chalk, hydrated sulphate of lime, and pipeclay taking a very had position, and being very commonly found. The starch is not only added for the sake of creating weight and bulk, but to ' improve ' the colour of dark honey, and to correct an acidulous taste yvhich old honey sometimes acquires. No doubt the chalk, &c, are used for the same purpose. The wax is often simulated with the aid of hard mutton suet and starch. — The British Journal of Catering, December. Geombthical Construction of the Cell of the Honey-Bee. — In the Proceedings of the Rayed Society Professor II. Hennessey describes the geometrical con- struction of the cell of the honey-bee, and gives a figure and method by means of which the lozenges comprising tlio cell can be obtained. On a straight line take a part A 1), and mark off DC = 2 AD. From 1) draw a line at right angles to AC, and with a radius AC =3 AD cut off DP. Draw a line from A to P, then A P and AC will form the sides of the lozenge A CEP. Prom this the two remaining lozenges and the six trapeziums can January 10, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 41 be obtained. The triangular pyramid which terminates the bee's cell mar be inscribed in a sphere whose diameter is three times the size of one of the edges of the pyramid. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Letters or querist asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of issue, qwies cannot always be replied to m the issue immediately following the receipt oj their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of persona interest will be antieered in tliis column. H. Wrioht. — 1. Lee's Frames. — You will be able to procure Lee's frames from Messrs. Neighbour ; but we believe the machine for making them is not quite perfected. When the frames are ready will be announced in our advertise- ment columns. 2. First Swarm. — In the case of a first swarm, it is the old queen that leaves with the swarm.— 3. Camphor. — Bees do not object to camphor. 4. Excluder '//inc. — It is not necessary to use excluder zinc under sections. The bees object to it. Allow not less than one-fourth of an inch, and not more than three-eighths between rack and frame. S. J. S. — Mr. James Lee's address is 43 Glycena Road, Lavender Hill, London, S.W. H. C. Schwerz. — 1. French Works on Bees. — Elevage des Abeilles by M. Georges de Layens. Les Abeilles by V. Rendu. Les Abeilles by Maurice Girard. 2. Italian Works on Bees. — L'Ape e il suo Governo, by Dott. A. Dubini. L'Ape Italiana, by F. deJorio. Manuale: Api- cultura in Italia, by Cav. L. Sartori and Cav. A. de Rauschenfels. These may be procured through Messrs. Dulau, Foreign Booksellers, Soho Square, London. C. M. R. — 1. Old Bees. — It is most probable that your bees were old and queenless, and consequently died out. 2. Condemned Bees. — For treatment of condemned bees, consult Vol. XV., pp. 329, 341. Wblsh Novice. — 1. Utilising Slag Heap. — Try borage, mignonette, wallflowers, or stocks. You give no idea whether there is any soil at all among the slag. 2. Feed- inn Stocks short of food during January. — Flour candy, pushed quietly below the quilt, is the only food per- missible. A. Nicholls. — 1. Preventing Loss of Swarms from Skeps -If you increase the size of your hives by adding ekes below and supers above, you may safely leave them from week to week. 2. If your bees require feeding, give them candy or barley sugar. W. Chester. — The honey in the unfinished sections should be extracted when convenient, and given to the bees to lick out. They may for this purpose be placed behind the dividers, on the lower edge of which an entrance must be made to give access to them. Then wrap them up warm and dry, so that they may be ready on the arrival of the honey-glut. E. A.. Gibbon. — It is not easy to say what caused the bees to desert the hive ; but the hive having been deserted, the inmates of the neighbouring hives found it impossible to resist the temptation of plundering. This temptation passed from one hive to another till the whole apiary became demoralised. Robbing is generally accompanied with fighting. Sherborne. — Hohj Writ. — Your letter received, with thanks. We must respectfully, but firmly, decline its insertion. ^©usiness ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchurch St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Webster, W. B., Binfield, ISerks. Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bro3., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keefers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B. , Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTIC IE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDRETJ, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., Muskham, Newart. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DDRRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire. JOHNSTON, A. B., Brickhall, Ballywoolen, Killy- leagh, Co. Down. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON, C. T., Crawley, Sussex. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKOT, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHINSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 19, 1888. THE HONEY-PRODUCING INDUSTRY. t HIS department of Bee-keeping has attained such important dimensions, that Honey in its various forms is now recognised as a staple article of commerce. There is hardly a Grocer or other dealer in the large towns of the country, who is not becoming aware of the value of the same as a medium of profit ; and it is now common for the Wholesale Dealer to come to the large Apiary and make his purchases, just as he would buy any other commodity ; and notwithstanding, small Bee-keepers sometimes complain tkey cannot sell. The fault is mainly their own, in holding out for a high price on a quantity too small for the dealer to trouble with. Tke large holder, on the other hand, being well known, and having greater facilities, disposes of his entire crop to one party, often before it is removed from the hives. Consequently the demand has exceeded the supply, and an unlimited field is open for the profitable investment of capital in developing this industry, when under efficient management. Relying upon these facts gleaned from personal experience, as well as that of other large holders, the present proprietor of the Great Sussex Apiaries is making arrangements to develope his entire business into a Limited Liability Company, for the purpose of very largely extending the honey-produoing department. The district is entirely free from any possibility of interference from the dark honey produced in some localities by aphidean pests. At one of the apiaries, very favourably situated in a hollow at the junction of several fertile valleys, many acres have already been sown for the benefit of the bees with honey-producing plants ; while many acres more can be sown in like manner at little expense. It is also intended to make mutual arrangements with neighbouring land-owners for the same purpose; as also to rent land for the double object of producing both honey and hay from the same crop. Other apiaries will be established from time to time in suitable locations, so that nothing will be wanting to make this the most complete and extensive business of the kind in either Europe or America. The Queen trade, as also the Factory, will all continue under Mr. Simmins' personal supervision, and it will he his utmost endeavour to give satisfaction to all who may become interested either as Customers or Shareholders. A complete Prospectus, with full particulars, will shortly be ready; of which due notice will be given. Special prepaid ^.dvertisements. Exchange Column. — Sales of Honey and Second-hand Goods. — Intended to aid Bee-keepers in the disposal of Bee- produce and Appliances for which they have no further use. Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad- ditional Three words, One Penny extra. No reduction made for continuous insertion. New Ready. SIMMINS' NEW BOOK.— 'A MODERN BEE-FARM, AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.' Popular Edition, limp cloth cover, 3s. 9d. Special Edition, stiff covers, Is. 6d., post free. The Special Edition includes Photos of the Author's Domestic Hive; his Home Apiary, and another covered Apiary ; also one of Queen and Workers on a Comb. Ot the Author, Kottingdean, Brighton ; Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent Street, London; and J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. BEE-KEEPING, Plain and Practical : How to Make it Pay. By A. Rusbridge, Is. 6d., post free, Is. 8d. Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts, a 1253 THE MANAGEMENT OF STRAW SEEPS. De- signed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best results at the least possible cost. By attention to its teach- ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny. Six copies and upwards, post free. J. Huckle, KingsLangley . ADVERTISEMENTS for Leicestershire Bee-keepers' Association's Report should be sent to Edwin Ball, Waltham, Melton Mowbray. Members residing in County, 10s. per page; others, 20s. WANTED. — Copies of British Bee Journal for January 7th, 1886, and Nov. 1873. Full price given. Apply J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. FOR SALE.— 50 lbs. of best Extracted Honey at 6rf. per lb. Address T. Barnett, Ross, Herefordshire. n88 ADVERTISEMENTS for the Kent Bee-keepers' Asso- ciation Report should be sent to the Hon. Secretary, Hockenden, St. Ma.iy Cray, by Saturday the 21st instant. ADVERTISEMENTS for Derbyshire Bee-keepers' Asso- ciation Report (1000) received at W, T. Atkins, 6 North Slreet, Derby. 10s. per page. TTIOR SALE.— 12 dozen 1-lb. Sections (glazed), 8s. per JP dozen, or 90s. the lot. Address Woodley, World's End, Newbury. b 89 AMERICAN SECTIONS BY THE MILLION The cut, taken from a photograph, represents our bee-hive factory where we annually turn out about 20,000 hives and 3,000,000 sections, besides enormous quantities of bee-supplies of every description. Dealers before ordering elsewhere should correspond directly with us. We are prepared to quote better prices on sections in quantities than we have ever 8uoted before. We are also publishers of Gleanings in Bee ulture. with a circulation of 7674 subscribers. A sample copy of our i ournal and our40-page price list sent on application to jfc.. I. H.OOT, aledinR, Ohio, XJ. S. A.v Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stiungewats' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 202. Vol. XVI.] JANUARY 26, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (Editorial, Dtoittts, #t. A COTTAGER'S BEE JOURNAL. It must be apparent to all who have noted the successive changes which have taken place in the issue of the British Bee Journal, -from monthly to fortnightly, from fortnightly to weekly, from its price at sixpence to that of twopence per number, the constant aim of the respective proprietors to produce a journal which should be the full exponent of the developments of a progressive industry, and the faithful reflection of all those improvements which are constantly being brought before the public in the various appliances which tend to the inure perfect and profitable management of the Honey Boo, and which should be able to give sufficient reports of the meetings of the County Associ- ations. But we have ofttimes been much exercised in our minds whether our Journal, in its present form anil at its present price, has reached the hands of those for whose benefit the British Bee-keepers' and the County Associations were more particularly insti- tuted, viz., the Cottagers and the Agricultural labouring classes. Again, in the annual reports of the various County Associations mention has con- stantly been made of the trouble and difficulty experienced by the Secretaries in regulating the circulation of the Journal ; and great has been the trial of their patience at the absence of regularity in forwarding the Journal from one member to another. We also have in some measure been dis- satisfied with ourselves, and have felt that the object of our mission was not accomplished till the Journal was published at such a price as should render it accessible to bee-keepers of every class and grade. The difficulty which we have felt we have had to contend with has been how to produce a journal containing the information appertaining to an industry which is ever extending its borders, the exposition of the constant novelties in appliances, the communication of the increasing knowledge of the physiology and habits of the honey-bee, and the reports of the various Associations, and at the same time to bring the teachings of the Journal to the homes and hearths of the cottager and artisan. To perform with satisfaction these desiderata, it has been suggested to us by many friends and members of County Associations to retain the l'»r Journal in its present fulness and form, and concurrently to issue monthly a summary of the useful and practical portions of the Journal at a price which should bring it within the means of the humblest bee-keeper. This suggestion we have much pleasure in adopting, with the hope that it will be for the 'encouragement, improvement, and advancement of bee-culture in the United Kingdom, and for the bettering the condition of cottagers1 and others; and also that it will be the means of relieving in some degree the hard-worked Secretaries of County Associations of the anxiety they have felt with regard to the circulation of the Journal, and of giving facilities whereby the various Associations could send out notices of meetings and other in- formation to their members at more frequent intervals than can now be arranged, ami with less trouble than now devolves upon the Secretaries. AVe purpose, then, on or about the 1st of March, to issue a Cottager's Bee Journal, which will con- tain those portions of the weekly Journal which are most general and serviceable. The price will be Is. (ii/. a year, or three-halfpence per number, 2s. post-free. At this price we hope to give sixteen crown quarto pages — nearly equal to the si/.e of the Bee Journal. We purpose to make special arrange- ments with the Secretaries of County Associations. The price we have every reason to believe will come within the means of those whom we most desire to reach, who will thus be able to have theirown paper, at the beginning of every month, without the trouble of having it passed from member to member. This will be found to be the cheapest printed bee paper, — cheaper even than those published in America. We trust that the secretaries of the various County Associations, who will find this mode of publication a great assistance to them in their work, will give us their heartiest assistance in making this ' new departure ' a success ; and for this purpose we might suggest that the Journal in its new form should be given to every cottager as an inducement to become a member of the Association. We shall be pleased to receive any practical suggestions which will enable us more readily and completely to meet the requirements of the Cottager. It will be a great source of pleasure if by this endeavour we as journalists are enabled mare 44 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 20, 1888. effectually to fulfil the object of the existence of the Journal ; and we feel we may confidently depend upon the assistance of those who have in time past supported us, so that a fresh impetus may be given to the cause we all have at heart. HUNTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. We very much regret to hear that the Hunts Bee-keepers' Association are about to lose the services of their Secretary, Mr. C. N. White, of Somersham. For five years Mr. White has been most assiduous in the performance of his duties. In his capacity of expert he has visited every portion of the county, and given lectures on bee- keeping to the cottagers and villagers ; and he has spent more than one vacation in tours through various districts with the object of spreading a knowledge of the management of bees. The de- mauds on his time have now become too great, and he is obliged to resign the post, the duties of which he has so efficiently performed. It is sad to think that a gentleman, so enthusiastic and capable, is obliged to retire from the scene of his labours, baffled and disappointed. Could not the services of Mr. White be still retained] Could not the county be divided into provinces, and the provinces into districts, giving Mr. White the superin- tendence thereof? We trust that some such arrangement will be effected, and not allow Mr. White to fall back into the ranks. ASSOCIATIONS. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Meeting of the Committee held at 105 Jermyn Street, on Wednesday, January 18th; present, the Hon. and Rev. H. Blig-h (in the chair), the Rev. Geo. Raynor, Captain Bush, Captain Campbell, the Rev. Dr. Bartrum, the Rev. F. S. Sclater, the Rev. J. L. Seager, J. M. Hooker, II. Jonas, W. O'B. Glennie (Treasurer), and the Secretary. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the Secretary presented the statement of accounts for the past year. After some consideration, it was resolved that the same be adopted and printed as usual. Attention was called to the fact that whilst the Association had fully maintained its position in all other branches of its work, the income from subscriptions had decreased. The advisability of the Committee altering their day of meeting was considered, and the Secretary was in- structed to write to each member of the Committee requesting him to name the most suitable day, or days, of Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday, for him to attend with the view of fixing the meetings in future so as to enable the majority to attend. The consideration of the Committee's Report and the business of the General Meeting occupied the remainder of the meeting, which was followed by the usual Quarterly Conference with the County Representatives. There were present, Mrs. Curry and Mr. W. B. Webster, Berks; F. Cudd, Kent; Rev. W. E. Burkitt, Wilts; W. Lees McClure, Lancashire and Cheshire; W. M. Graham, Middlesex. The representatives reported that two subjects had been considered at their preliminary meeting : — (1.) The advisability of some modification being made in the existing arrangements for the third-class examina- tion of candidates for certificates in practical work. (2). The desirability of some facilities being given to the County Associations whereby the Bee Journal might be more largely used by them, and further whether there was any probability of the price being reduced to one penny. In regard to the latter point the. Committee pointed out that they had no power in the matter, but they had no doubt but that those who conducted the Journal would do their best for the Counties. The former recommendation was discussed at some length, the majority being of opinion that the present system was not too severe so far as the requirements of the knowledge of the work, but that the system might be much more simplified. The Committee promised to give the matter their best consideration, and in the meantime they would be glad if the representatives present, and others, would send their suggestions on the subject, in writing to the Secretary. The first Quarterly Conversazione of the new year was held at G p.m. Among the ladies and gentlemen present were the Hon. and Rev. Henry and Mrs. Bligh, Mr. Hooker, Mr. Glennie, Mr. Lyon, Mr. Grimshaw, Captain Campbell, the Rev. G. Raynor, Mr. Webster, Mr. Leigh, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Haviland, Mr. McClure, Mr. Wm. Graham, Mr. Henderson, and others. The Chairman (Mr. Glennie), in opening the pro- ceedings, said he would not detain the meeting by any preliminary remarks, but as Mr. Grimshaw had kindly undertaken to read a paper he would at once call on that gentleman to give them the benefit of his ideas, wbich could not fail to be entertaining and instructive. Mr. Grimshaw said that he had entitled the subject of his address ' Specialisation,' and he begged that the meeting would favour him by freely discussing and criticising the opinions he was about to lay before it. Specialisation. It seems strange that it no"v becomes a question, debatable pro and con, I admit, but still an open question, whether it is advisable at this stage in bee-keeping knowledge to centralise our studies, our experiments, and our energies, into given grooves and channels in order that our science may continue to develop with the same giant-like rapidity which has distinguished it during the recent past. There are rivers of thought which widen and deepen their channels by the aid of the numerous streamlets whose contents they are constantly absorbing. There are also other watercourses which spread themselves out over barren stretches of almost profitless waste, which divide, and again subdivide, their flow until, if travellers tell us truly, their floods become so absorbed amongst the sandy and muddy detritus or residuum that they are entirely wasted. What applies to one science may apply to another, and if it be found requisite for students in other sciences to specialise their energies after reaching some common given point, it is necessary for the bee-keeper also to well consider the. matter, whether he can add to our present store of knowledge, and advance the science, without this specialisation. Like the veins on a leaf, or the ribs on a bee's wing, bee-keeping lias divided itself and rami- iicated into so many channels that we are beginning to feel the necessity for specialists and authorities who have made particular branches distinct and undivided studies, and whose word becomes a dictum. As we stand at present, we see in Great Britain, Canada, America, and Europe, many brilliant lights amongst bee-keepers, whose opinions differ as we read them, week by week, in the columns of nearly every journal, so that one feels con- strained, when asked for advice, to recommend the novice to subscribe to but, a sing'e journal, and follow its teachng alone ; and there sometimes exists a little feel- ing of delicacy in suggesting even this course, January 26, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 45 Clever doctors are quite at variance with each other as to the treatment their patients require, and though we cannot but warmly thank them for their best prescrip- tions, gratuitous and at great trouble, we have but to look into that facetia column, the part of our journals devoted to ' the selected query,' and glance at the answers, to see the necessity for specialisation. The distinctly conflicting nature of the advice in some places, given by men of light and leading for the guidance of the sub- scribers to the periodicals, is symptomatic of the want of specialisation ; the confusion of their readers is a develop- ment of this, and the tyro in bee-keeping becomes dis- couraged and disgusted with the whole thing. The queries are sent out to well-known bee-keepers, they answer according to their individual predilections, but it requires an expert in the business to sift out the real truth, and best proceeding out of the matter of their replies. Often there is direct variance amongst the replies, and then the reader's difficulty is at its height, for, amidst it all, he feels how much they are trying to do for him, and how grateful he must be, and is, for their efforts. The directions which efforts towards specialisation should take are almost self-evident. On the subject of foul brood and dysentery, there is room for years of study, and by getting periodical information from those who are devoting attention to this branch (of this kind of information by the way we have the exceedingly in- teresting translations of Pastor Schdnfleld's articles on brood-food), the bee-keeper, by means of his journal, would get to know exactly what to do, and when to do it, in both the prevention and cure of this disease. (Jueen- raising and mating affords another deeply interesting route for investigation and experiment; we may thus learn from specialists the disadvantages of permitting anv black drones in our own apiaries, aud also the combina- tions of varieties required to produce the best all-round bee, the bee of the future ; one which shall work early and late, swarm little, winter well, give clear white cap- pings, and withal, 'keep its temper,' thus giving us another reason for looking to it, as we are told to go to tho ant. Another special study well worthy the attention of the highest intellects amongst bee-keepers of to-day, as it has engaged the minds of many in the past, is the botanical aspect of bee-keeping, the practical part of this being, of course, what, when, and where to plant forage, witli its respective values as cattle-fodder. The rationale of the hive, the why and wherefore of the best systems of hanging frames, wintering, obtaining the best sections, or combs for extracting, these are, both theoreti- cally and practically, advantageous lines of research : but particularly interesting would be a study of the different kinds of honey, with their respective worths as food, their various flavours, and medical properties. For the specialist in bee anatomy and physiology there is the widest and most delightful field for observation and thought in such enchanting vistas of light, as the voice, sight, hearing, smell, taste, memory, instinct or reason of the bee, its homing power, the uses of the different limbs, wings, head, antenna?, jaws, eyes, and what not; for, depend upon it, there is much more to learn yet about all these than we already know. Specialisation I hold to be the future watchword of those who aspire to become advanced bee-keepers. When I say advanced bee-keepers, I do not wish to class them with cynical scoffers, whose claim to be advanced is merely a question of the calendar. We know of Mr. Webster's discovery in borderland, the advanced apiarian who ' ken'd mair aboot bees than onybody,' and some of lis can perhaps call to mind others of the same class, who sneer at science till it offers them some gem for the mere trouble of picking up, just as some despise the physician's science until they are seized with illness, or others who despise religion until they hear ' the old Reaper ' sharpening his scythe. Let not the specialist in bee-keeping be dis- mayed or disheartened by sceptical scorn, but let him take heart of grace from the knowledge that the mocker himself uses hives and appliances, and also follows the instruction of the scientific bee-keeper of the past, just as in the future he will follow those of to-day. I am prepared to admit that the honey farmer, pure and simple, must generalise to same extent, and take only a digest of the information provided for him in the bee- literature of the day; this, coupled with his own ex- perience, may perhaps keep him in a lino with other honey- farmers, but as a thorough student of bee-physiology, the bee-keeper cannot long continue to cull the sweets from various ilowers, from various chalices of study, the nectar-tubes become too deep for good to be drawn from all, and he will be forced eventually to take a lesson from the worker-bee herself, concentrating his attention on one exclusive source for a given time, if he intend to gather or diffuse any appreciable amount of intellectual nectar, and he will find he cannot keep pace with the latest information and most recent discoveries, and still be able to contribute to the sum of knowledge already possessed, unless be select one particular branch of apiculture, devoting to this the whole of the time and energy he has hitherto given to the entire subject. If we do not specialise our work, we shall, I believe, drift to one side like logs, or become mere milestones, marking the advances made by others, who, wiser than we, selected one science, and then again one branch of that science, wherewith to develop and recreate the mind. By-and-bye, as one broad route is travelled and explored it becomes crowded with fellow-workers, the forward in iveinent is again arrested, unless they decentralise and diverge along what seem at present only dark, tortuous allevs ; but these open and exp mil the further they are explored until specialisation again becomes necessary. It is so with the chemist, the surgeon, the physician ; in law, in art, in music; and also in our varied trades and manufactures. Finally, it is so in the home of industry, tin' hive itself. If excellence is to be maintained and continued, subdivision of effort, in other words specialisa- tion, has to be resorted to. In my mind, it is not now a question of whether specialisation be uec63saryor not (it goes without saying), but whether the time has arrived when we must i-jsort to it; and this, as far as regards bee-keeping, I hope to bear discussed— discussed I hope to advantage. The Chairman congratulated Mr. flrimshaw on his very able paper. The subjects touched upon were no doubt op 'ii to a great amount of consideration and interchange- of thought and opinion amongst bee- keepers, and he hoped that members who could throw any light thereon would kindly express their views, and thus assist in the elucidation of many mysteries in con- nexion with bee-keeping. Mr. Grimshaw had referred to some points upon which investigations were already being made by specialists, who had been good enough to lecture at the meetings of the Association from time to time; for instance, Mr. Cheshire had discoursed ably on foul brood. The subjects of wintering bees and honey as food had also been dealt with in the same way. The Rev. G. Raynor thought they would all agree on the advantages of specialisation. It was impossible to arrive at anything like perfection in the different branches of the science of apiculture without specialising. It was well known that a ' Jack-of-all-trades never excelled in any particular line. He was not surprised that experimenters had arrived at different conclusions. Such results were always occurring, no matter what the subjects were. In regard to bee-keeping, there was plenty of room for difference of opinion. As a cure for foul brood some people used salicylic acid, whilst others preferred camphor, and various other remedies. His experiences showed that the cheapest and safest cure was to destroy 46 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 26, 1888. the diseased stocks arid their appliances. His apiary had never suffered from it, but he had seen a good deal of it in the apiaries of others, wbo had lost more than they gained by attempting to cure the evil with specifics. As to queen-raising, the great obstacle to breeding any race pure was the difficulty in making the queen pure. That could be insured by specialists, but in an apiary conducted on general principles it was troublesome to manage, and required a thorough knowledge of the subject. The greatest advantages accrued from the introduction of fresh blood into an apiary. They were well aware that in the breeding of cattle the diffusion of fresh blood was considered all important — the same applied to bees. Until the foreign races of bees were brought to England they had been breeding in-and-in for many centuries, which had resulted in a loss of vigour; and if that system had been continued, they would never have been able to take 200 lbs. per colony, as was the custom in the present stage of bee cultivation. He advocated the transmission of virgin queens a distance of at least ten miles from the apiary in which they were bred, wdiere they should be introduced in a strange apiarj' in order to be mated with fresh blood, and then returned to the original home. By this means vigorous stocks would be ensured. He heartily thanked Mr. Grimshaw for his interesting paper. Mr. Baldwin dissented somewhat from Mr. Raynor's view as to the desirability of killing the bees to destroy foul brood. Mr. Cheshire had thoroughly investigated the subject and shown beyond doubt that, if properly treated, however bad the disease may be, it was possible to thoroughly cure it. Perhaps, however, Mr. Raynor's advice was the best in the case of unskilled persons. He thought the object and aim of introducing new blood would be best served if bee-keepers would exchange young fertile queens. The capping of sections was a most important matter, and he would be pleased to see the bee that could give good white capping, thick enough to prevent the sections from ' weeping,' but not too thick to displease judges. The bee that he had found to give the best capping was a cross between the Ligurian and black bee, or a cross between the Carniolan and black bee. Carniolan capping was exceedingly thin, and not suitable for sending distances, low temperature or dampness causing it to ' weep.' Mr. Lyon said a few words in regard to the modes of transmitting bees from place to place, which subject was discussed at great length by the Chairman, Messrs. Baldwin, Graham, Webster, Raynor, Sambels, Hooker, Haviland, Lyon, and Grimshaw. Mr. "Webster was strongly of Mr. Raynor's opinion as to the necessity of destroying hives containing foul-brood. In cases where the bee-keeper thoroughly understood the disease the circumstances were different and a cure might reasonably be attempted. Mr. .Sambels was of the same opinion as Mr. Raynor with reference to the stamping out of foul-brood by total destruction of the stocks. That was the best advice to inexperienced people. If he (the speaker) had large apiaries he should do his utmost by means of the doctoring system rather than condemn a number of hives to the sulphur pit. His bees had never been troubled with the disease, but lie had had experience of it in the apiaries of neighbours. Mr. Hooker considered that no bees were so good as the old English bees for sealing honey-comb. Crosses were no doubt more vigorous and produced more honey, but for satisfactorily sealing comb black bees were the best. Mr. Haviland said with regard to Mr. Raynor's re- marks, that few bee-keepers had time to attend specially to the bite ling of bees, which involved the expenditure of considerable time and money. The first cross was generally considered very vigorous, but breeding from the crosses produced speedy degeneration. Mr. Sambels approved of the frequent importation of fresh blood. Instead of breeding crosses he thought it better to keep to one breed, but obtain fresh blood. That principle applied well to fowls and other animals. Mr. Grimshaw differed from Mr. Haviland somewhat. In-and-in breeding no doubt caused an inferiority of race. The first cross was no better than either of the original ancestors, but this should be crossed with a bee whose good points it was desirable to secure, and by so crossing and inter-crossing with bees possessed of specially good qualities the result would be what he would call the bee of the future — containing a maximum of good with a minimum of bad points. Some races had extra long tongues, some wintered more successfully, whilst others gave better cappings. His object in writing the paper on ' Specialisation ' was to cause bee- keepers to think on the subject, and decide for them- selves what particular line they would take in specialising their studies. Generalisation did not forward the science of apiculture at all. Mr. Graham said a gentleman whom he knew, and who had made a special study of breeding, advocated that a start should be made with a black bee as the original queen, introducing yellow blood by means of Carniolans or Italians. That product might be allowed to last for three years, after which fresh blood should be introduced according to circumstances. If vigour should be found wanting introduce the black species ; if the stocks were not prolific or not good honey - gatherers yellow blood was required. Mr. Baldwin was afraid a great deal of mischief was done by what were known as condemned bees. He be- lieved that many stocks given up to be driven contained foul-brood. He had found straw hives so diseased that he had refused to take them, and it would be impossible for him to say that he had never unconsciously driven from hives containing the disease. Generally cottagers would insist on the combs being left in the hives, and in such cases persons of the greatest experience would have a difficulty in recognising foul-brood. The Chairman said they were all much indebted to Mr. Grimshaw for his able and valuable lecture. AYhile agreeing with that gentleman's remarks, he must add that most bee-keepers were obliged to go in for generali- sation. But there were scientific gentlemen, members of the Association, who had both time and oppartunity to devote to the specialities of apiculture ; and if they would each study one particular branch of that industry, and give to the bee-keeping world the results of their labours, in the same way as physicians and physiologists assist one another, the cause for which they met would be advanced to an incalculable extent. lie proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Grimshaw. Mr. Sambels lieartily seconded the motion. The Rev. G. Raynor then proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman ; which was seconded by Mr. McClure, and acknowledged in graceful terms by Mr. Glennie. Mr. Grimshaw expressed his thanks, saying that he had been honoured by a patient hearing, and also by the interesting conversation which had ensued after the reading of his paper. He would at all times be proud to do his best towards assisting the Association by the in- troduction of subjects for thought and discussion at the quarterly gatherings, and he hoped they would have the benefit of many fellow-labourers. HUNTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual business meeting in connexion with the Hunts Bee-keepers' Association was held at the 'Foun- tain ' hotel, Huntingdon, on Saturday afternoon. In the absence of the President (the Earl of Sandwich) the chair was occupied by Col. A. W. Marshall, J. P. (vice- president). Amongst those also present were the Rev. January 26, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 47 C. G. Hill, Rev. C. C. James, Mr. J. Howard, Mr. Z. Hobbs, Mr. C. N. White (honorary Secretary), &c. The Chairman, in presenting the financial report for the past 3'ear, expressed the pleasure it afforded him to be able to give them a more favourable account of the Association's finances than he was in a position to do last year, when there was a balance against them of 51. 3s. -lid. The receipts during the past year had amounted to 26/. Os. Ad., and the expenditure to Ml. 4*. 8grf., leaving only 4s. AUl. due to the Treasurer. On the motion of the Rev. C. C. James, seconded by the Rev. C. G. Hill, the Report was adopted. Mr. 0. N. White presented the annual report of the Association. It was as follows : — ' The record of 1887, which is now presented to the Association, is, I feel sure, one upon which we may con- gratulate ourselves. The number of subscribers now far exceeds that of any previous year, and the balance-sheet which 'the Treasurer is enabled to present will give more general satisfaction than, at the beginning of the year, the most sanguine of us anticipated. 'In addition to defraying the ordinary expenses, the Committee have paid oY. 158. towards the expenses attending the Great Exhibition, which, as representing the bee-keeping industry in England, was held in London in lssii. Mr. Linton, one of our representatives to the British Bee-keepers' Association, has also very gene- rously paid the sum of '21. ~s. 3d. to the same fund. Thus have we taken a worthy part in an exhibition which has done much to make a valuable bee-product more extensively known and probably more generally sought after. ' Now, although it is undoubtedly gratifying to be able to present such a satisfactory balance-sheet, there is cause for regret, as maivy old subscribers have intimated their intention of withdrawing their names from the list of members. This action on the part of some of our friends evidently suggests the necessity for reviewing the past, with the idea of securing more general sympathy and support in the future. And here, as a means to that end, I would again emphasise the import- ance of endeavouring to find a means of assisting members in the sale of their produce. 1 feel convinced that it is to the attainment of this object that our efforts must be mainly directed. 'Acting again in the capacity of honorary expert, I have visited most of the members requiring advice. I have also delivered a lecture at Homingford I iiv\ , where fresh members were obtained. ' The Annual Show was held on July I'lith, at St. Ives, in connexion with the Agricultural Society's Show, and to this Society we are indebted for the space for our tents and a donation of •'!/. to the prize fund. Considerable im- provement in the quality and appearance of the exhibits has been noticed in previous years, and this exhibition was no exception to the rule. The judge appointed by the British Bee-keepers' Association, the Rev. F. G. Jenyns, of Knebworth, reported that the show was a success, and had rarely, if ever, been surpassed in the history of the Society. The cottagers' exhibits were more numerous than in previous years, and were specially complimented by the judge, who pointed out the non-sectional exhibit of Mr. Z. Ilobbs as the best of its kind in the show. The silver medal was awarded to Mr. J. II. Howard, jun., Holme; the bronze medal to Mr. R. Allpress, Fenstanton ; and the British Bee-keepers' Association certificate to Mr. Z. Ilobbs, Little Stukely. ' Copies of the Bee Journal have been sent round to thirty-seven members weekly, but very few have been returned. ' In concluding this report, I regret feeling compelled to surrender the official position winch I have held since the formation of the Society in 1882, but I trust that, with the kind assistance of the Agricultural Society con- tinued, and the hearty co-operation of the bee-keepers and their friends in the county, our work will be carried on with vigour and success.' The Bev. C. G. Hill moved, and Mr. Howard seconded, the adoption of the report, and the motion was carried unanimously. In the course of a conversation which ensued on the present condition and future prospects of the Association, the Bev. C. G. Hill threw out a suggestion with regard to the Society's meetings. Huntingdon, he said, ought not to be always the place in which the meetings of the Association were held. To bring the objects of the Association thoroughly home to the minds of the cottagers it would be necessary to form smaller areas in which meetings might take place. If, for instance, the various polling districts were taken, honey might be exhibited in those districts, and a number of prizes could be apportioned to each. That, he believed, would greatly tend to popularise the Association, and would carry out its principal objects in a more effective manner. — Mr. White pointed out that the chief ob- jection to that plan would be the additional expense it would entail, and this the Association would really be unable to bear under the present circumstances. Prizes might certainly be given to local centres, but it would be a great pity to adopt any scheme which would in any way tend to do away with the annual central show. On the motion of the Bev. C. G. Hill, seconded by the Bev. C. C. James, Lord Sandwich was unanimously re-elected President. Mr. Marshall was then thanked for his past services, and also re-elected. The Bev. C. C. James suggested the advisability of having a paid secre- tary, but Mr. White pointed out that the funds of the Association would not permit of this. For himself, he added, he would at once say that he could not consent to receive payment. That was not the idea which possessed him when he first undertook the office. The secretary should be a gentleman who had more time at his disposal than he had. — The Bev. C. C. James was then requested to accept the office, but this he declined to do on the ground that ho had not sufficient time to devote to the work.— It was found impossible to make a definite selection of a successor to the retiring Secretary, and, Mr. White consenting to continue the duties in the meantime, the matter was left to the next meeting of the Association on April 28th, — Mr. J. Linton and Mr. White were appointed as representatives to the British Bee-keepers' Association, and one or two alterations were made in the composition of the Committee. WBOCKWABMXE BEE CLUB. The annual meeting of this Club was held in the Boys' Schoolroom, Wrockwardine, on Tuesday, the 17th mat. The report of the hon. treasurer and secretary (Mi-s M. E. Eyton) showed the Club to be in a nourishing condition, both as regards funds and members. Nine new members have joined during the year, and the Club now numbers thirty. Great interest has been taken in the examinations held by the B. B. K.A., and during the year five members, three of whom are cottagers, suc- ceeded in passing as third-class experts. Of these five, two have also been successful at the examination for experts of the second class. Several of the members were exhibitors at the County Honey Show, and suc- ceeded in carrying off four prizes in all. The Club Show, held iu September, was a most successful and encouraging exhibition, and altogether the members may fairly congratulate themselves upon their advance during 18»". This prosperous state of affairs is chiefly due to the unfailing interest and fostering care of their inde- fatigable hon. secretary. The following were elected as officers during the next year : — President, the Hon. Mrs. K. C. Herbert ; hon. secretary and treasurer, Miss M. E. Eyton ; assistant-secretary, Mr. John Palmer. 48 THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 26, 1888. -^^ would be safe after a few hours' travelling in the mail-bags. During the past live years we have handled and raised a considerable number of queens of various rare . al o natives, and can fully endorse the remarks of 'U. II.' on the value of fresh blood, whether native or foreign, when introduced to apiaries where in-and-in breeding had been allowed. Referring to postal arrangements, it appears hopeless to expect that until other weightier matters such as an excess of ■\\d. being charged per letter to the Australian colonies over that of cur neighbours, of circulars being posted by the ton in Belgium for redelivery in England, &c, &C. — are satisfactorily adjusted, that we shall lie able safely to drop our surplus queens in the letter-box. Perhaps half-a-dozen so posted may be safely delivered, but the seventh will bring an official notice that ' Live bees are not allowed by post,' and t he parcel (after a week's rest) will lie delivered personally to the sender. — John Edby, .V. Neots. X PREVENTION OF INCREASE. Number. One. [11-14.] Prevention of increase of colonies of bees does not mean to prevent the increase of bees by any means, as this would be exactly opposite what we do to gain the best results, for no bee-master ever had too many bees in a hive. Its object is to prevent swarming in a measure, but more especially increase in numbers of his colonies, which is always done at a loss of surplus honev and expense of new hives, combs, and reducing the season's profit. My plan is no theory, but the result of live years' experience with one hundred colonies of bees. It is as follows : As the preparation begins when bees are set out, I will begin with April 1. In the first place I will say I use the Langstroth hive 101 inches wide, allowing i' inches from centre to centre of combs; brood-frames !• inches deep, thus it will be seen that I have a broad, shallow hive, which I find the best, all things considered, for profitable bee-keeping, and as I am a specialist at bee-keep :ng, have been obliged to make it pay. I strive to keep queens that will fill ten combs with brood ; this hive will certainly give room for the most prolific queens, which if crowded in a small hive are too willing to swarm out. Then again, if we contract too much, wo shall crowd pollen into the sections. This size of hive obviated these troubles. My belief is that the bees control swarming, and that the queen is always opposed to swarming. It is, there- fore, the bees we must please. Knowing just what they require we may proceed to manipulate them to the best possible advantage. First, then, in early spring, when set out, allow one day's flight for them to mark their location, then examine every colony, taking away all c Ik not densely covered with bees ; then crowd with division-board, being sure they have abundant store-,; cover up warm above and pack warm at sides of hives to hold the heat of cluster and hasten brood-rearing ; leave entirely alone twenty- one days, when young bees will begin to hatch ; then examine once a-week, adding the combs as fast as young bees emerge to cover them. The combs should be added to outside of brood-nest, one at a time, as warm weather advances, until all are in. Young bees will now hatch as fast as the queen can fill the empty cells with eggs; the swarm is now a rousing one, and the hive packed full of bees, brood in all stages, and honey (the old stores) mostly consumed. It is now June 1; clover begins to yield, and we see the combs begin to whiten. This is the proper time to place on a super filled with sections, having starters in them, which will be taken possession of immediately, and honey will be stored rapidly, and if left in this condition swarming would be the result. We watch the super, however, and before it is quite full we raise it up and place an empty one under it, alwa3rs adding extra room before quite needed, and if the hive is standing in the sun a shade-board is placed upon it. Managed in this way throughout the season swarming is scarcely ever thought of, and not one colony in twenty- five will cast a swarm, as all the energy of the bees is bent upon honey-gathering. The strength of swarm is kept up by the queen having all the room she can till; consequently, the white homy all goes into sections. But should a swarm issue we proi 1 at once to profit by it, and hive them so that no time is lost for work in the sections. This we accomplish as follows: As soon as all the bees are in the air we turn the hive clear around, so that it faces the opposite direction from what it did ; setting it just off the stand We now place a new hive on the same stand as the old one occupied, and put seven combs or frames with foundation in it. Take three combs of brood from old hive and put in also ; then place the super, or supers, as the case may be, on the new hive, and hive the swarm back in it, letting the old hive remain until towards avening. At that time all the flying force will be back in the new hive on the old stand. Now open old hive and shake and brush all remaining bees down in front of new hive, when they will all run in. We now have all the bees of the swarm, and all left in old hive on new stand. That colony is now done with swarming for the season. There is a strong field force, no combs to build, or supers of unfinished sections to till up. The bees have gained a new impetus by swarming, and the work goes on rapidly : no loss of time, no increase, and a double surplus will be taken. "We now return to the old hive, which is taken into honey-house, queen-cells cut out, honey extracted, and the brood given to stocks not overflowing with bees, to nucleus, or to artificial increase (if we wish such), or Still better, held over till next day and a swarm hived on them and treated the same as was the one the day before, as regards supers, &c., and so on to the end of the season ; when we find we have had half-a-dozen swarms, and yet only our one hundred stocks in the yard in the 50 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 26, 1888. fall, the original number in the spring. Following up this method during ihe se.ison, an extra yield of comb- honey can be secured, fully as much, I believe, as of extracted. After July 10, the supers can be contracted to the close of the season, leaving few unfinished sections to carry over. These latter can be extracted and combs kept for the next year. Should I wish increase I should manage my apiary as above until after clover and bass- wood bloom, then divide aud let them fill up on fall flowers. — R. A. Morgan, Columbus, Wis. {American Apicu'.turist.) WHAT INDUCED ME To KEE1' BEES. {Continued from p. 40.) [1445.] I got another bar-frame hive. I knew all about what ought not to have been done. Had another strong swarm this time from the skep which the lady made me a present of. This time I gave the six frames and left the opening full width and a feeder on. A few days after I gave the ten frames, and when I was satisfied that they wished to work above I put on the large bell-glass which I got with the skep. It was about half filled with hone)' when I got it ; I thought it would look very nice as an ornament when it would be full of honey, but I counted my chickens before they were hatched; in a few days all the furniture had dis- appeared, they had taken it down below. 1 caught a severe cold the night that I kept my bees company, which turned to bronchitis. I gradually wasted away for three months. I had a daughter at this time troubled with a short cough; I knew well what that meant. We took our walks together, thinking that soon we must be parted from those who are very dear to us. Just at this time I thought I would send to friend Huckle for the leaflet 'Honey as Food and Medicine.' There was not much medicine that I could see about it, but I saw it was good for food. I had my bread cut very thin, then spread honey on it, and made a sandwich of it. Before twenty-four hours I began to feel a different man. I got my daughter to take some; her cough has left, and we are now iu as good health as any person could wish, and I thank God for it. Calling upon a bee-keeper a few days ago I found his wife had the bronchitis; her case was worse than mine. 1 told her of my cure. She tried it, and is now able to go about as usual, although seventy years old. People looked at me and said, 'Why, you are quite well!' 'Oh, yes! the honey has done it.' I was soon sold out, and not less than Is. per pound, some more. One thing I know ; I shall always try to keep 100 pounds of honey per year for home use. Once let the value of pure honey be known, and then our friends may do better than they have ever done before, both for themselves and to benefit their fellow-creatures. I hope that some who read these few lines and who have the bronchitis will just try it, and write a few lines respecting their cure and send them to the Editor for publication. Eat the bread very, very slowly, don't wash it down with tea or coffee. I believe in Cod's providence, and here we have one of His good gifts. I have got a long way from the hives. I must now get back. Well, I was so delighted with my bees, just to think what good creatures they were. I had a great many visitors coming to see the bees working — indeed, it was becoming almost like a show ; every person that came to the house must see the dear bees that I looked upon as having under God's providence saved my life. A veiy sudden stop was put to my peeping, ll is the last feather that breaks the camel's back, and so I suppose that they had put up with my prying until they were determined to resent it. A young man wished to look. I lifted the top, and in a moment the bees lifted me. "We ran (I know some bee-keepers will say ' What cowards!') into a shed a few yards off, but the bees followed us. The young man managed to get behind me in a stooping position in one corner. The bees placed their stings into my face as if it were a pin- cushion, and it resembled one for a few days afterwards. At last I said, We must run for it, and we did run. When we had got out of harm's way he drew the stings out and pressed his watch-key on them to get the poison out. Now all this can be avoided. We all wish to learn as much as possible about ' our bees.' Thanks to Abbott Brothers of Southall, London, for their cheap observatory hive, Messrs. Neighbour & Sons, Hegent Street, London, and others, we can now see what is wanted ; before we were still partly groping iu the dark. We get one lesson respecting our frames hanging true. How man)' of us have found our frames near each other at the bottom of hive, and consequently the next space further off than it ought to be? I now do the following, Place a piece of wood between each frame one inch in length and fth of an inch square, keeping them about one inch from hive side, and resting on bottom of hive. Again I have found the bottom bar bent so that it touched bottom of hive. This is very annoying to the bees. I now have a piece of cork about a quarter inch deep and glue it on centre of bar. We can hardly expect our hive-makers to do this work for us, as they put. everything in our way for as little money as possible. We have also gone a step further iu the observatory hive. We can now see our bees feeding, piercing their candy, and making it like a beautiful piece of coral work. Thanks to the Productive Tin-plate Worker Association, Masshouse Lane, Birmingham, for their Excelsior bee-feeder. How pleasant for an invalid to see all this when he cannot get about. Now to return to my skep which the lady kindly gave me. With one skep being on the top of the other the bees got in between the steps and came out same way, as well as others using the bottom entrance. Query: Can something not be done with our bar-frame hives ? It would save the bees a great amount of travelling up and down in the hive ; I mean just when the honey is coming in freely. And now, in conclusion, I am glad to say that I have never seen or heard any of the hobgoblins or will-o'- the-wisps in my hives. Cleanliness is next to godliness. Commence this season well. Begin by getting at least one new hive, and do not omit to order an observatory hive. Paint it well outside with four coats of good oil- paint, and paint the inside with Mr. Cowan's prescrip- tion. When there is no smell from the paint then com- mence to put the bees in, and treat every hive in the same way. To beginners, Don't be alarmed by all the thousand and one things you read about. I quite expect to bear of the Hessian fly or the Colorado beetle being found, — almost anything, but I am quite prepared for anything in that line; nothing will deter me from keeping bees. Bee-keeping is with me a great pleasure ; indeed, I may say they contribute to my happiness as well as thepooket. The Bee Journal I prize very much, although we do get unpleasant things to read about, such as damp hives, mouldiuess, aud that other thing, &c. If you are determined to have Is. per pound for your honey, get the bronchitis. — T. II. NOTES ON BEE-HIVES— SECTIONS. [1440.] During the season of 168" I have made a number of experiments in order to find the best method of securing sections tilled evenly and entirely. I have had colonies worked upon the various lines indicated in the issues of the British Bee Journal for the past two years, and will here just say the method which has given the most perfect result. The four inner faces of the sections have a small groove into which the foundation is placed at the time of setting up the sections. This foundation fits rather loosely in January 26, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 51 order to allow for a slight expansion upon being treated with the heat of the hive. I find the bees fix the four edges of the foundation to the sides of the sections ' first thing they do ' invariably. I use Dadant's thin foundation, which I import direct from their establish- ment in America. After this is worked out, the so- called fish-bone cannot be detected, and I have never found this foundation to fail, break down, or be removed or destroyed by the bees. Dadant's extra thin foundation I fix all round with molten wax by means of a sable- hair pencil, afterwards scraping the surplus wax away with the point of a penknife. When foundation is fixed by either of the above methods I have had 100 per cent of finished sections without a single pop-hole. The grooves can be easily made by means of a small plane, or a small circular saw. I cannot bear the appearance of a line of wax showing upon the outside of the section, as is the cise with the Lee section and the one figured by Mr. Simmins in his Modern Bee- farm. For all practical purposes, appearance, See., the very best section is the four-piece pin-dovetail section. Those I import from Mr. Heddon have their faces beautifully smooth, and the wood is nearly as white as milk. By means of slotted dividers 1 have not obtained more than 80 per cent of sections free from pop-holes when the the ordinary one-piece sections have been used in the cases of two-ways and four-ways respectively, and the most approved section-cases have been used, the defects being caused by the wood coiners of the one-piece sections. My best results have been made by using wide frames, as illustrated in lleddon's Success in Bee Culture, the wood of the sections being quite free from traces of propolis, See,, and the sections evenly and entirely filled. I have come to the conclusion that a vertical unobstructed passage is what is required in order to have the corners tilled, and that this is almost impossible with the one- piece section with two bee-ways, or even four bee-ways, to secure entirely filled sections every time owing to the wood corners. I have most carefully tested the new patent Heddon hive with leference to sections, and find it unsurpassable for this purpose. — T.Boxxku Cham nuns, F.L.S., Tref Eglwys, January 18. HONEY LIQUOBS, CONFECTIONS, &C. [1447.] Mr. E. McNally, of Rutherglen (1417), will probably get the information he requires as to the names of manufacturers who use honey in their goods, if he communicates with the lion. Sec. of the Berkshire B. A. 1 remember they had an exhibition at Beading some years ago, at which such articles formed a very prominent feature. A reverend gentleman, whose name I forget, took great interest in the matter, and did much to bring the many uses of honey before the public. The Dorset B. A. also had a stall at their shows for some time for the sale of confectionery, drinks, &c, in the manufacture of which hone}' was used. I tasted many varieties and found them excellent. The biscuits made by Messrs. Huntley & Palmer, of Beading, and called ' Honey Drops,' are so good that 1 do not like to be without them. They are sold in tin boxes at Is. per box. There were many announcements in the Journal a few years ago giving such information as Mr. E. McNally now wants. If he fails to get the information from other sources I dare sa}' he can get access to a file of bound volumes. The report of the 13. B. A. exhibits at 'The Healtheries' will be especially useful to him. Mr. AN'. II. Duuman, of Dorchester, late Hon. Sec. of the Dorset B. A., and Mr. W. N. Griffin, of Beading, late of the Honey Depot, Freshford, Somerset, could probably give much acceptable information on the subject. — 'West Countryman. WHO IS 'AMATEUB EXl'EBT?' [1448.] This is a question which none of us would have thought it necessary to ask as long as that nom de plume attached itself only to the pleasant chit-chat and friendly criticisms which have appeared from time to time in the pages of the British Bee Journal. Lately, however, under cover of the same fictitious name, an attack has been made in the columns of a Canadian Bee Journal which will naturally incline us to ask, ' Is this the writer in the B.B.J., whose letters have crossed the Atlantic ? Are the two " Amateur Experts" in reality one and the same man?' As chairman of the Board of Examiners of the B.B.K.A., I am perhaps in a better position than any one to refute this attack which is made against those who conduct the examinations for the third-class certificates of the B.B.K.A. 'Amateur Expert' says that the candidates are required to find the queen in ten minutes by examiners who would probably take ten hours to find her, or words to that effect. We can only interpret this to mean that these examiners are incom- petent men, and I think it due to the British bee-keeping public that I should say that this is altogether a false charge. Although as chairman of the Board I have signed nearly all the diplomas to examiners which have been issued, I have never acted in the capacity of third- class examiner myself, and have therefore less hesitation in saying that the examiners have always been chosen i from those who ware known to be most competent, noi have any been appointed about whom the Board felt any doubt as to their fitness. May I be allowed to give this advice to those who use a nom de plume : Do so as long as you please, if pro- tected by its shelter from the public gaze you feel more confidence and can write better for the good of the community at large; but when you think it necessary to make attacks which are more or less personal— use your own naim ! — IIenuy Bi.iuii, Hampton Hill Vicarage, January VMh. PARALLEL r. RIGHT-ANGLE FRAMES, Sec. [1440.] Having read a good deal of the correspondence on the above subject, I should like now to give my ex- perience and the result. I u-e some long hives with the frames parallel, and some hives with ten frames. I can turn either side to the front, as my entrances are all sunk in the floor-boards. In 1886 I wintered fifteen stocks on the parallel, six on the right-angle, and last spring I had one queenless on each system, and one rather mouldy on each system. I have not lost a stock for several years, except one I tried to winter as an ex- periment on the right-angle iu a half-inch hive, which died. My four best stocks last year on the parallel system gave me, as near as I can say, No. 1, hybrids, 53 lbs. and 01 sections; No. 2, Ligurians, 101 lbs.; No. •'!, blacks, 50 lbs. and 41 sections ; No. 4, hybrids, 91 lbs. The four best on right-angle: No. 1, blacks, 08 sections: No. 2, blacks, 66 sections ; No. :i, hybrids, 40 lbs. and 14 sections ; No. 4, blacks, .".2 lbs. and 21 sections, which leaves me in favour of parallel frames. I have not found any difference in the healthiness of either system. I prefer 'manipulating parallel frames. I was pleased with my Ligurians beating all my others but one, and they the No. 1, hybrids, which I should have said were two lots wintered' in a fifteen bar-frame hive, and having a queenless stock. On May 28th I took one queen away and united the others, they giving the 53 lbs. and 01 sections. If it will interest the readers of the Bee Journal, I will explain how I managed the Ligurians, which are a mile from home. Wintered on nine bars. On January 20th I found entrance stopped with dead bees. April 5th, examined and gave 1-lb. cake of candy on top, and two pounds of dry sugar in dummy 52 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 26, 1888. at back; in May gave 2 lbs. of liquid food. June 10th, doubled to twenty bars, putting the stock at the top, and five bars of comb and five bars of foundation in the — -^ bottom hive. June lGth, gave ten more bars of a »/^Sfoundation in the centrej June 29th, gave five more _^__^--bars"cff comb and five~bars of foundation under top box, making four storeys high. July 29th, took top box, ten full bars. August loth, took nineteen full, one empty, leaving stock strong and plenty of honey. I am now going to give the Oarniolans a trial, having received one of Mr. Benton's selected queens, and success- fully introduced her, October 4th, on Mr. Simmins's principle, as I have done several before. On November 20th 3'oung Carniolans were out, on December 16th a lot were out, and on January 8th and 9th all the bees had a good cleansing flight. — Ligusticus. TARALLEL versus BIGHT-ANGLED FRAMES. [1450.] We are invited by the writer of ' Useful Hints ' to the B. B. J. to publish our experience in regard to the above question, i.e., whether frames should be hung parallel or at right angles to the entrance. We can scarcely claim to have any experience in the matter, as we have never worked a single stock on the parallel system. Our objections to it are rather theoretical than practical. But so thoroughly convinced are we of its demerits that we have never even considered it neces- sary to test it. We could tolerate it, and even recom- mend it as perhaps the best arrangement for wintering weak stocks, and we have frequently practised it so far, keeping the bees on a few frames well back from the entrance, and chaff packed. It may work well also in building up stocks in spring, since it is unquestionably the warmer system. But when our stocks come to full strength we could not tolerate it. It would be im- possible for the bees, of what we call strong stocks, to get jostled past each other in the limited passage afforded by a comb hung across the entrance. Under the right-angled system the bees have all their streets opening clear out to the country, in our case ten in number, not counting those at the sides. Under the other system every passenger has to burrow under or scramble round each of the ten or eleven combs the hive contains before reaching the back. And so, of course, with the ventilation. Only in one way could we tolerate it, viz., by propping the hive from the floor-board so as to give entrance all round. Our great difficulty in bee- keeping has been, and to some extent still is, not to get stocks strong, but to keep them strong, which means during the honey season to prevent swarming. This we can almost certainly do under the system we prefer, but we would consider it a hopeless task under the parallel system. "\\ bile acknowledging that we have never given the latter system a season's trial, we should like it to be under- stood that we are not strangers to it. We have handled for others many hives on the combination principle ; but in no caso did we ever find one that could compare in results with our own. — W. R. So far as actual experience in working hives on the parallel system goes, we are only a little in advance of ' W. R.' We have in our apiary but one stock of bees with frames so hung, and this is one of two ' long-idea ' hives presented to us last year by a friend who was reducing his stock. Our experience, therefore, of parallel frames is too limited for us to speak with authority for or against them. At the same time, wo have seen enough of the combination principle in the bands of others to be quite sure we shall never adopt that plan. Tiering -up recommends itself, both in theory and practice, over lateral extension so unmistakably that we shall never give the latter a trial. As to hanging frames parallel to entrance, it has something to recommend it, so far as actual manipulation goes, because, no doubt, it gives some advantage in having lateral space in the rear, when hives are made to accommodate more frames than are in use by the bees. It is also hardly likely that we should be much troubled by bees jostling past each other, as our colleague suggests, because we could not tolerate a hive for our own use wherein a free passage and free ventilation all round could not be readily given in hot weather. Seeing that the question has been put to us, and that we have a couple of these hives on our hands, we shall give the matter some attention ; but, while endeavouring to keep an open mind regarding it, we have a strong conviction that we shall prefer to work with frames at right angles to the entrance in the future as we have in the past. — W. B. C. {The Bee-keepers' Record.) COUNTY BEE-KEEPING ASSOCIATIONS. [1451.] Your article under this heading has presum- ably produced the effect which was intended, and as far as comment upon it has gone it has been fully justified. As a County Secretary of many years' standing I thank you for opening your columns to a discussion which I trust will not be closed until the committee of the British Bee-keepers' Association admits that its future position in the world of bee matters requires it to give its aid in elucidating the questions commented upon. It was not a lit tie remarkable that coincidently with the appearanca rf the article the intimation of Mr. White's retirement from the honorary secretaryship of the Hunts Bee-keepers' Association, under circumstances so closely resembling those indicated in that article, should have appeared. Simply stated, his resignation is owing to the lack of assistance afforded to him in the management of his Association. I have carefully read the observations which have been made by your several contributors, and there are a few that I should like to remark upon. ( If Mr. McClure (14W), I would ask, Why is it that the County Associa- tion, of which he is honorary secretary, ' has not begun to fill the place it was intended to take?' and what hitherto have been the aims which have so long pre- vented it from beginning to fill that place? Surely during the time that it has been in existence it has done something more than form an organization ? If not there is at once good ground for the suggested investi- gation. Replies to these would in all probability afford additional justification for the article, but possibly not from exactly the same quarter as the writer expected. Mr. McCluro brings into strong contrast the character of his committee with the one described in the article referred to. Could it but be known how such attendances were secured, and how to ensure their successful applica- tion in other counties, one of the chief causes of anxiety would be overcome. It is to be sincerely hoped that the enthusiastic hopes which Mr. McClure indulges in may be realised, and that he may soon see the bee-keepers of his county working their districts up and these workers greatly assisting the County Secretary. The conclusion to which Mr. McClure is led. in reference to the ultimate position of the County Secretary, is the same which I foresaw ninny years ago, and which I com- municated to the B. Bee Journal during the time it was in the hands of Mr. Abbott ; and it has been a matter of surprise to me, as it must have been to mauy others, that the voluntary efforts of a few devoted men filling the post of honorary secretaries in each county have so long supported and maintained the position of the respective Associations as has been done. The enthusiasm of one individual may do much; but can that enthusiasm be depended upon to continue if the objects on which its aim is fixed are uncertain and indefinite ? I venture to assert that we do need some stimulus that shall rally the energies and direct the efforts of those who are interested January 20, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL 53 in the welfare of County Bee-keeping Associations, otherwise we shall find our ranks thinning', and the Associations assuming the character of which America supplies the type. Turning to Mr. Hooker's contribution, I note he speaks of the considerable progress which has been made by some of the County Associations, the able management of exhibitions, the questions of visitors, &c, but concludes by saying, ' Still, much remains to be done.' Further on he attributes the decline, if such is shown, to ' something wanting in the organization and management.' This may be the very point and centre of the enquiry ; and if so, the consideration of the matter by the Committee of the B. B. K. A. as sug- gested should be productive of great benefit at the present juncture. Mr. Hooker does not leave us to find a remedy for the state of things complained of, but lays down an excellent programme, upon the carrying out of which he foresees a new period of prosperity. But can we at this period count upon a re-awakening of enthusiasm with which to produce so desirable a result? I fear not. In our Association we have local honorary secretaries, and it may be taken for granted that the best appointments possible have been made. The result is seen in district branches being formed on precisely the same footing, but showing very different degrees of energy and interest. For this inequality many circumstances must be brought into account, but rarely, if ever, does it happen that a complaint is formulated, or even a hint given, that any locality was prepared to furnish a better local secretary. Should the fault of the condition of things be attribut- able to the County Secretary? A simple remedy may be found by the members at the annual meeting replacing him by some one better fitted to cany out the duties of the office. I do not thrust rnyself into the controveisy in any feeling of alarm, but solely with the object of furthering the inquiry which has been opened out, viz., What is the state of the internal working and the indi- vidual condition of the County Bee-keeping Associations ? — Jesse UAnnATr, Hun. Secretary K, B. K. A. MARKETS FOR HONEY. [1452.] Your correspondent 'Sherborne' must be one of those 'Peculiars' as no fellar can understand; he is pecking at all around, and himself too, but the latter fact need not, I think, concern any one but himself. I feel sure correspondents and readers alike are not unmindful of your ever readiness to give space for all such matter communicated that is interesting and calcu- lated to assist us on the path of learning; further, your liberality for giving broad gauge to fair and honest criticism is widely acknowledged ; to say the least then, it is not generous on the part of any one to desire to force intrusive matter into your columns. Hence. I have ventured to thus express myself, not that I fear you would deviate from the course you have hitherto followed, and which is, I believe, so generally appre- ciated and has landed us with our fifteenth volume, but to record my warmest thanks and approval of the manner you conduct the Journal, which to steer clear of dissensions is, at times, doubtless a difficult task. Permit me through your medium to tender 'Sherborne' my thanks for his useful hints on the question of the price of honey, and to congratulate him upon his great success after his efforts of obtaining what, under present circumstances, may be considered so fair a price for all his honey, and having also found, too, two or three markets for another year, which, as he says, is some small consolation to him (I should feel it a very great consolation.) Now here is a grand opportunity for 'Sherborne' to help those around him who may be less able to help themselves by letting such into the secret, say, of where one of the three markets may be met with. I don't for a moment doubt he will wish to monopolise all three markets, and it would be an excellent example. Nothing like persevering oneself. 'Sherborne,' to be discontented and to find fault with others for their non-success in finding a ready market for your honey surely is of no avail. Vast is the advantage gained by careful study of the various articles put before us week by week in the Journal : few less in importance, perhaps, than some which have appeared of late in reference to the system by which such enormous stocks have been produced in so short a time, and the great yield of honey obtained. I have a statement before me, given by a member from the Ulceby district of Lincolnshire, telling me how he worked up his stocks last season to an enormous size, and the great yield of honey con- sequently obtained, and the fact was fully demonstrated. I admit I have never vet been able to accomplish such great things, but I nevertheless readily admit they are accomplished, and right glad am I to know it. A happy outpour, whether ' Sherborne' intended it or not (January 1-', page 27), the very trade, forth it goes, — bee-keeping and chimney-sweeping. 1 never once thought of the combination, and I have long, too, been casting about to find a trade or business that neces- sitated little brain and labour to which that of bee- keeping could be linked with a prospect of its being profitably worked. The callings of the chimney-sweep are, as a rule, at early dawn, thus leaving the clear day for bee-calling. What trade could be better fitted ? How great and good things may result from a slip! — R. K. Godfrey, January 28. ECHOES FROM WILTS, 800 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL. [1453.] As my experience for last week must bo different to many, I send you the following report : — January 9th. Lowest night temperature by Negretti and Zambia, 1 ft. from ground, 3!l° At 1 p.m., 803 in sun. January 10th, Lowest 42' At 1 p.m., 82° in sun. 11th, „ 37 „ 70" „ 12th, „ 35° „ 70' „ This being the case, bees from all hives flying as in May, and cleansing themselves. At 10 a.m. on 9th removed all doors, slides, and covers, and exposed to sun and air. Bees at once set about cleaning out debris. In the middle of the. day I helped them with a bent wire. Total dead from twenty stocks less than J pint. Lifted corners of quilts only, and saw evidence of abundance of store for the present. Found all hives warm and dry, and floor-boards very clean. Knowing that food was not required to be given, I resisted the temptation of spreading frames to look for brood. M v stocks consist of four good skeps and sixteen bar- frames, the latter packed up at the end of October, with from six to ten frames well stocked with sealed food ( mostly honey), and well covered with bees. I use American cloth quilts, two thicknesses of house-flannel, and over all 3-in. tray of chaff or cork-dust. All my hives have the entrance extending full width of hive. When I packed up, I removed all wood slides and substi- tuted others of coarse perforated zinc, with entrance in centre f in. wide, and never had floors so dry and clean. This time last year several of my hives were buried 3 ft. deep in snow. — W. E. BunKiTT. 51 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 2fi, 1888. S. CORNEIL. The subject of this sketch was born of Irish parentage in the township of Ops, County of Victoria, and Province of Ontario, April 7th, 1830. He worked on the farm until he was nearly eighteen years old, going to the common school in winter. lie was big and strong for his age, and being the eldest of the family, and the only help his father had, got plenty of hard work. For some time before he left the farm he could take a man's place at most kinds of agricultural labour. He was always ambitious to excel, and won two prizes at ploughing matches before lie quitted farming. From childhood he was a voracious reader, and re- ceived many a severe scolding from his father when he was found reading a book while his team was feeding, His father belonged to the Episcopal Church. During a religious revival young S. expressed a wish to join the Methodists. This displeased his father, who told him he might do so if he pleased, and could continue at home, but must do no more farm-work. Learning that an ex- amination of teachers was about to be held at Peter- borough, young S. determined lo attend it and try for a certificate. Peterborough was eighteen miles distant, but our hero set off with a brave heart on foot. He got a friendly lift part of the way and arrived in good time to undergo the ordeal. He succeeded in obtaining a cer- tificate, and found himself in 1853, at the early age of seventeen, a legally qualified school teacher. lie did not, however, take a school at once. His father, having relented, sent for him to come home again, which he did, and worked on the farm for another twelve months. He then went to the Normal School for a session. He commenced teaching towards the end of 1854, and continued at it steadily for about thirteen years, until June 1867. lie married early in life, so much so that statute labour could not be exacted of him until some time afterwards because he was under twenty-one. The third year of his teaching he ob- tained 400 dollars a-year, which was considered liberal wages in those days, and continued to get as good salaries as were paid to common school teachers at that time, but as the. years rolled on and his family increased faster than his salary, it became necessary to look out for more lucrative employment. He decided to go into the insurance business, at which he has now been working for upwards of twenty years. During his career as a teacher he had the schools in Omemee, Balyduff, Cavanville, Milbrook, and Ashb urn- ham. He has resided in Lindsay for nearly twent3r years. While attending the Normal School he was greatly benefited by the teachings of Dr. Ormiston. It was not so much the information that was imparted, as the mental impetus given, that was of value. Young S. at that time acquired a fondness for the study of natural science, which lias never since died out. Before he desisted from teaching, Mr. Cornell had ob- tained the highest certificate County Boards had the power to grant, viz., first clasj, grade A, permanent. It is still in force, so that if insurance fails, and bee-keeping goes to the dogs, he can resume that ' Delightful task ! to rear the tender thought, And to teach the young idea how to shoot.' Mr. Corneil has been successful in the insurance busi- ness, his receipts having averaged not less than $1800 a-year, but as he latterly remarked to the writer of this sketch, ' It has never stayed with me, and I suppose it never will now ; ' a condition of affairs in which he is by no means alone. He has been twice married. His first wife, a native of Edinburgh, died in 1858. He married again in 1859, his second wife being a daughter of the late Christopher Knowlson, of Omemee. In 1875 Mr. Corneil bought his first stock of bees. It cost him ten dollars, as it stood in his garden ready for business. He did not then know a worker-bee from a drone, and had no idea of ever keeping more than three or four colonies — just to supply honey for his own table. He determined, however, to read up on bee-keeping in the winter, when he had more time. He got Langstroth on the Honey Bee, and Quinbi/s Mysteries of Bee-keeping Explained, — those old-timed standard books, to which many of us owe so much. He also read the writings of Mr. Quinby in the American Agriculturist , getting the back numbers for the purpose of tracing up every item of apicultural information. He was thus peculiarly a disciple of Quinby 's, and naturally contracted a pre- ference for the closed-end frame which was used by the great New York apiarist. After reading up on this fascinating pursuit, Mr. Coi'neil could not be satisfied without having the latest improvements. This meant outlay of money, and to recoup this expenditure, he bought more hives, and went more extensively into bee- keeping. Thus, from less to more, he got into it as a business. When he left home to attend the Colonial and Indian Exhibition a year ago last summer, he had 212 stocks of bees. In preparing them for winter, they were doubled down to 180 to avoid sugar-feeding, and make the apiary self-supporting. They were packed and pre- pared for winter as usual, but, unfortunately, the bees had gathered a large quantity of honey-dew. About half-a-dozen stocks which were given sealed comb, filled early in the season, were clean, bright, and strong; but wherever there was a considerable store of honey-dew, the bees were either sick or dead. On the first of June of last year, 122 colonies out of 180 had suc- cumbed. Nothing dauuted, however, Mr. Corneil went vigorously to work to repair his losses, and, though the past season has been an exceptionally unfavourable one, he has 105 colonies iii winter quarters; 04 packed on their summer stands, and 41 housed in the cellar. Mr. Corneil is now an authority on honey-dew, and strongly advises extracting it, and feeding sugar to take its place. lire subject of this sketch is one. of our foremost Canadian apiarists, and in the scientific branches of bee- keeping is probably ' the noblest Roman of them all.' He is a careful experimenter', a patient investigator, and arrives at his conclusions logically. He wields the pen of a ready writer, and his articles are always interesting, instructive, and to the point. He has filled the highest offices among Ont ario bee-keepers, having been President of the Association in 1884, and one of the four com- missioners to England in 1886. In the last-named capacity he rendered invaluable service as book-keeper and accountant, performing a lot of hard work, at late hours, in keeping the cash balance up to the mark. At the present time Mr. Corneil is experimenting with a straw hive, which he hopes will prove 'just the thing' for out-door wintering in this climate. It is a model of neat workmanship, thanks to the mechanical ingenuity of his son, whom the writer watched one day last winter dexterously weaving in the layers of straw, making a very compact, nice job of it. This hive is designed so as to have the sheets of comb built transversely and con- verging to the centre, where it is meant to secure a vacant space large enough to admit of the bees forming one solid cluster, instead of being in strata between combs. It is believed that, on this plan, bees will hiber- nate more perfectly, and winter better, than on any other at present in use. Mr. Corneil has never aspired to municipal or political distinction. But before the change from the Local Superiutendency to County Inspection, he was Local Superintendent of Public Schools in Ops for several years. He is now, and has been for the past nine years, a prominent member of the Lindsay Board of Education. — W. F. Clarke., The Canadian Bee Journal. [Many of our readers were brought into contact with Mr. Corneil when acting as one of the Commissioners at the Colonial Exhibition; they will be pleased to read the above interesting memoir. — Ed.] January 2G, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 55 €tJKres fram % yi-acs. Kilmington, A.vminster, Devon, January 23. — We have been having dense fogs here for the last week or two, but the glorious sunshine has come out at last. On Sunday, the 22nd, my bees were taking advantage of it, and were coming out of their hives for a cleansing flight. One would think they were swarming; you could hear their joyful lium for some distance away. They look as if they are in a very healthy state. I have twenty stocks of different sorts, and they have passed the winter all well so far. I cannot complain with what my little pets did for me last year. I took about 500 pounds of honey, which I think is exceedingly well for this part of the country, and, better still, I found a good sale for it; so I think you will agree with me that I have been remarkably lucky. I take the Bee Journal weekly, and I find it gives me a good bit of useful instruction, and I strongly recommend it to all other I -keepers, and then, if they would follow its instructions, we should not so often hear them complaining about their bens not paying them which I often hear as I go about. So 1 just till them the results that I have met with since I commenced bee-keeping. They cannot understand getting fifty pounds of honey from one hive of bees until I explain it to them and persuade them to try it. I now wish my fellow-bee-keepers a prosperous year for their little pets. — J. W. Sanders. Blind Lake Apiary, January 20. — To-day very bright sun ; bees having a thorough cleanse, pouring out as if about to swarm. Their cheerful hum is delightful; they are bringing out their dead amongst them. I observe some dead grubs after two or three nights of sharp frost. I have given my opinion to several bee- keepers that we are to have a damp, mild winter and a damp summer. Look out for early swarms, plenty of bees, but small honey harvest. Shall be on the look out for reports from our 100 and 150-pounders this season. I hope they may get them, but am afraid the season will be against them. — SHF.nnonNE. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can he purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to ■:■-> to prose in advance of the date of issue, arteries cannot always be replied to m the issue immediately /allowing the receipt oj their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. II. Xeeve. — Sample of Pea-flour. — The pea-flour is just the thing for the purpose you name. A sprig of heather has been sent you. R. F. — 1. Best variety of Bees. — A hybrid bee as the result of a cross between a black queen and either a Carniolan or Italian drone gives better results as an all- round bee than the pure black or Italian. 2. Addresses of larye Consumers of Honey. — We have no knowledge beyond that appearing in our advertising columns. 3. Locality for larye Bee-farm. — This is a matter we cannot help you in without a great expenditure of time and money. We should recommend you to look round and try to discover where bee-forage would be naturally abundant, and then go to work there cautiously — very cautiously, unless you have more experience than your questions lead us to suppose. 4. Present Value of Comb and Extracted Honey. — This entirely depends on local requirements, the quatity of the honey, and, last but not least, whether you know how to put it on the market in an attractive way. 5. Slotted Dividers. — We must refer you to page 531 of B.B.J. for 1866. Woodsetton. — Deserting Hive. — The condemned bees, being not more than a mile from home, returned to their old locality, with the exception of the handful or two which remained with the queen. These, being insufficient in number to keep up a sufficiently high temperature, perished from cold. T. M. D. — Decamping. — The bees from the centre skep (full of honey) having lost their queen, joined the other colonies on the fine day you mention. Or it might be that, being a weak colony, it was attacked by the other bees, and, its queen being destroyed, united with the marauders. J. \V. P. — Granulated Honey, — The sample of honey forwarded is very good, witli a nice rich flavour. The season of the previous year was very peculiar, being free from rains, and therefore a dry atmosphere, honey when extracted very quickly granulated. Many apiarians found that the honey gathered from fruit granulated in less than eight days, and that from clover in fourteen days. Honey from rape, mustard, and plants of that genus, candies very quickly after extraction. SnEnnonNE. — You would much oblige by adher'ng in your communications to bee-keeping, pure and simple. Malta. — Wax-moth. — Strong stocks are the best de- fence against the wax-moth. If hives are kept strong, having a fertile queen, the moth need not be fe ired, ae it would have little chance of effecting an entrance. As a preventive, care should be taken not to leave old combs about, or allow them to be in hives where moths can enter. Sulphur will destroy the egg^ of the moth. [Captain II. II. has just started bees on humane principles at Malta, and being a novice, would be glad if any bee-master passing through would call on him and give him advice at 86 Sta Britannica.] ^Business directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Atpleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchtnos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Webster, W. B., Bintield, Berks. Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fench uch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., b'trand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 26, 1888. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Sihmins, S., Eottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenehureh St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenehureh St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H, Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. nsr oti c E. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DURRANT U Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire. JOHNSTON, A. B., Brickhall, Ballywoolen, Killy- leagh. Co. Down. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 14« Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON, C. T., Crawley. Sussex. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHINSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. AMERICAN SECTIONS BY THE MILLION The cut, taken from a photograph, represents our bee-hivo factory where we annually turn out about 20,000 hives and 3,000,000 sections, besides enormous quantities of bee-supplies of every description. Dealers before ordering elsewhere should correspond directly with us. We are prepared to quote better prices on sections in quantities than we have ever quoted before. We are also publishers of Gleanijias in Bee Culture, with a circulation of 7674 subscribers. A sample copy of our journal and our 40-page price list sent on application to , A. X. BOOT, Medina, Ohio, XT. S. A.'* Special prepaid j^_dvertisements. Exchange Column. — Sales of Honey and Second-hand Goods. — Intended to aid Bee-keepers in the disposal of Bee- produce and Appliances for which they have no further use. Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad- ditional Three words, One Penny extra. No reduction made for continuous insertion. Now Ready. SIMMINS' NEW BOOK.— 'A MODERN BEE-FARM, AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.' Popular Edition, limp cloth cover, 3s. 9UNTY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATIONS. [1455.] I venture to offer a few notes on the work and organization of County Associations, which are ba ed on some years' active experience as a county secretary. Worn; op the Association. — It is convenient to consider this in the first place, apart from the question of organization necessary to cany it out. 1 . Work for the benefit of all interested in bee- keeping. In the early days of Associations this was put forward as their chief aim, and people were asked to subscribe, not merely to benefit themselves, but to help others. Accordingly, manipulations in bee tents (which for a time paid their own expenses), winter lectures, and exhibitions of hives and honey at horticultural shows, were the main items in the programme. But as Asso- ciations progressed they began to offer substantial advantages to members in return for their subscription ; and at the present time probably three-fourths of the members expect (and give up subscribing if they don't get it) some direct, and real advantage to themselves as bee-keepers, and are not willing that part of their money February 2, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. G3 should go for the benefit of outsiders. Accordingly, manipulations at horticultural shows (which now do not benefit member.-) should be things of the past except where committees of such shows make a grant to cover all expenses; and the other work I have mentioned should not be undertaken except where the expenditure will be balanced by a direct benefit to members, or except, as in the case of lectures, there is the hope of gaining new members. 2. Work for the direct benefit of members. This should, I think, under present circumstances, be the first consideration; but of course if it is possible (as in b. c. and e.) to benefit the general public at the same time, so much the better. (a.) Experts' Visits. — These have become among the most important items of work, and should on no account be left out. At the same time, it is impossible, if the bulk of the subscriptions are of the '2s. 6d. and os. class, to give more than one visit to members, preferably in the spring, or for that visit to be paid at any other time than on the organized tour. The idea, chietly prevalent among well-to-do members, that in return for 5s. per year they are entitled at any time to a visit from the expert, who would perhaps have to travel twenty miles and spend a whole day at the one visit, should not be encouraged. It is most desirable to obtain the services of several experts in the county, each to work within a reasonable distance of his own home ; this saves ex- penditure in lodgings and travelling. Experts must in nearly every case be paid, and will either be hive-makers or of the upper artisan class. There should be little difficulty in securing the services of intelligent and ex- perienced bee-keepers of this class in various districts of a county. (6.) Lectures. — As they cost but little, the lecturer being usually unpaid, lectures should be given in as many places as possible. They benefit the genera] public as well as members, and often result in the addition of sub- scribers. Admission must be free to the body of the room. My experience, both in this and other subjects, is that the value and attractiveness of any lecture is immensely increased by the aid of the lantern and a good series of slides bearing on the subject. Perhaps it is because I have been a photographer as long as I have been a bee-keeper; but I much prefer a photograph from nature thrown on the screen to a mere copy of a wood-cut, which may show the desired details with greater ' sharpness,' but lacks the attractivene s and fidelity of the natural photograph. This, at least, is my experience from having made and exhibited a large number of slides on many subjects, (c.) Summer Demonstrations. — In our county these have taken the place of tent manipulations. Place — the garden of any member who has frame-hives and will issue invitations. Time — (i o'clock on a June or .Inly (not later than the loth) afternoon. Audience— all bee- keepers within walking distance. Protection — a screen of netting surrounding the hives and lecturer. Manipu- lations— any practical work which may happen to be required by the hives at hand, accompanied fay practical explanations on the subject. (d.) Honey Fairs. — One central one in the chief town well advertised by hand-bills distributed bv hand to every house; managed in a business-like way bv a busi- ness man; no charge for admission ; held on market day, if possible in the public market hall; chief object in view, to sell honey. Our own Honey Pair is successful; thirty members (out of 10-5 paying subscriptions) sent \\ tons of honey to the last one, and over half a ton was sold, nearly all retail. (e.) Rice and Honey Shows. — There must be a curtail- ment of these, and I think it best to keep to one County Show in the year, and that one in connexion with the Honey Fair, so that members may at the same time send honey for exhibition and sale. This is one branch of work where a good deal of members' money has been spent, partially for the benefit of the public. And now, 1 think, it 13 not well to spend money in prizes at Horti- cultural Shows, except where a grant is received to cover most of the expense. (/'. ) Circulation of a Use Paper among Members. — A m 1st important item of work which is all advantage to members, but rather difficult to work for financial reason'. The Bee Journal has been almost out of the question, so the Record has been utilised, but now the cheaper Cottagers Uee Journal will much facilitate matters. 1 am of opinion that a good deal of energy has been wasted in well-meant attempts to ' help the cottager.' My experience is that the average cottager is an ungetat- able individual, who, ' when he will he will, and wdien he won't he won't' — usually the latter ; and that the best way of educating him is indirectly through the example of advancing bee-keepers around him. Cottagers' classes at shows have been a failure in their intention of stimu- lating improved methods, and a good many cottagers will cease to subscribe as soon as the Association fails to expend some 5s. or more on them in prizes, &c, in return for their 2s. Gd. subscription. 1 will in my next consider the organization of Associ- ations.— Alfred Watkins, Herefordshire B. K. A. COUNTY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION'S. [1456.] The articles and letters on the above subject that have appeared in recent numbers point to the de- creasing interest that is being taken in Association work by the executive of the various Associations. Perhaps, a few lines, even if pitched in a minor key, not to say in a pessimist vein, may throw some little light on some of the reasons why. Of the apparent declension in interest and working of the executive, some Hon. Sees, complain of the paucity of attend luce by tic members of Committee at the Committee meetings; and not without reason, for very often there i~ barely a quorum responds to the notice. Allow me to point out that in many instances it is a question of time and the attendant expenses causes a poor attendance. Take a case in fact. Pro- bably, your Committee will be chosen from all parts of a large county to make it as representative as possible, and, say, the meeting i- announced to take place in your county or other large town at 6.30 or ~ o'clock in the evening, an hour that suits the members of the Com- mittee residing in, ami in the immediate neighbourhood of, the town; but, probably, only a email minority are within ea-y distance, and the larger number reside in various parts of the county, engaged in various businesses and professions, some, perhaps, several miles from a rail- way (and that a branch line with only three or four trains per day). Now, probably, those country members of Committee are as anxious and as willing to attend as those living near, and have the success of their Associa- tion and the spread to profitable and humane bee- keeping as much as heart as those who, after business and living near, can always put in an appearance at the meetings. Now, the Committeeman from, a distance has, most likely, to leave Lis home and business 8001 after the middle of the day to reach the town in time for the inciting, and, probably, the last train that would take him to within a few miles of his home leaves the town by 8.15 or 8.30 p.m., and the consequence is lie must either leave the meeting before it is half over or lose his chance of reaching home that night, and the consequent discomfort of staying in lodgings and return- ing next day, with the chance of getting back again about the same time as he set out the day before. This, I think, is a very reasonable excuse for not always attending. Then, on the other side, if the meeting is held at 2.30 or 3 p.m. to suit country members, the townsmen cannot leave business to attend. Another reason there is not 64 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 2, 1888. so great an interest evinced in the Association is the newness is wearing off, the new style of bee-keeping has become more general and the novelty is gone. Three or four years back my apiary was visited during the summer months by a large number of visitors for information, but during last season I had very few com- paratively to what I had in previous seasons ; and a still more cogent reason is the rapid decline in the price of honey, especially section honey, during the past year or two. We are feeling the depression as a body as much as any other industry, with, as a natural sequence, a diminished interest. If we could still make Is. each for sections, our hopes would rise and our interest wax warm, and we should sing the praises and the profits of modern bee-keeping in as full a compass as of yore. — W. WoODLEY. 'WHO IS AMATEUR EXPERT?' (1448.) [1457.] I have great pleasure in informing the Hon. and Rev. Chairman of the Board of Examiners that the ' Amateur Expert ' of The (not ' A,' please !) Canadian Bee Journal is ' the original and only genuine ' 'A. E.' of the B. B. J. On page 713 of the C.B.J., after describing 'Straw Skeps ' and ' Bee-driving,' I said : — ' A third-class expert has to drive a stock in this way : Capture the queen as she ascends and clean out the hive in ten minutes, or he fails to get a certificate — a feat that the examiner probably could not accomplish in ten hours. But there are examiners and examiners, and they all know when it is done well, if they cannot take the tools and show the non-successful how. Bo you know the " fortunes of war ? " I will tell you. " If you do or say such things you must take the consequences."' As I sinned with my eyes wide op»n, I await my fate with calmness ! I respectfully submit to my readers that I have done some of the examiners no injustice, and without wishing to ' add insult to injury ' (? ), I wish to assure Mr. Bligh that there are two opinions as to the fitness of some of those whom the ' Board ' have ap- pointed as examiners, just as there are two opinions as to ' pleasantness' of the chit-chat and the ' friendliness ' of the criticisms that have appeared in the columns of the B.B.J, to which 'A. E.V nom-de-phmte has been attached. Our Committee in some matters ' go slow.' My quotation is from the C. B. J. for November 2-'Srd. This arrived in England about the 8th of Becember. It has taken the rev. gentleman six weeks to sift it out and challenge it ! And why after six weeks ? Is it because I am at present at variance with the Committee, and have only recently given notice that I intend to carry a matter to the annual meeting of the B. B. K. A. because the Committee refuse to take what I consider a common- sense view of a very simple matter, that this question is now dragged in, on the score of ' abusing the plaintiff ? ' Oh, ' A. E.,' how hast thou fallen ! We had great hopes of you once; but alas! my unfortunate nom-de- plume is taken to task again ! When Mark Twain takes his next ' tramp abroad ' and calls to see me, I seriously shall have to take him to task about the iniquity of using a nom-de-plume . I do hope I may induce him to reform, as I may then think of reforming myself. — Amateur Expert. DEATH TO WASPS. [1458.] In letter [1482] on 'Fruit Culture and Api- culture,' Mr. E. Goodrich complains very much about the fruit-destroying and hive-robbing wasp. I have for the last few years lost on an average ten or twelve pounds of grapes from a large vinery by wasps ; that is to say, if I did not take the trouble to bag them in muslin. But this year, having started bee-keeping, they (the wasps) tormented the bees so much I determined on destroying their nests, and the best and simplest remedy is a powder named ' Death to Wasps.' It can be had through any respectable chemist, or from some wholesale chemist in Holborn, London, price 2s. 6rf. Mode of applying it is by simply putting half a teaspoonful in the entrance to the nest, and in a few hours' time you can dig out the nest and destroy the larva? without a singlo sting, as every wasp will be dead. There is sufficient in one box if one is careful with it to destroy twenty nests. — J. A. A. Wood, Watergate Nursery, near New- port, Isle of Wight, January 22nd. HOW TO DESTROY WASPS. [1459.] In answer to the question asked by Mr. F. Goodrich, in his letter of January 14th, wasps may bo almost entirely destroyed in any district by offering a reward of one penny for each queen killed in the spring. They will be found hunting along the hedgerows in the early spring, and can be easily caught with a butterfly- net. Boys will gladly undertake this work, and it is astonishing how soon a neighbourhood can be cleared of queens ; after which you will see very few wasps, for at least one summer. — W. BOTANICAL NAMES— HEATHER HONEY. [1400.] As to botanical names, I suppose I did not express myself with sufficient clearness. What I meant to say was that our three late autumn honey-bearing plants were rosemaiw, and cirrhosa, and heather. Our almond-trees are, some of them, already white witli blossoms, aud the bees are having a little honey-How all to themselves. This will last till the end of February, so that I think stimulating them is unnecessary fur the present. On the (3th of March, 1887, we transferred a few hives a few miles from here, and already found fresh combs of rosemary honey partly capped. The natives clear out the old combs from their cylinder hives about the 20th of February, preparatory to comb-building anew, so that were it not for the high winds that often prevail this would be a very fine climate for bees. And now as to heather honey. It is considered very inferior here, and as the price would rule low, I would, like, with your permission, to propound the following : — Query. — In a heather district where prices of honey are low — say 'M. or -id. a pound — would it pay to set bees transforming it into wax -comb, and which would be the best method for so doing ? — F. C. Andrei", Port Malum, Minorca, January 11. [To produce combs you have only to put your frames closer together, say not more than one and a quarter inches from centre to centre. The frames should have guides to the top bar so as to induce the bees to build straight combs. These guides can be pieces of comb or strips of foundation half an inch deep. You need not wait to have the combs filled with honey, but as fast as they are constructed remove them, and any honey con- tained in them can be pressed out and given back to the bees, preferably at night. We have had bees build comb when the frames nearly touched each other, at one inch from centre to centre, but in this case onr bottom bar was only three-eighths of an inch wide, so that the bees could go up between the combs, and the frames were brought from their normal distance apart close together by degrees. We can hardly think it will pay you to produce wax if you can get 3d. or 4rf. a pound for the honey. Taking it at as low a figure as 15 lbs. of honey to produce 1 lb. of wax, this would make the wax cost you 3s. Qd. a pound at Sd. a pound for the hooey, to say nothing of the time lost by the bees while making it, which would be otherwise employed in gathering, You would hardly get half the price of its cost to you February 2, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 65 for the wax. It is therefore very much to your advantage to sell the honey at 3d. or 4<2. a pound than convert it into wax. — Ed.] FASTENING FOUNDATION COMB. [1461.] I think the difficulty refered to by a writer in your last Journal as to the fastening of foundation comb might be got over by making the sections with a slit along the middle of the top side, as in the bar-frames. The foundation comb could be then slipped through and turned over, dividing the lap so as to let one half turn one way and the other the other. — R. II. S. ISOLATED APIARIES. [1462.] In the British Bee Journal for January 19th, 1888 (No. 1428, page 7:1), Mr. Webster asks, ' In what county of England can we go where there are not colonies of bees kept within two or three miles, take any position we like in that county?' I am of opinion there is one county, and that is Hampshire in the New Forest. If he will take a ramble through the New Forest in the summer time it will repay him, for it is a lovely place for any one that has a week or a month to spare. If Mr. Webster will start from the ' Oompton Arms Hotel' at Stoney Cross, and take the main turnpike-road towards Uingwood he can have a nice walk of eight miles without finding a house along the road. The first house he comes to will be an hotel at Picked Post. After leaving Stoney Cross and walking for about two miles and a half he will come to a cross road ; no ting.-r- posts, but the road to'.the right hand takes him for about three miles to a gentleman's house called Broomy Lndgi'. There are the old straw skeps ; I have no doubt : it was so fifteen years ago. If he take the left-hand road for one mile and half it brings him to Baulderwood Lodge. There, fifteen years ago, I saw about seventy old straw skeps ; but it is in different hands now, so, perhaps, there are not any at all there now. Then, I think, he can get a distance of about four to five miles, and he will find several places through the New Forest of over two miles. Let him take the Christchurch road to Lyndhurst or Lymington, he will in that direction, if he turns nut of the main road through the woods, find a lonely keeper's house and the brimstone pit. and straw skeps, and not any other house for miles. The New Forest is noted for fine heather, chest- nut, whitethorn, and the wild apple. I have known a swarm the first week in August gather fifty to sixty pounds of honey by the first week in October, and then done to death in the sulphur pit. How dreadful ! — A. H. Miller. UNFINISHED SECTIONS. [1463.] How Bkst to Utilise thr Partly-filled Sections. — In the report of the proceedings of the North American Bee-keepers' Convention at Chicago, I find the discussion on the re-use of comb built in sections to be filled with honey the next season. It is gratifying to know that the great majority of bee-keepers consider these combs of great advantage, by which they can obtain larger crops of honey, and of just as good quality, as by the use of foundation. I can hardly understand why some bee-keepers cannot obtain good honey in nice, white combs built in sections the year previous. Some years ago it was a real perplexity to me to have a lot of unfinished sections in different states of com- pletion, after the harvest was over, and I hardly knew what to do with them. I then tried in different w;i\ i to make use of them. Those nearly completed I sold at about half the price of sealed honey, and the rest was given to the bees for completion the next season, and of which the bees made a bad job, as some of it was granulated, and some was sour, though they fixed it all up as well as they could, and finished them ; but it was horrible-looking honey, the sides of the comb was very uneven, besides being of different colours. I was almost ashamed to offer it for sale. Using Partly-Filled Sections. — After experi- menting two or three seasons more, I discovered the right way, though I think I had lost considerable before by trying to make the bees finish nearly all the sections the same season, by changing them around among the hives. This was not only Io3t time for me, but also for the bees, or rather less honey for me. I now allow my bees to go above toward the close of the honey season, and let them have their own way about finishing the sections ; but as soon as the honey season is over, 1 extract every unfinished section that. I have, and let the bees clean them out, when they are ready for the next season. By this method I secured just as fine honey as I do with foundation starters, and a great deal more of it; and the cases with the empty combs are nicely put away, where no mice or dust can get at them. I eon glad that there are more bee-keepers who can secure nice honey with these combs, as was shown at the late Convention in Chicago; that Mr. Hutchinson had the nicest lot of honey in Chicago; and thai 1 e, as we understand, uses the empty combs. When 1 was ready to sidl my honey, I have never been asked, ' Are your crates and sections clean?' or, 'Are the combs from last year?'&c. No, not any of these questions have ever been asked, hat invariably, ' Is your honey white ?' and on this ir/iile the whole que-tion turns, in selling and buying. If I have my dark honey in ever so nice combs, crates, and sections, it is slow sale, and at a far lower price than white honey : even if the latter is less attractively put up. Of course it is best to have the honey in the best marketable shape, ami everything else clean, ami in its proper place. 0. Theilmann {American Bee J>>nniri/.) COTTAGER'3 HIVES. [14C4.] In the Journal of January 26 I read with great interest a most instructive and detailed article on the ' Champion Cottager's Hive,' by Mr. C. N. White. The hive so designated is presumably an introduction of Mr. White's, and is, I suppose, supplied by him to pur- chasers. In a spirit of friendly criticism perhaps he will allow me to make a few remarks as to the construction, form, and probable cost of the hive under notice, and its claim to be considered the Champion Cottager's Hive. In his introductory sentences he refers to ii as a hive adapted to the wants of those bee-keepers who may desire to adopt the modern bar-frame system at a small initial outlay, and again in almost the same breath, as equally adapted to the wishes of those who, not desiring to give up altogether the old-fashioned skep or fixed- comb hive, yet require a sort of happy medium between the ancient and modern plans, and consequently welcome a hive made of wood, square, and having a top which is fixed or moveable at will and perforated for supering. It strikes one as slightly anomalous to describe an article as capable of adaptation to two such widely dissimilar methods of management. The boxes are of the standard size it is true, but from the description it is not clear h iw a standard frame could be accommodated, no provision apparently being made for hanging frames of any sort. Any deviation1 from the standard size of frame is much to be deprecated. It is the recognised national size, and is a standard round which all British bee-keepers rally throughout the world. Every appliance-manufacturer, Association, or individual bee-keeper, should regard any infringement with suspicion, and should consider as carefully as possible an institution in the bee world of such recognised value as the 'standard frame.' At the 66 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 2, 1888. same time it is not intended to reject all suggestions of improvement, but discourage so-called reform which is too often a change without being an advance. A hive which cannot take the standard frame forfeits its claim to he regarded as a frame-hive. The Champion Cottager's Hive is a single-walled hive, and is on that account to be considered as inferior to the old straw skep in point of ventilation and in interior healthiness. This, perhaps, is a matter of opinion, but in fourteen years' experience, during which I have wintered bees in ^-inch and f-inch single and double- walled hives, as well as skeps of all forms, I have proved to my own satisfaction that the double-walled hive with packing space is incomparably the best. I hesitate to cross swords with such a master of the art as Mr. Simmins of Brighton on any point of apiculture, but I am of opinion that double walls all round, and not on two sides only, are much to be preferred and offer no obstacle to the rapid diffusion of warmth during a spell of winter sunshine. As a medium between the ancient and modern bee domicile, one possessing some of the advantages and disadvantages of each, the Stewarton hive, holds the field against all competitors as yet, though like all the others, rather out of the reach of cottagers on account of the price. The great obstacle to the spread and development of the modern system of bee-keeping among the cottager classes is the first cost of the hive. The Champion Cottager's Hive first noticed, although cheaper, presum- ably, than any other, so far as I know at present in the market, is yet, I expect, too dear for the general run of artisan bee-keepers. When a good sound bee-hive, fitted with ten frames and a window-roof, and floor-board and cushion, double-walled, and painted, can be produced at a cost of 2s. or '2s. Gd., then will it compete successfully with the straw skep at Is. Gd., and make good its title to the name of the Cottager's Champion, and then will the long-hoped-for day when every cottage garden possesses a bar-frame hive be near its accomplishment. — E. J. THE STANDABD FRAME. Should the 15| Top Bah i;k Adoptf.h? [14G0.] Your esteemed writer of 'Useful Hints' of Jan. 5 states his views very clearly under the above heading. There is little doubt the Committee of the British Bee-keepers' Association, who in 1S82 fixed on the size of the frame and also the length of top-bar, viz., 17 inches, at that time completed a most important step for the advancement of bee-culture. The size of the rectangle of the frame — 14 x 8£ outside— is all that could he desired. But I agree with ' U. II.' that this point of the length of the top bar should not be defined, and should be re-considered by the General Committee. Some of our veteran bee-keepers will perhaps say, 'On what grounds, then, do you think this alteration should take place ?' It is a well-known fact that the manufac- ture of hives and appliances has been advanced in this waj'. At the annual shows of hives and honey, prizes are awarded to what the judges think the best, and the hive that gains the first place is perhaps bought by some local bee-keeper, is taken home as a pattern, and in a short time the district is filled up with the first prize hives. In 1882, and for several years later, prizes were awarded almost exclusively at our shows to hives ranging in price from three to six pounds sterling. They were most elaborate structures, ' having the most complete arrange- medts for summer and winter use, &c, &c.' At that date, no doubt, the 17-inch top bar would be the uni- versal favourite. Within the last two years, however, matters have changed in toto : instead of these high- priced and ingenious hives carrying off first honours, prizes are awarded now to those that are ridiculously simple and cheap in comparison. Competition may have something to do with this, but the main reason is that bee-keeping is getting more to be recognised as a business and less as a hobby. Should the B.B.K.A. be prevailed on to reconstitute the Com- mittee of 1882 that fixed on the standard frame I be- lieve they would not be unanimous now in determining the length of the top-bar at 17 inches. All that is ne- cessary would be to allow in competition the short and top-bar equal chances, and that the size of the rectangle of the frame remain unchanged. — William McNally, Glenluce, Scotland. HIVE ENTRANCE. [1467.] I enclose sketch of new hive. There is nothing very new about it, except the alighting-board is fixed underneath on the slant. At the top of the slant a slot is cut, say, 6 in. long in the bottom-board, forming the entrance to the hive, which I think is a great im- provement on the present patterns. With this arrange- ment I think will bo found the following advantages : Facility of hiving a swarm ; bees have more control over robbers ; they can come out in all weathers ; young bees take an airing in safety ; as the alighting-board is always dry ; all dead bees, &c, brought to the hole fall out clear of the entrance. I would like some of our able bee-keepers' opinion on it, as I am only a new beginner. — W. Corkiiill. NOTES ON BEE-HIVES.— SECTIONS. [1468.] Respecting my note upon the. above in the issue of the British Bee Journal of the 26th inst., I have received the following letter from Mr. T. B. Blow, which I think may be read with interest by some of your readers : — ' Welwyn, Herts, January %tli, 1888. ' Deak Sib, — We have a patent on the thing you describe in the Bee Journal. We do not want to unduly interfere in the right of private individuals, but if there is any attempt to import a section with a groove all round the inside they will be stopped at the Customs. We shall be happy to send you a section to show you what it is. We may say that we shall have 50,000 in stock in a few days. We enclose you a cutting from the first proof of our new catalogue. — Yours truly, T. B. Blow.' Upon receipt of this note I at once wrote to Mr. Blow to say I had been using a groove all round the inside of sections during the past three years, and that I had men- tioned this method of fixing foundation to friends upon various occasions, viz., to Messrs. Lee, Heddon, Neigh- bour, Howard, Simmins, Hewitt, See., that I had a machine for turning them out, and had been doing so for three seasons; and asking Mr. Blow to say whether Mr. Howard's description (of using grooves for fixing founda- tion) appeared in the B. B. J., or the Recoi-d, prior to his attempt to obtain a patent for this object. The first season I used grooves my finished sections were not free from pop-holes owing to the wood-corners of the one-piece sections, but I had sufficient evidence to indicate that foundation could be fixed by this method, and that it merited further trial. In 1886 I cut out the wood-corners with my pen-knife and found a great im- February 2, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. G7 provement in the finish, but cutting away part of the wood of the section spoiled the shape of the section a little. Last season I used a number of 4| x 4J x 7 to the foot, four-piece pin-dovetail sections, and now prefer this section to all others. But I should here state that my hives and bee-appliances are all fitted up regardless of cost, with the object of securing the best materials and apparatus obtainable. I suppose the sec- tions I mentioned cannot be obtained here at the present prices of ordinary one-piece sections. I might add to my notes that I use Heddon's zinc-slotted queen-excluder, and also have a bee-space above and below the wide frames that contain the sections. I use shallow brood- cases, which are exactly similar to the surplus cases, and may be used as such, but these will require a separate description. Some months ago Mr. S. Simmins wrote me to say he had tried grooves all round the inside of sections for fixing foundation, but it -would not answer very well. I think this was owing to the sort of foundation which he used, or the style of section or the kind of section- case he experimented with. I knew nothing about Mr. Blow trying to obtain patent rights until I received the above note. 1 have tried the grooves for fixing foundation in both the I llan- rafon Apiary and my bee garden at Tref Eglwys. My friend Nicholas Bennett, Esq., J. P., last year, whose ingenuity I have already noted in the British Bee Journal, kindly made me a present of a beautiful little plane for making grooves in sections, in addition to an apparatus for adjusting the groove to the centre of sections of any width. These appliances were similar to what he was already using himself, but I should confess they were only accepted as they were more neatly made than my own. I will add that I was constrained to mention this way of fixing foundation in sections through the remarks under ' Useful Hints ' in your issue of the 5th inst. I might, of course, have written at least two years ago,' but I prefer thoroughly testing a thing before giving or offering an opinion. I think it is only just to state that Mr. J. H. Howard, of Holme, Peterborough, has been in frequent correspondence with myself during the past three years upon the subject of grooves for sections and frames, and has sent me several samples of sections and frames with grooves all round, together with samples of his very excellent wax-foundation from his factory at Holme. Of course if Mr. T. B. Blow can justly claim a patent right for sections with grooves all round I con- gratulate him. I think, however, we might as well try to patent common needles and pins as to try to secure a patent right for the above, as so many factors are neces- sary to secure perfect sectional honey, and as British bee-keepsrs are striving to create a market for this industry, free from all hindrances. I should like to add that both Messrs. Neighbour and Howard have executed some orders for me in the highest state of perfection. — T. Bonner Chambers, F.L.S. London, Tref Eyhcys, January 27. PARALLEL i'. RIGHT-ANGLED FRAMES. [1409.] It seems to me that your correspondents are making this a question of Tiering versus Combination instead of the above. This does not seem right to the ' parallel ' side of the question, because very many ten or eleven-frame hives are on the parallel system, and thus just as suitable for tiering as any right-angle frame hive. At the present time the combination principle seems in disfavour, and if the question is confined to the use of parallel ». right-angle frames, the parallel will probably come out best. The majority of opinion seems decidedly to be, that (size of hives being about equal) the parallel is the most convenient to manipulate. The only opinion I have seen advanced against this is on account of t'ue length of hive from back to front, but this is outside the question, as I have shown, The letters of ' W. R,' and ' W. B. C editors of the Record, ere also outside the question because they have both taken it up as a ques- tion of combination verms tiering. The argument of ' W. R.' that 'every passenger has to burrow or scramble round each of the ten or eleven frames,' shows that he has mistaken the question. In using parallel frames for a tiering hive, here is how that argument would look. The laden bees instead of going up through the brood nest can at once go straight up the outer comb into the super. Altogether, 1 think this question resolves itself into one of convenience of manipulation, and I think thai as such the parallel method is best. If the question has been wrongly taken up by me and Combination versus Tiering is meant, please give it its right name and prevent confusion.— George D. Clark, Kirldandhill, Dunbar. FRAMES. [1470.] After nearly ten years' experience with frame- hives, I must say that for all-round purposes I prefer hives with frames at right angles to entrance. In my apiary (some 100 hives) I find the bees winter best on this system, and in the honey season the first stock* to start work in the supers are generally those with the frames at right angles. The American hives are almost all on this plan. The hives witli frames parallel to entrance are, however, handy for some purposes in an apiarv, and I should never entirely discard them. 1 find the generality of my customers prefer the parallel system. — G. Stothard, Wehryn, Herts. EASY METHOD OP RENDERING WAX. [1471.] For a while post my stock of w-ax odds and ends has been accumulating, because boiling down wax has always been the most disliked job in connexion with my bee-keeping, and the Swiss extractor is too expensive to be used by me. However, I have got out of the mess by the following plan which I can heartily recommend to those who have small quantities of wax. My wax was stored in a tin biscuit box. Through the bottom of this box I made a large number of small holes, then I got a dish wider and longer than the biscuit-box, and about four inches deep. This dish I filled almost full of water and then placed the tin box with wax above it, fixing the bottom of the box about an inch above the surface of the water. Then I placed both into a hot oven, and on going back an hour afterwards, was de- lighted to fiud all the wax melted and run through the small holes into the dish beneath. The dirt was all left in tin box above. On allowing the wax and water to cool I got a cake of beautifully clean wax, and with, as you will see, the smallest amount of trouble and no expense. I suppose if the combs were old and verjr dirty the wax might require to be run through again. This method may have been mentioned in B. B. J. before, but not having seen it, I give it for the benefit of small bee-keepers. With best wishes for the success of your Cottager i Journal. — George I). Clark, Kirldand- hill, Dunbar. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. & INQUIRERS- Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giiiing such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The spnee denoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We Irish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in aioance of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. MICE IN APIARY. Query. — I should be glad if you would advise me on the following point : In one of my hives I noticed to- day an unusual commotion, and at the entrance I found 68 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 2, 1888. small particles of comb. I wondered what made the bees carry out this comb, and being rather anxious about them I ventured to open the hive by lifting up the quilt. No sooner had I done so than a mouse ran out at the entrance. Suspecting this to be somehow the cause of the commotion I took out some of the frames, and you may imagine my astonishment when I saw that the combs had been nibbled away, and in one of them there was a hole more than three inches across. I followed your advice and left the entrances open the full width, but as they are only a tritle more than half an inch deep I cannot understand how a mouse could squeeze through. What do you advise me to ? I have set a trap and hope to catch the rascal. I have not ventured to examine any of my other hives, but thanks to your instructions, which I have alwa3'S carried out, they appear in good condition, and am anxiously looking forward to the spring when they will begin work. — A. \V. B. Reply. — Your entrance is too deep and should not be more than f tbs of an inch. Leave the hive alone for the present, as you are more likely to do harm than good by disturbing the bees, but we should place a piece of wire net four meshes to the inch against the entrance. For more particulars consult our article on ' Mice in the Apiary,' page of the present number. — Ed. J. G. Sxook. — Growing Heather. — It is quite possible to grow heather or any other hardy heath in a private garden, providing the soil is suitable for its growth. If the soil is not naturally peaty the only alternative will be to procure as much peat as is requisite and plant good, strong, established clumps of heather, which will flower the first season. This operation should be done in February or early in March in order to get the plants thoroughly established before the hot weather sets in. If our correspondent put himself in communication with Mr. II. Dobbie, Nethersett, Norwich, he would, we feel assured, be pleased to give him all the information required. Welsh Novice. — Shale. — The heap you mention might be profitably utilised by planting it with borage, colden rod, and French honeysuckle, planting the two latter round the base and giving the greater part up to borage. French honeysuckle and borage may be sown and golden rod planted in March. As borage is an annual it will flower this year. 2 lbs. of borage seed and 1 lb. of French honeysuckle will be sufficient. and the remainder may be planted with golden rod and broom. A. C'aheniiead. — Robbing. — It is rarely that robbing begins so early as January. Are you quite sure that it is a case of robbing ? If so, contract the entrance to about, half an inch, and when the weather is mild enough for bees to fly, apply a little carbolic acid solution around it, and on the alighting-board. C. A. J. — Clipping Queens Wings. — The queen should be tenderly grasped between finger and thumb, in the left hand, across the thorax, and with a pair of sharp scissors the tips of both wings on the same side should be removed. The operation is very simple, but care must he taken not to injure the legs. The disad- vantages are : («) Bees often supersede clipped queens ; (6) strictest watch must be kept at swarming time, or the queens, falling to the ground, will be lost. We should say that nine English bee-keepers out of ten disapprove the practice. Kingston. — Zinc Excluder. — If a prolific queen with her colony is confined to eight frames under section- cases, with free access to the latter, it is probable that she will ascend and spoil sections. But much will depend on weather and income. A strong colony should have ten standard frames in the brood-nest. We are in favour of a modified Heddon honey-board (which we think Mr. Neighbour supplies) beneath supers, but by no means use plain excluder zinc laid flat upon the frames. J. A. A.Wood. — Pollen Gathering. — The pollen your bees were carrying in was probably collected from the groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), which flowers freely in the winter whenever there is a spell of open weather. Lincolnshire Bill. — 1. Doubling Boxes. — The boxes will have to be made to correspond in size with the inside walls of the hive. 2. Bee-space in Body-box. — The bee-space is on every side of the body-box, no matter how many doubling boxes you have on. The size of doubling boxes is a matter of individual opinion. We prefer them to hold ten frames. This is the usual size, but many prefer a box of this size but much shallower, holding special shallow frames for ex- tracting, from five to six inches in depth. 3. Trans- ferring- Bees to Bar-frame Hive. — Any warm day in April, but for a novice it is best to wait until three weeks after they swarm. 4. Extractor for Loose Comb. — Any extractor will answer your purpose if provided with a loose cage to hold the pieces of comb, this cage being placed within the cage of the extractor. B. McD. — 1. Article on Sections. — Wo have forwarded j'our thanks to Mr. W. B. Webster. The sheets of foundation are only fixed at the top. 2. Spreading Brood. — Do not attempt ' spreading brood,' it is a very risky operation oven with an adept. 8. Pull Sheets of Foundation or Starters in the Brood-nest. — In a heather district, where clover or early honey is of little or no value, we should use starters of about an inch in depth ; but in other districts, where the early honey crop is a consideration, we should use full sheets. II. M. B. — White Super Foundation. — The sample sent melts at much lower temperature thau pure beeswax, viz., 40" F. We should not think of using it for foundation in sections, as the unmistakable odour of Cera japonica (earth-wax, used in the manufacture of candles) would taint the honey, and so spoil the sale of sections. We do not care for pure white foundation, the colour is not natural to beeswax. W. J. — 1. Avoiding increase of Stock and getting rid of old Queen. — Your plan would do. We shouid prefer placing swarm close alongside the stock to which it belonged until the new queen is laying well, then unite, shifting the hive that is to remain midway between where the two had stood. 2. Patent Hives.-. — There are plenty of good hives unpatented. If you are in doubt as to any particular hive, send particulars, and we will endeavour to help you. II. J. A. — 1. Transferring to Frame-hives. — Early in April iythe weather is mild and bees flying freely. 2. Getting Combs drawn out. — Once your bees have got well to work in their new quarters you can from time to time introduce fresh sheets of foundation in the brood-nest, and if the bees are fed gently and regularly, they will draw same out if the weather is genial in about twenty -four to thirty-six hours. Remove that and replace with more foundation. Do not try to get too many done, as it is a considerable tax on them. Six per hive should be enough to make a good sheet for the doubling box. W. A. T. — Your address was mislaid. W. Robinson. — Large Apiaries in Yorkshire. — 1, Rev. J. Challoner, Newton Kyme ; 2, John Dixon, Great Aytou, Northallerton ; '■'>, W. Dixon, Beckett Street, Leeds. D. M. — No. It should be reboiled and mixed with fresh sugar. It is not sufficiently soluble for the bees in its present dried condition. A Query. — Will ' T. II.' kindly say if be fastens the pieces of wood for keeping the frames a proper distance apart at the bottom permanently, or does he let them remain loose? — A. C. r~— ■"' --- - ■ : • IffFiSH the: ^Li-fc^ Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stranqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 294. Vol. XVI] FEBRUARY 0, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (Sftitorial, Stotitts, #t. PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY. QUEEN-REARING. 1 1 wish Mr. Cowan would write a leaflet, or in the Journal give a person who has not time to work scientific dodges a plain, easy way to understand of raising our own queens from an ordinary stock of bees (from frame-hives, of course). There is so much conflicting information, a few lines from him to tell an amateur how to start and go through with it would be a great service to many. — S. J. Stevens.' It is quite true, as our correspondent remarks, there is so much conflicting information respecting queen-rearing that it is often puzzling for an amateur or young bee- keeper to decide on the best and simplest plan. It is often thought that as queens are to be raised from common bees, any stock will do, but no greater mistake can be made. The queen is the life of the colony, and upon having a good one entirely depends whether the bee-keeper reaps the benefit of a good honey harvest or otherwise. Every one must have noticed that there is a great difference in the behaviour of various colonies. One will with difficulty be induced to take to supers, and will persist in swarming; another will do neither, whilst others again will be noticed to be eager in occu- pying all the space provided for them, build combs, collect honey, and not think of swarming. If we were to allow queens to be bred from such stocks, we should gain nothing by it, but, on the contrary, be the losers. Every bee-keeper should do his utmost to improve his strain of bees, be they even the common blacks, and tbi s he is able to do by judicious selection of the colonies from which he intends to raise his queens. The secret of success in bee-keeping is, as we pointed out many years ago (British Bee Journal, Vol. II., page 180), in having young and vigorous queens at the head of colonies, and in constantly replacing them as they become worn, and we are pleased to find advanced bee- keepers are now beginning to adopt this plan. As we are strong advocates of simplicity both in hives and methods, we will endeavour to give such instructions as will enable any bee-keeper to utilise what he may possess without the necessity of going to the expense of anything special for queen-raising. Presuming that the bee-keeper has several colonies of bees, he will have spare hives, and he must provide himself with a pen-knife and a few pins. Some recommend special hives for forming nuclei, and this may be necessary when hives on legs are used, but we prefer them without, and use our ordinary hives for the purpose, which can at any time be made up to till colonies, if we wish to do so. The inner boxes need only be used, and can have a second empty box put on the top to protect the feeder and over this a board for a roof . If the bee-keeper has only hives on legs he would do w-ell to have a few make-shift hives, which he can easily make himself at a very trifling cost. In selecting a colony from which to raise queens the bee-keeper must pick out the very best he has, one whose queen is in her prime and whose workers are industrious, good honey-gatherers, and not inclined to swarm. Al- though authorities differ on this point we prefer raising queens early in the season, so that they can have the whole summer before them, and thus enable the bee- keeper to form some idea of their good qualities before he puts them to real work the following year. The colonies we select must be very strong, and by stimula- tive feeding we can get the hive filled witli bees and brood. All drone-comb should be excluded, frames con- taining any being removed, and others of worker-comb given in place of them, for this hive will only be used for raising queens, and no drones should be permitted to hatch. In this way we prevent the possibility of the queen mating with drones from the same hive, as it is obvious there would be none, since we have excluded all drone-comb and thus have prevented their production. In this manner we prevent iliat in-and-in breeding which is so detrimental if queens and drones are raised in one hive. We commence by placing a frame of clean, empty worker-comb in the centre of brood-nest, which will be filled with eggs by the queen. Three days after this the queen can be removed, as well as any frames con- taining uncapped brood, except the one we introduced, and which now contains eggs. We remove the uncapped brood because we wish to make sure that the grubs, which are to be used for raising queens, receive the proper attention from the first. We have always insisted strongly upon this point, and have had ample evidence in our long experience of raising queens to prove that our practice is right. Without entering deeply into the theory of the ques- tion, it is sufficient to say that it is based upon the dis- covery of Leuckart that the larvae of workers were weaned after the third day, by the gradual addition of pollen and honey to the food supplied them by the nurses ; whereas those destined for queens receive the same food during the whole of their larval existence, without any admixture of pollen or honey ; and further, that this brood food is administered in greater abundance. The bees will commence queen-cells, and we can assist them bv enlarging the mouth of any particular cell we wish tliem to start upon, in such a way as to break down the walls of the adjoining cells, especially those beneath. We generally cut off the edges of the comb, and get our cells started along these. They then usually hang down, so that they are more easily cut out. A large number will be constructed, and if we do not require 70 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 9, 1888. them all the earliest ones are selected, and the others destroyed. The hees should be gathering both honey and pollen in quantity when the cells are started and until they are capped over, otherwise they must he sup- plied with food artificially. In about fight or nine days from the time the queen-cells are started the bee-keeper will be ready to form his nuclei. We always use our ordinary hives for this purpose, and for several reasons do not recommend the small boxes sometimes used. The nuclei can be made up from any of the other hives having young bees. Two frames containing brood and honey will do for a nucleus, but three frames are better, because if these are well covered with bees the hive would he warmer, and there would he less risk of chilling. In taking the frames out of the hives take care not to remove the queen with them. Place the frame in the hive close up with division boards, and as all the old bees will return to the stock hive, shake or brush the young bees from one or two other combs into the nucleus, so that there should be as many as could well cover the frames, and be able to maintain the proper temperature. In this way form as many nuclei as you have cells to introduce. We then on the next day with a very sharp knife, cut out the queen-cells very carefully, so as not to damage them in the slightest degree. If the bee- keeper is not very proficient at this sort of work he had better cut out one cell at a time, and return the frame from which it was taken to its position in the hive until the cell is inserted in its place in the nucleus. There will then be less chance of the inmates being chilled or the cells damaged. In cutting them out leave a small piece of comb attached to each cell, and by this pin it to the side of one of the combs with its point downwards. The next frame is brought close, so that the cell hangs down between the two combs without touching them, they only coming in contact with the piece of comb attached to the upper part of the cell. The space is then closed up by the division board, covered with the quilt, and the bees fed gently with syrup. The nucleus must be watched to see if sufficient bees remain, and if too many leave give them more in the way already described. In from three to four days the queen will hatch, and in about a week or ten days after she will become fertilised. Before the queen leaves the hive for fertilisation, remove one of the combs, and replace it by another containing brood. Unless this precaution is taken, and there is brood in the comb, the whole of the bees may leave the hive with the queen when she goes out to meet the drones, and so there would be a chance of losing all. If brood, however, is given them, they will remain in the hive, because hees very seldom desert young brood. The queens may be left in these nuclei until they are required. We have described the plan we prefer and have found the simplest and most successful (see our remarks in B.B.J., 1883, page 2, Vol. XI.), but as an alternative one, some bee-keepers recommend instead of removing the queen from the best hive, and having the queen-cell started in it, to get the queen to lay eggs in some clean worker-comb, and then give the frame containing this to another hive. Of course the queen of this hive and all uncapped brood should be removed so as to make sure that the queen-cells will only be raised from the eggs we have introduced. Some bee-keepers introduced the queen- cells in a cage, Mr. Doolittle using one of wire ; but the simplest thing in this way was one we saw in our journeying in America, and is used by Captain Hetherington. It consists simply of a block of wood 1£ x 1 x f in., having a f in. hole bored down to within iV in. of the bottom, and here the hole is reduced to a little under f of an inch. The queen-cell is introduced into this, the point projecting below, and the tin lid closes the opening above. We give an illustration of this cage in section, so that the merest tyro can make one himself. It is placed between the combs, is kept in place by them, and the bees are not able to destroy the «-_. sja'L^ K^s/ai^J cell if they are inclined to do so, but such an incident has rarely happened to us in introducing the cells in the ordinary way. So far we have only considered the raising of select queens, and if we do no more than what has been described we must take the chance of our queens mating with drones from any other hive. But we can go a step further and select our drones. For this purpose we select our next best colony and use it for drone production. This hive must also be stimulated so that it is well filled with hees and brood on most of the comb. When we find this to be the case we remove one or two of the brood-combs from the middle of the hive and put in their place frames containing drone-comb. By feeding more rapidly the queen fills the drone-cells with eggs which will produce drones. As soon as the drones begin to hatch out it is just the right time to start the queen- cells in the other hive, so that when the young queens are ready to fly the drones will be in a condition to do so too. To further ensure a better chance of success we should prevent the production of drones in all our other hives, and have none others in our apiary but the selected ones. In this way queens are raised under the most favourable conditions, and are far superior to those started in nuclei with a small lot of bees, a plan fre- quently adopted by queen-breeders. Of course, by adopting this plan we must run the risk of the queen mating with drones from a distant, apiary. Where a large number of queens are required the plan may be varied a little ; but a description of this must be deferred to a future article, as well as the methods adopted for insuring fertilisation by selected drones. SIMMINS' BEE COMPANY, LIMITED. We are now about to have the question, Will a Bee Farm in England pay Y put to a practical test, and we are sure our readers will concur with us when we say the first venture in this direction could not be confided to a more honest experimenter and withal a more com- petent man, than our respected correspondent Mr. Samuel Simmins of llottingdean. During recent years he has attained a very prominent position as a queen-breeder ; and we may say that having personally inspected his Rottingdean and Balsdean Apiaries it would be impos- sible to conceive places better adapted for this most interesting pursuit. In whatever direction we looked we found evidences of much thought and careful con- sideration. Mr. Simmins will continue to manago the affairs of the Company, it having purchased the sole right to use the name of ' Simmins' in connexion with bees, honey, and appliances, for the next twenty years. Were bees and honey the only articles on which the Company proposed to rely for profit we should have some doubt as to its ultimate success ; but as queens and appliances are to form a very considerable portion of the Company's business, thus utilising all hands during winter as well as summer, there seems to be no tangible reason why success should not crown their efforts. We shall look forward with considerable interest to the first balance-sheet, when we hope to be able to con- gratulate the Company on having shown that there is money to be made by the development of our especial hobby into a national industry. In the meantime we have great pleasure in expressing our good wishes towards the Company, and our earnest desire that it may eventuate in success. February 9, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL 71 3|it 9£emoriam. THE REV. C. F. G. JENYNS. It was with a peculiar thrill of pain and regret that we read the concluding paragraph of the ' Useful Hints' of last week announcing the sudden demise of the Rev. C. F. G. Jenyns, Rector of Knebworth, Stevenage, Herts ; and all who were acquainted with the deceased will readily join in the warm eulogium therein pronounced of his sterling worth and of his earnestness in the cause of bee-keeping. The Rev. F. G. Jenyns was born on November 13th, 1827. He was educated at Bury St. Edmunds, after which he entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He there took a great interest in athletic sports, especially in boating and cricketing. He was in the College boat and in the University eleven. After leaving College, he obtained a curacy &t Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, under the Rev. Mr. Selwyn, Professor at Cambridge. After serving the curacy for two years, he was appointed vicar of the same place, and here he remained twenty-one years. In the year 1874 he was collated to the rectory of Knebworth, Herts, the home of the family of the Bulwer-Lyttons, where he has been for the last thirteen and a half years. In the year 185C he married Miss Rose Emily Bulwer, and leaves three sons and two daughters to deplore his loss. lie died very suddenly on the 26th of January, and was buried on the 1st of February. The Committee of the British Bee-keepers' Association was represented at the funeral by Captain Bush, R.N., and the Rev. J. L. Seager; and amongst others present the following bee-keepers were noticed, Mr. J. P. Sambels, Mr. T. B. Blow, Mr. G. J. Buller, and Mrs. Maynard. The gentry from far and wide gathered to show their respect; and, notwithstanding the extreme severity of the weather, many ladies were present. In the neigh- bourhood of Stevenage there was probably no one more highly respected by all classes. He was a man of wise judgment and of great sympathy and kindness to all, both high and low. As a parish clergyman he had done a valuable work both at Melbourn and at Knebworth. Mr. Jenyns joined the British Bee-keepers' Association in 1879, and was elected on the Committee at the election of 1884, since which time he has taken an active part in the work of the Association. He was conspicuous by the regularity of his attendance at the meetings, and by his impartiality as a judge. In August 1884 he entered with great spirit into the controversy raised, in the Times newspaper, by the Hon. A. F. Leveson Gower, as to the position of bee- keeping as an industry in England. Mr. Jenyns' letter on that occasion was a valuable addition to those that were elicited from other advanced and experienced bee- keepers. His letter more especially embraced the work that had been performed by the British Association since its institution. The most interesting point was the means adopted to ensure that those employed as ex- perts should be competent to instruct cottage bee- keepers at their own homes and in their own gardens. Mr. Jenyns ever showed much interest in the educa- tional aspect of bee-keeping, and at the quarterly Con- versazione held on July 2-'!rd, 1885, he read an interesting and exhaustive paper on that subject. In this he argued that bee-keeping should be introduced as a ' class ' subject to elementary schools, and endeavoured to prove that as the tendency of bee-keeping is to make the man, so also it would educate the child, to be observant and accurate, to be prompt, ready, and provident, and to be kind to God's creatures and attentive to their wants. His great aim was to make the study of bees and in- telligent bee-keeping truly educational, and his earnest desire was to ascertain how that study could be most profitably promoted. And the conclusion he arrived at was that the Educational Department should move in the matter, so that bee-keeping should take its place as a subject in elementary schools ; and not in those only, but also in the great middle-class schools and in the agri- cultural colleges of the kingdom — not merely as an educational subject, but as a profitable national industry. At the instance, and under the auspices, of the British Bee-keepers' Association, and in continuance of the previous studies of Mr. Jenyns, he was induced to com- pile a work, entitled A Booh on Bees, their History, Habits and Instincts. This was published in the beginning of the year 1886, with a preface written by our President, the Baroness Burdett-Coutts. This work was a valuable and welcome addition to bee-literature, the chief object of the work being to make bee-keeping interesting to young readers. Mr. Jenyns was most successful in the object he had set before himself. The work bore clear evidence of his special aptitude for making his subject interesting and intelligible to the young. Its style was lucid and simple, and the interest of the book was maintained from the beginning to the end. We consider that the work is a model of conveying instruction on the habits and struc- ture of "the bee. A cheap edition of the book has been since published, with a view to its introduction into ele- mentary schools. Mr. Jenyns evidently considered that his special mission was to interest the young in favour of bee- keeping, and therefore we were not taken by surprise in finding that at the Conference that was held at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition in connexion with the South Kensington Show, he selected as the subject of the paper he there read, ' The Promotion of Bee-keeping amongst the Young,' in which he strove to show that if we desire to promote bee-keeping amongst the working- classes, ' we shall do well to sow the early seed, which may afterwards bear fruit and so lead to intelligent and profitable bee-keeping on a much larger scale, and on a much wider field, than we had seen hitherto.' We are indebted to Mr. Jenyns for the idea of 'local advisers,' the judicious carrying out of which has pro\ 'ed of such service toJCounty Associations. Mr. Jenyns has officiated as judge on several occasions. The last time he occupied that post was at the Royal Agricultural Show at Norwich. He was one of the party who es- corted the Princess of Wales and family through the Bee-department on that occasion. He was a member of the sub-committee for conducting examinations, for the duties of which he was eminently fitted. As Hon. Sec. of the St. Albans Diocesan Board of Education he pos- sessed considerable knowledge of educational questions. Mr. Jenyns was also a great rosarian, and a painstaking recorder of meteorological facts. In losing Mr. Jenyns we have to deplore the loss of not only one of the best and most successful of bee- keepers, but also of one of the most true-hearted and kindest of men. ' EXCELSIOR ' BEE-FEEDER. We have received from the Co-operative Tin-plate Workers' Association one of their ' Excelsior' bee-feeders. In this feeder there is an inside circle, where the bees come up to the syrup-holder or tank. The syrup is con- veyed from outside of the feeder by a tunnel. Inside of the syrup-holder is placed a cork float, which the bees get on to feed; there is also a bee-space between the outside circle and syrup-holder, the whole extending over six frames, and the spaces on each side of the frames 72 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 9, 1888. covered with a 9-iuch circle of glass. When not in use for syrup or dry sugar, candy can be placed in the syrup- holder (and also on top of the frames as recommended in ' Modern Bee-keeping' and other works), and around the syrup-holder, and a quilt over the glass. On removing the quilt the bee-keeper can see what stores the bees have. If candy is required, the bee-keeper has only to take a penknife and lift up the glass and place the candy on. This feeder seems to be appreciated by the bees, if numbers be any criterion to go by. It is the warmest place in the hive, giving the bees air-space and a place for exercise. A NEW METHOD OF FIXING COMB FOUNDATION. Ever since the introduction of sections there has been want- ing a better method of fixing comb foun- dation than is at pre- sent known. Messrs. Abbott Bros., in try- ing to meet the want, have invented a method (simple, but efficient) that leaves nothing- to be desired. One glance at the little wood-cut will explain the whole thing ; it is so simple that one wonders it did not occur to everybody years ago. The top of section is cut at an angle, with a cutter which leaves the top of cut larger than the bottom, thus forming a dovetail for wax when inserted. The cut being left at an angle, and the right-hand half of the section being still unfolded, enables you to put the foundation in without the least trouble, then by closing the top half of section down into its place, a perfect tightening pressure is formed, which forces the wax into its place. Sections can be folded and waxed by this method at the rate of twelve a minute, no appliance whatever is required. We understand Messrs. Abbott Bros, have patented this new invention. (See Adot.) ASSOCIATIONS. LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Annual Report. Your Committee feel that they may very well com- mence their Report for the year 1887 with hearty con- gratulations, since the honey season in most parts of the county has been an exceptionally good one. The fact that one member (Mr. W. Brutneil.of Goadby Marwood, near Melton Mowbray) lifted 215 lbs. from one stock alone, clearly shows that Leicestershire possesses honey- producing capabilities favourably comparable with almost any county in England. The annual show was held at Ashby-de-la-Zouch. There was, as usual, a good show of honey, the bulk of which was of first-class quality, but the number of ex- hibits was smaller than in the preceding year, probably owing to the difficulty of reaching Ashby from some parts of the county. No prizes were offered for col- lections of bee-keeping appliances ; nevertheless, Mr W. P. Meadows, of Syston, Leicester, and Mr. C. Redshaw, of South Wigston, exhibited their complete collections for the benefit of the Association. For this act of liberality your Committee here accord them special and hearty thanks. The medals and certificate of the British Bee-keepers' Association were awarded as follows : — Silver medal, Mr. W. P. Meadows, Syston ; bronze medal, Mrs. Ripon, Waltham ; certificate, Miss Chester, Waltham. The judge, Mr. J. M. Hooker, was appointed by the British Bee-keepers' Association. He examined Mr. Windsor, of Netherscale, for third-class expert's certificate. Mr. Windsor's success has since been recorded in the British Bee Journal. A second show, by kind permission and pecuniary assistance of the Corporation Committee of the Abbey Park Horticultural Society, was held in Abbey Park on August 2nd in conjunction with that Society. Ac- knowledgments are due to Messrs. Carter, Meadows, Clarke, J. Cooper, and others, for the able manner in which this show was managed. It is hoped that the Abbey Park.Committee may see their way to giving a larger grant to the Association, to enable it, during the next season, to carry out the arrangements more efficiently, and induce the members to take more general interest in the Show. At a Committee Meeting held in Ma}', it was resolved to employ an expert. Mr. George Munday, of Rutland Villas, Cavendish Road, Aylestone Park, Leicester, was appointed to visit the apiaries of the members in the spring. As a result, fifty new members were added to the Association. The expenses, unfortunately, more than covered the additional receipts, so that other arrange- ments for an autumnal visit had to be made, which it is hoped were little less effective. Mr. Munday visited 12o0 hives, and as a large number of these were of modern make and under the modern system of manage- ment, there can no longer be any doubt of the beneficial influence of the Leicestershire Bee-keepers' Association. Furthermore, Mr. Munday saw large numbers of similar hives under the capable management of bee-keepers who still hold aloof from the Association, but who, neverthe- less, must have derived, and be still deriving, considerable benefit from the teachings of the Association. The Association has determined to send round an expert in the spring to visit members' apiaries. It must, however, be understood that the expert will not be able to examine more than two or three hives in each apiary, his time being limited; but he will give advice and in- formation on special points if required. The services of the expert can be obtained at other times by special arrangements with him, with regard to payment for his time and travelling expenses. The address of the expert at present employed by the Association is Mr. George Munday, Rutland Villas, Cavendish Road, Aylestone Park, Leicester. The condition of the finances of the Association is not very encouraging, nor is it very discouraging when it is borne in mind that there have been the extra expenses of the expert's tour and Abbey Park Show. Your Com- mittee once more ask assistance in clearing off the debt. It may be here recorded that Mr. Bickley, to commemo- rate the Jubilee, offered to pay one pound towards liquidation of the debt, if nine others could be found to do the same. Are there any members still disposed to respond ? A larger number of exhibitors is very desirabls. In- tending exhibitors are requested to read the rules over very carefully. Competitors exhibiting for the first time are especially asked to give a little attention to the ' Hints to Exhibitors.' OXFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of this Society was held in the Clarendon Hotel on Wednesday afternoon, January 2oth. February 9, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 73 Lord Jersey presided, and there were also present : Revs. F. C. Dillon (hon. sec), C. Sturges, Williams, and Neames; Messrs. Ilitchman, Launchbury, f Iancox, Cobb, Perry, Hayes, Taylor, Scrivener, Thomas, C. 15. Anstey, Thomas, Hughes, C. Harris, &c. One lady bee-keeper was present. The Secretary read the balance-sheet, which showed 6/. 15*. KM. to the good. The Secretary read the following Report :—' Your Committee beg to present their sixth annual Report. They regret to find some falling off in the numbers of the Society, though in other respects its position appears very satisfactory. Fresh ground has been opened out by the circulation of the Bee Journal among the members, and the balance, thanks to the generous support given to the prize fund, is more favourable than it has ever been before. Under these circumstances your Committee trust that the work of the Society during the coming year will be effective, and result in bringing in a con- siderable number of recruits. The number of subscrip- tions received for 1887 was 11(>. Of those twenty-three were new members or old members whose names did not appear in the last report owing to their subscriptions not having been paid before the general meeting. As there were 186 last year, there are, therefore, forty-three mem- bers who have not yet paid for 1887. No doubt some of these losses are unavoidable, but your Committee hope that some may still be disposed to continue to support the Association. The Bee-tent of the Association does not seem to have been in as great request as in former years. No doubt it would be more sought after if the secretaries of flower-shows knew on what very favourable terms it could be secured, and they would, therefore, suggest to members and local secretaries that they should make its existence known to the secretaries of the flower shows in their neighbourhood and districts. It visited the following places last year, viz., Banbury (two days), in connexion with the Oxfordshire Agricultural Society; Headington, iu connexion with the Church of England Temperance Society Fete, when the Association also held their annual show; and Swincombe. The spring tour was taken by Mr. Perry, and the autumn tour by Mr. Fewtrell. It will be of great assistance to the Secretary, and save disappointment to members, if -those who wish the experts to visit them, would be careful to send in the forms by the dates mentioned. The annual show was held, as stated, at Headington, in connexion with the Church Temperance Fete, on July 14th. The Committee were much disappointed in the number of exhibits sent, there being only forty-one entries. This was partly due, no doubt, to the fact that the great show of the British Bee-keepers' Association was being held at the same time at Newcastle. In the honey class, there was a very good display in Nos. o1 and .r> for 1-lb. sections and extracted honey, but No. 4, for best supers of honey, found very little favour. Should it be decided to bold another show this year your Committee hope that members will do all tliey can to secure as many entries as possible. In accordance with a resolution passed at the last general meeting, copies of the British Bee Journal have been sent to each of the local secre- taries for distribution among such members of the district as apply for them, and your Committee have reason to believe that this additional privilege has been much appreciated by many of the members. The hope ex- pressed at the last meeting that some gentleman would come forward and undertake the post of local secretary for those districts which did not then possess one, has been realised, and the Committee are glad to be able to report that there is now a local secretary for each strict. In conclusion ycur Ccnimittee think that the tisfactory state of the balance-sheet justifies them in commend ing the appointment of an assistant secretary a small y early salary. The Hon. Secretary is willing continue at that post; provided an assistant be found; and your Committee are glad to report that Mr. C. Harris, who has previously held the post of local secretary for Oxford district, has consented to be nominated as assist- ant secretary. The Committee are confident that in him the Association would gain a most intelligent and energetic officer, whose work would soon make itself felt and bring a good return to the Association.' Lord Jersey was re-elected President, the Rev. F. C. Dillon (Vicar of Enstone) Secretary, and Mr. C. Harris assistant secretary. The following form the Committee for the year : — G. II. Morrell, Esq., Dr. Boyton, and Messrs. Salmon, C. Taylor, Crute, C. B. Anstey, C. Smith, and II. P. Thomas. YORKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Annual Meeting of the Yorkshire Bee-keepers' Association was held at the Church Institute, Leeds, Jas. Dodgson, Esq., Skipton (Hon. Sec. of Craven Branch B.K.A.) in the chair. The usual official business was transacted and the accounts passed. The Committee, regret to have to report to you the resigna- tion from the Honorary Secretaryship of G. II. L. Rickards, Esq., who has so courteously and ably filled the position since the formation of our Association; the reasons given for this step being, that owing to the march of time our esteemed official did not feel himself able to do as much as he would like to forward the cause we have at heart, i.e., the growth and prosperity of our County Bee-keepers' Association. Suitable remarks thanking Mr. Richards for his past labours, &c, were made by the Chairman and others, and a resolution was carried unanimously electing him an honorary member of Committee. Resolutions respecting the at- tendance of the Committee, &c, were passed, and inter- esting information as to the foundation of Branch Asso- ciations was given by Mr. Dodgson. Mr. U. A. II. Gnmsliaw, of Horsforth, near Leeds, who was elected a year ago Co-secretary with Mr. Rickards, now remains the Hon. Sec. of your A?socia- tion ; and in presenting you with the annual report, he hopes he will receive the same kindly help given to his late colleague. He asks also that the sympathy and support of all who are interested in advanced bee- keeping be extended to the Yorkshire U.K. A., and especially does this appeal relate to those with whom the fruit and fodder-yielding capabilities of this ' county of broad acres ' are subjects of importance. To these, amongst our friends, it is almost unnecessary to enlarge upon the enormous benefits silently conferred upon the community by the honey-bee as a plant-fertiliser (and, therefore, as a seed and fruit-producer), apart from its labours as a honey-producer. During his year of office as Co-Secretary, Mr. Grim- shaw has delivered six lectures (three at Leeds, one each at LTleskelf, Badsworth, and Walton, near Liverpool). LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Annual Report. In presenting the sixth Annual Report vour com- mittee are glad to say that in place of a debit balance they close the year with a small balance to their credit. The shows that have been attended during the year 1888 are :— July 21st, Prescot and District Horticultural Society; August 4th, St. Mary's Floral and Horticul- tural Society, Chester; August 20th, Huyton and AVhiston Cottagers' Horticultural Society ; August 24th, Lancaster and District Floral and Horticultural Society ; August 31st to September 3rd, Royal Manchester, Liverpool, and North Lancashire Agricultural Societv, held at Old Trafford. The only one calling for remark 74 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 9, 1888. is the Show held at Old Trafford under the auspices of the Royal Manchester, Liverpool, and North Lancashire Agricultural Society, and your committee feel that the support of this Association should be given to this Society as the readiest means of increasing the usefulness of the Bee Association in the two counties. They have, therefore, made an offer to attend the Show of the Royal Manchester, Liverpool, and North Lancashire Agricultural Society, to be held at Lancaster in 1888, provided the Agricultural Society meet your Association with a grant. In making their report to their sub- scribers, the Agricultural Association refer to the assistance rendered them by your Association. Of the 238 members referred to in the report for 1880, 19 have resigned ; (33 have joined, leaving 282 members' names on the books, including 07 in the Artisan and Cottager List. Your committee during the year have tried to work in conjunction with the Sandbach, Hawkshead, Poulton-le- Fylde, and Altrincham Associations, but no arrange- ments have been come to. Your committee early in the year secured a room at 2 South John Street to meet in ; this has proved very convenient. The plan of having local secretaries has been found to work to the advantage of the Association, but many more are wanted throughout the two counties, and your committee ask the co-operation of members, so that no part of Lancashire and Cheshire may be further than live miles from an active local secretary. The lectures given by Mr. Webster, of the British Bee-keepers' Association, in the spring, opened up a great deal of fresh ground to your Association, and will doubtless bring in fresh subscribers next year. By the kindness of Dr. Walker, who is one of the examiners from the B.B.K. Association, candidates had a chance of getting third-class certificates at the time of the Show held at Lancaster; the two candidates who came for examination obtained certificates. With reference to this subject, your committee are glad to learn the Committee of Examiners of the B.B.K.A. are trying to arrange to make it easier for candidates to meet them; and it will greatly assist all parties interested if candidates for 1888 will send their names to the secretary by the end of June, or earlier where it is practicable. On the recommendation of your representatives, the B.B.K.A. have arranged that county representatives shall meet an hour before the Conferences, so as to discuss and arrange for all matters of interest to County Associations to be brought authoritatively before the Committee of the B.B.K.A. A large quantity of honey has been sold for members, and had more been sent it could have been readily dis- posed of. What is chiefly required is an attractive form of putting up, at popular prices, say — Jars at I*., Is. Or/., and 2s. Foul brood being on the increase, your committee, early in the year, had phenol solution put up in a cheap form, but it was called for much more outside your own counties than in them. Members would do well to make very strict inquiries before purchasing any bees, and in every case the inquiry should be made whether foul brood exists at the apiary from whence the bees are bought.— Wm. Lees McClure, Hon. Sec, The Lathams, Prescot, Hist December, 1887. €axxts%ovfomtc. OUR HONEY IMPORTS. The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom during the month of January, 1888, amounted to 466/. [From a return furnished by the Statistical Department II.M. Customs to E, II. Bellairs, Wingfield, Christchurch.l THE MONTHLY ISSUE OF BEE JOURNAL AND ITS ADVANTAGES TO BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATIONS. [14/2. | I felt quite elated when I first heard whispers of there being a likelihood of the B. J. being issued in a form more compatible with the financial requirements of bee-keepers' Associations. For some considerable time past it has been the privilege of members of Associations to have sent them for their perusal (a time usually ex- tending to from two to three days) a copy of the leading British journal in apiculture ; but the difficulty of trans- mitting same from member to member soon became apparent, and for some lengthened period quite a failure in its distribution has been the result. The B. B. J. at its weekly price of twopence was much too expensive for the Associations to send a copy gratis to each of its members, but the advent of the condensed yet practical stranger seemed all at once to relieve us from the cloud of failure, experienced with its more im- posing congener. There is little doubt that Associations will at once feel the great advantage thus conferred upon them, especially so if the practical portion only of the B. B. J. is trans- ferred to the columns of its monthly echo. It is what the cottager or other bee-keeper requires ; the right nail has been tapped upon its head, and now I trust to see it in a few months driven fairly home. Many would-be members of B. K. Associations want to know what benefit they are going to derive from joining; if it can be pointed out to them that each month they will receive gratis for their own several uses a periodical devoted entirely to apiculture, they will be satisfied that a large amount of good will accrue, and then a visit or visits from the expert, free admission to all shows, meetings, conversaziones, &c, being added, their natural dislike to ' part ' for a seeming myth will be overcome, and Associations will thus receive an im- pel us not felt for some considerable time past. Let us hope that these sanguine expectations of mine will be realised. I think they will. Taking as a basis my own County Association (Berks) it will be found that for a not very significant amount above that paid for the weekly issue, the monthly B.J. can be sent post paid to each of its members to become their property for present use or reference. Unfortu- nately a few of the members of the committee of the Berks B.K.A. do not or will not see it in this light, they must have a journal of their own, although at the present time the funds are not, in the most flourishing condition. A bee journal of their own, they say, will lessen the printers' bill. So it will, but not sufficiently by far to pay for a journal being issued from their own press of equivalent interest or such practical advantage as the Journal. You, Mr. Editor, have the whole of the British Islands to draw your supply of 'copy' from; a county can but have a fractional portion of it, and a consequent diminu- tion in its utility. Berkshire, I am aware, locates a goodly number of practical bee-keepers, but how many of these, although they may be stars in their profession, have the natural aptitude of imparting that knowledge in writing to others ? You have the control of numerous writers, men who have made their mark, more or less, in apiculture with the pen. Can any County Association obtain this control unless their funds are augmented to a condition far above any bee-keepers' Association at the present time P They cannot. I 'an they expect a man to expend his ideas in the columns of their paper, who, if those same ideas and writings were sent to another periodical, would command a marketable value? It is not a common-sense view to suppose they would. As a result, the matter produced in its pages will have to be obtained at the nominal sum of — nothing. In a bee journal, no matter how simple its February 9, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 75 contents, it must in many practical articles be illustrated. Can they get draughtsmen and engravers to form these blocks for nothing ? Will an editor (poor man !) work transcribing copy badly written, orthographically deficient, or almost in a state of printers ' pie ' for nothing ? You know, Mr. Editor, there is plenty of that sort of ' copy ' sent in. Philanthropy, I know, is a trait to be encouraged, but in these days of £ s. d., where eaeli of us has to look around for the wherewith, few can be found to work day after day, night after night, without its equivalent in some form or other ; and so, if the quality of the matter contained in this embryo journal is to be kept up to the standard, the promoters will assuredly find out. By the articles of affiliation to the British Bee-keepers' Association the annual reports of Associations have to be produced to a certain standard size (ordinary 8vo.), that the different reports may be bound together in one volume; this journal, though of a different size, is to produce this report in its pages, and great satisfaction was expressed by the promoters that the item of a separate report would not have to be paid, as the first number issued could be almost filled with the same ; rather dry reading for its recipients, and scarcely to be recognised as of practical advantage in the establishing or successful management of an apiary ; therefore, as this must appear in the March number, would-be manipu- lators will have to wait until April for advice, or manage their bees blindfolded. Financially, according to the figures of the promoters, it is a failure, as it will cost 71. per year more than the monthly Bee Journal, replete with sound practical advice, if a copy were sent each month to every one of the members, and the annual report costing 67. produced as usual, notwithstanding the very low price a printer has offered to execute the work and till the editorial chair into the bargain. One principal idea of the promoters is to 'use the scissors' upon other journals; if so, the readers will receive the advice or news secondhand, and after a lapse of time, perhaps, sufficient to negative its effects. The usual meagre attendance of Committee-men was the principal cause of the motion being carried, only four voted, three for and one (myself) against. Two of these three were promoters, the third being one who has been placed upon the Committee since the matter was brought forward. I should not have troubled you with this latter portion of my letter, but publicity has been given to the meeting in these columns with but few particulars of it; my opposition was very, very faintly expressed. — W. B. Webster. A VOICE FROM THE COTTAGE. [1473.] I am very glad to see that steps are being taken with the new year to bring the cottage bee-keeper again to the front, and also that a new and cheaper journal is promised him, although I cannot see how we can have a cheaper paper than the B. B. J., or a more ably conducted one. There is one little improvement, however, I think might be made. I should like to see the bond fide cottager show himself in print ; to hear a little of his successes and of some of his trials and diffi- culties. I have been a subscriber for a year now, and during that time I do not remember to have seen any- thing of him. I am afraid he is too much over-awed by the learned gentlemen who from week to week almost overwhelm with their stores of knowledge of all the mysteries of bees and bee-keeping that he is fain to hide his diminished head, lest, like some unlucky bee that we have read of lately, he should be snapped up by some tomtit in the form of some expert or other. Now, Mr. Editor, I should like to know whom we are to include in the term cottager. I presume it would include any working man of small means in an agri- cultural neighbourhood, whether working in his shop or on his bit of land, or as a day-labourer on a farm. In most villages there exists a class of small, working tradesmen — the village smith, the carpenter, shoemaker, tailor, &c, who in these tiines.find it a hard job to make both ends meet, and would fain add to their little means if they only knew how. Several of our correspondents lately have been w ondering what trade could be worked with bee-keeping. I venture to s.ay that in mo>t instances any village trade will work with it ; for, as a ride, there is a garden, and sometimes a paddock (if the man keep a pony) where there are plenty of spare corners he might find to put a few hives in. It is in the interests of this class (to which I have the honour to belong) that I should like to say a few words. I am a smith myself, like Longfellow's ' Week in, week out, earning whate'er I can ' (which is not much, i can tell you), and having a nice plot of ground at command, I thought I should like to keep bees. I thought over it a long time, but there seemed so much mystery about them that I was afraid to try. However, happening to be at a cottager's sale one day, and seeing some half-a-dozen skeps of bees for sale, I ventured to buy three skeps for a trifle, and that was my first start in the line, now four years ago. Naturally, like most other bee-keepers that I have met, I had a little touch of the fever, and, being of a studious turn of mind, I began to seek for information. Of course I turned to Hiy nearest bee-keeping neighbour, who gravely asked me if I had tuld the bees they had got a new master. I gave him up as a bad job, and being near swarming time, I asked another, who kindly assisted me to hive my first swarm in a skep (I knew nothing of bar-hives then), properly dressed with beer and sugar, and wiped with elder-leaves in the orthodox way. But, like riches sometimes do, they took to themselves wings and flew away. That summer I went to the Royal Agricultural Show, and in my wanderings came across the bee-tent, and was very much interested in what I saw ; — I can scarcely say in what I heard, for I could not make much out, except that you had only got to do this or that and you would soon get a fortune. One thing I did remember, however, and that was to get the British Bee-keepers Guide-book, which I did, and then I really started to work in earnest. I found I had a great deal to learn, and it would lie as well to proceed with caution; so, after a prolonged study, I ventured to buy a bar- frame hive, and by following instructions given, and a little advice here and there, I drove the bees from one of my old skeps and stocked my new hive. I soon began to find that I could not afford to buy even cheap hives, so began to burn the midnight oil in trying to master the theory and practice, and make my own hives and appli- ances, which I am glad to say I havo succeeded tolerably well in doing. Of course I worked my own trade in as much as I could, and made some frames, rather novel ones, but they answer well. Up to now I have made a bee-house for skeps, ten bar-frame hives and frames, an extractor, section-crates — of an original character, a brick hive, fountain, &c, and almost all after seven in the evening. I would strongly advise cottagers as far as possible to make their own hives, because I believe by that means they will more quickly learn the science of bee-keeping, being necessarily compelled to study in order to ensure success. A word or two on bee shows. I cannot see that they are of very great advantage to the cottager as at present managed. The information obtained at them, I am afraid, more often leads him astray than benefits 1 im. He begins driving bees, and messing them about before he has mastered even the elements of the science ; and frequently, after wasting a lot of time and money, he either gives up in disgust or is compelled to make a fresh start. I should like to see a greater readiness on the part of the lecturer or manipulator to answer the 7G THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 9, 1888. questions of the novice, and to give simpler lectures specially bearing on the lirst steps to be taken in bee- keeping, and not to bewilder him with elaborate manipu- lations. I think a little conversation with, or a visit to the apiary of a fellow-cottager more advanced than him- self would be of more service to him, and stimulate him to try and do likewise. What we want is unity among ourselves, the desire and will to help one another, and to cultivate that fellow-feeling that would make us wondrous kind. There is one thing, too, that tends to depress the bee-keeper of small means, and that is, the constant changes that are continually taking place in almost everything pertaining to the profitable manage- ment of bees. It is utterly impossible for him to go in for buying new queens, expensive feeders, the latest hives, &c, for the simple reason that he cannot afford it. That our new Journal may be taken up heartily by the cottagers, and prove a boon to them and a success to all concerned, is the hearty wish of — A Village Black- smith. A CHAPTER ON SKEP MANAGEMENT. [1474.] Some time ago I promised to send you some information respecting the use of skeps in this neighbourhood. The cottager here does not keep bees for a hobby, but for profit. The following is the mode of management, and some of it I have not seen in any other part of the country. First of all, I wish to draw your attention to two facts, viz., this part is not a good one for bee-keeping, because, being ,io high, it is very exposed and cold, and there is only one honey harvest, that the heather. All st< cks are worked with this particular end in view, and that reason will account for the peculiar management in a great degree. We begin in the spring ; the season opens about April as a rule, although bees have been known to ' bear ' here as early as February 1 1th, but that is very, very exceptional. The stocks are fed when required by means of a drawer lined with zinc fitted under the tloor-board containing a float of perforated wood. They are only scantily fed to keep them going-. The only swarms are natural ones, and they come off during the last week in June or be- ginning of July, but sometimes extend into August, showing the lateness of the district. All swarms are hived into straw skeps and fed, if required, for about three days. About August 12th, the time when grouse-shooting commences, all stocks and swarms are packed up over- night or after 0 p.m., and loaded up and taken to the moors. There they remain until the honey-flow com- mences. If the season is very dry, no honey is secreted in the bloom, and if very wet the bees cannot work; for instance, this last season for three weeks, although there was a perfect sea of bloom, yet it contained no honey whatever. Rain came, and five days was the sum total of the honey-flow, as after that the continual rain prevented any more being gathered, but during the five days mentioned each fairly strong skep gathered upwards of 20 lbs. Well, to return, the hives are all set out and allowed to take their chance, bo covering provided except a large sod. The hives are visited now and again, and if any seem to be short of room an ' ipper ' or eke is added, and thus they remain until the end of the season, about September 14th. No supers are used. Saturday following the latter date the hivee are fetched home, and every one which contains over 10 lbs. of honey is taken. This is the part of the plan which I think peculiar to this district. All hives containing more than 10 lbs. are driven, and having previously considered how many are to be wintered, the bees are divided amongst them. Each hive is given a good whisk round and placed on its stand over one of the drawer- feeders, and fed up until the weight reaches 20 lbs.- or over (30 lbs. of sugar will make 45 lbs. of thick syrup), and it takes only 20 lbs. of sugar to form sufficient combs to nearly reach the floor-board and stores for winter, and therefore I can refute the statement that it requires 20 lbs. of honey to make 1 lb. of wax. All the combs, minus the little brood there may be, are put in a large press, having three sieves of fine brass wire mesh, and subjected to great pressure. The remaining blocks of refuse are boiled in water, and the wax extracted. I ma}- here say the honey thus extracted is perfectly clear, and contains only a very small percentage of pollen. For this plan the advantages are, very little trouble in management, all the honey is taken, new and clean combs are formed, no foul brood, and 20 lbs. of sugar only costs 3s. -id., sufficient to winter one stock, whilst every 10 lbs. of honey is worth 10s. here. You now see the reason of this plan. The wax also obtained realises 2s. Qd. a pound. The only disadvantage is in the spring, on account of the extra amount of work. Many old bees are worn out, and there being no pollen stored, stocks are weak (but they winter better in skeps than in wood), and for this plan they are not required strong until August. This system has been carried out in this district for the last twenty years. A good stock in a favourable season will yield from .'10 lbs. to 40 lbs. of honey, and on account of the honey-flow being so sudden and quick, the queen is soon crowded out, but when two or three lots of driven bees are added together and fed in September, a batch of new brood is hatched off before winter sets in. I am sorry I cannot give exact account of income and expenditure, as I have mislaid some memoranda I made during last autumn. — W. Robinson, Yorkshire. IRISH HONEY AT THE GLASGOW EXHIBITION. [147o.] I think that Irish bee-keepers owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. John D. McNally and his brother for the exertions they are making to open up new outlets for the sale and use of honey by their scheme to exhibit samples from all parts of the world at the forthcoming Glasgow Exhibition (1417) ; and I am sure no pains and trouble will be spared by them to make their part of the Exhibition as attractive and interesting as possible. I received a large order for honey from Mr. John D. McNally in December, and I have been much gratified bv bearing from him that he intends some of it to have a place amongst his Irish samples, lie is still anxious to obtain anything in the way of a novelty, aud any Irish bee-keeper who has anything of the sort likely to increase the interest iu and attract notice to the Irish part of the honey show, will greatly further the good cause, aud aid the efforts of the Messrs. McNally, by sending such to them. There is no doubt that something is needed to extend the demand for honey if it is to be of benefit to bee-keepers ; it is most disheartening to work hard all through the honey season, and after a grand honey harvest to find it next to impossible to dispose of the produce. I have quantities of first-class sections still on my hands, and the demand seems absolutely nil, so far as Ireland is concerned. — E. E. Rutheefoord, Carlingfard, Co. Louth. AMATEFR EXPERT AND THE THIRD-CLASS EXAMINERS. [1476.] Let me thank 'Amateur Expert' for acknow- ledging the authorship of the remarks made with regard to our Third Class Examiners in the Canadian Bee Journal. I know him well, and feel that I can appeal to him with confidence to set things straight if he has done us any wrong in this matter. My objection is not made to a nom-de-plume, but to it being the cover of a grave charge. As to the charge I would bring forward the following figures. During the years 1884, 5, 0, and 7, February 9, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 77 127 candidates presented themselves for examination. There were in all 18 examiners, and of these Messrs. Walker, Sclater, Hooker, C. N. Abbott, Bellairs, Raynor, Seager, Blow, W. 15. Carr, and Martin, examined 99 out of 127. The remaining eight examiners are all men whom I believe to be competent and quite capable of finding the queen in reasonable time, but without dis- cussing their merits, we have here the fact that nearly four-fifths of the whole number were examined by men of whom no one would venture to hint that they were incompetent. Has not the Examining Board reason to complain if, in a description, not of one particular examination, but of third-class examinations in general, it is alleged that to capture the queen is ' a feat that the examiner •probably could not accomplish in ten hours?1 With regard to my 'slowness' I may say that I do not take in the Canadian Bee Journal, but the paragraph in question was shown to me on Wednesday, January 18th, and my letter appeared in the British Bee Journal, pub- lished the following Wednesday, January 25th.— Hkniiv Bligh. PREVENTION OF INCREASE. Number Two. [1477] In preventing increase it is not necessary to prevent swarming ; in fact, in working for comb honey I prefer to have the bees swarm, as I think they work better after the swarming impulse is satisfied. When the time comes for putting on the sections look the hive over carefully, cut out all the queen-cells, put on the supers and let them alone. If they go to work they will soon need more room. As soon as the first sections are finished take them off and replace with empty ones. With young queens this method will often prevent swarming, but when you put on the supers, if they have made preparation for swarming, let them swarm. Do not cut out cells and fuss with them, fur they will not work while they are thinking about swarming. Have your new hive ready, and as far as convenient from the old stand. As soon as the swarm issues open the parent and remove all the combs but one to the new stand, bees and all, but be sure that you have removed every queen-cell. Put in one frame of foundation to till the hive ; take the super from the old hive and put it on the new one. By this time the swarm will be settled in your hiving-box. Now carry them to the new hive and run them in, as you now have all the bees and brood of the old swarm, except the one comb left at the old stand and the bens that are out in the fields; the latter will work with all the energy of a new swarm. Be sure and put on the super before hiving the swarm, and the bees will go into it with a rush and stay there. 1 never use an}' honey-board and am not troubled witli the queen in the sections. I use the Laugstroth frame. If I used small frames, and ten or twelve in a hive, I would leave two frames in the old hive instead of one. If thev should swarm again in the course of two or three weeks treat them as before ; if they persist in swarming supersede the queen. As to the frame of brood left in the old hive, leave it alone till you have bees enough to fill a hive; then unite the colony at sundown, remove the empty hives, p it on the super, and the bees will go to work promptly. With this plan you will have only one new swarm out from eight or ten old ones, and still have them in the best condition for storing surplus. I think they will work with greater energy than when they are put back on the old stand. — John II. Rcpkbt, Wood- rock, Pa. (American Apiculturist.) round each of the ten or eleven combs the hive contain before reaching the back.' This would lead one to imagine they were cramped for head room, or had a difficulty in passing under the frames ; but it is not so, as all the hives I have seen on this system have ample space below for the bees to travel in any direction they like. And as regards ventilation, in my opinion it is better than the right-angle system. But I don't think there is really enjugh difference between tin- two systems to make any one change from one to the other. There is a good deal in what one starts with or takes a fancy to. — Geo. Whalley, Mm. PARALLEL V. RIGHT-ANGLED FRAMES. [1478.] ' W. R.' states on p. 52 in your issue of the 2Gth January (1450), ' Under the other system {i.e., parallel) every passenger has to burrow under or scramble BEES-IBISH AND MOORISH. [1470.] I have just returned home to my bees after four months' absence in Morocco, and found all the hives looking well and the bees very lively, the weather being extremely mild for the time of year. < In January 2.'! there were half-a-dozen good-sized clumps of yellow crocus in bloom, and the bees rolling ah >ut in them in great delight. These crocuses are not the ordinary kind, and blossom a little earlier ; they- have smaller blooms, and the petals curve back, giving the flower a star-like look. The ordinary crocuses were also beginning to bloom, and besides there were Pyrus japonica, wall- flowers, snowdrops in quantities, a few st cks, and anemones also in dower. 1 hope only we shall not have to pay for it all by-and-by with snow in March, Sec. There is a great deal of furze in blossom, and to-davout walking I saw half-a-dozen bushes quite yellow with blossom. All this means that the bees are out a great deal, and I have got my usual ' starvation ' panic on ; so to ease my fears I removed the hive-covers the other day when it was quite hot at noon, and gave some more candy to the hives that had consumed their autumn allowance of it. (Inly one luve.seeme 1 at all damp, and to that I will give a dry quilt on the first good oppor- tunity. I had not much time to inquire about the bees in Tangier and its neighbourhood, but 1 should think at certain times of the year the yield ought to be large. I left about the middle of December, wheu the orange- trees were coming into blossom, and from what 1 heard I should expect a good yield of honey from that time till well on into summer, when the drought would probably check the honey-flow. I saw some bees in frame-hives, but 1 think they had 'established a funic,' and their owners showed a marked indisposition to interfere with them. I heard of one proprietor whose attempt to take some of his honey ended in his pre- cipitating himself into his garden pond. And this in spite of veil, gloves, and smoker. It was plain to me that the bees were very aggressive, and as I had no pro- tecting armour, I left them religiously alone after my first experience. I approached the alighting-board of one frame-hive cautiously, keeping well to the side, but when I was about four or five feet off a couple made for my face and neck, — and I fled ! I was unable to get a sample of the honey, but in- tended to bring you a few of the bees, which I proposed to entrap cunningly, but as my journey homewards was to be a long roundabout business I gave up the idea. I shall hope, however, to visit Tangier again next autumn, and will, if I have the opportunity, make good the omission. Anyhow, the bees are regular ' demons,' and I hope no one will improve (?) our home race by crossing them with Moorish. They are very dark- coloured bees, and I could see no bars on them. The Moorish bee-hive is a hollow tube of cork-bark. It is well to know this, lest one should sit upon or kick the (apparent) log of wood, which is just put on the ground at any convenient place. On the high ground between Tangier and Cape Spartel I saw bees working busily on the beautiful tall 78 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 9, 1888. heath which was in bloom in November and December ; but I also saw them working in indescribable numbers and with feverish energy on the vile, sticky compounds that the Moors devour as sweetmeats, and that are sold in quantities in the market-places and streets of the Moorish towns. As these sweets (?) are made with the most rancid butter that can be procured (no other suiting the Moorish palate) I confess I think some of the honey must be of curious flavour. The trays of sweetmeats were literally covered with bees, and the vendors did not attempt to drive them off. Probably it was safer to leave them alone, the Moorish costume leaving so much of the person exposed to insect attack. One queer thing I noticed as to their pollen-gathering, the like of which I never saw at home. After breakfast, the day after my arrival at Tangier, I saw a lot of bees hovering round the Venetian shutters outside the windows. These were painted a most vivid green, and the bees, I soon saw, were working awa)' at the paint and storing it on their legs as pollen. It was certainly extraordinary to seethe big pellets of brightest emerald green. They seemed to get it most easily on the edges of the shutters and wherever the paint was at all lumpy, and at all these places the marks of ' nibbling' were very apparent. Of course I was not believed when I made my report, and I was met with the popular fallacy that ' bees hate paint ; ' but ' seeing is believing,' and there was soon an end of scepticism on the subject. The emerald-green was very patent on the bees' legs, and every day they were to be seen at work. But what, in the name of wonder, they were going to do with that arsenical-looking powder in the pollen-cells, I am sure I do not know. I have been dutifully reading up the four months' back numbers of the Journal that accumulated in my absence. That box wasp-trap is, I am sure, a good thing. Cushions with centre openings I have used for three years, and find them most convenient. P'rom the condition of the small amount of comb-honey I left in stock in the house last autumn, I am convinced that light should be carefully excluded if sections are to be kept without ' weeping.' Some half-a-dozen 1 left in a very close-fitting box with one side glass have oozed very much, and are quite unsaleable, but a couple of dozen that were in a less air-tight wooden box are in perfect condition. The same idea struck me last winter when I wrote to you about finding a hive, in which the bees had died out from queenlessness, with all the bars full of honey, and none of it granulated, though the weather was extremely cold and frosty, and some of the honey was from heather. The bars were all sealed of course, but the hive was very cold. So far, bees have wintered well here, but the open weather will necessitate care in spring. Excuse this long yarn, but I have been so long absent 1 felt I must have ' my say ' to you. — F. W. O., The Mall House, Lismore, Ireland. COUXT\ BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATIONS. [1480.] There are two important considerations affect- ing the work of Associations which the length of my last communication prevented me from speaking of. The first is the fact, patent to all engaged in active management, that the wants of members are in a pro- gressive and transient state, and therefore the programme for one year will require modification for the next season, and in two or three years time may be quite out of date and unsatisfactory. The second is, that the amount of work which can be undertaken is sharply defined by the income by subscriptions, and that a serious proportion of income is unavoidably swallowed up by inevitable expenses (printing, postage, affiliation fee, &.O.) which outsiders never reckon upon when esti- mating how many benefits can be given to a member in return for his subscription. The difficulties of management are increased by undue expectations raised by such reasoning as that of the compiler of ' Useful Hints ' in your issue of February 2, who remarks ' that eighteenpence per annum should supply the monthly Journal, inclusive of the halfpenny wrapper, to every cottage subscriber of 2s. 6d. to his county Association, leaving Is. to the county funds.' This assumes that there is no other Association work to be considered, and, le.-s clearly, that subscribers of 2s. 6d. are to be granted a boon denied to 5s. members. The fact is, that the average amount received from, and therefore the average amount which can be ex- pended on, each member, including the 2s. 6d. cottages, is about os. 9rf., and that the following expenses per member are inevitable in an Association which already undertakes the usual honey show and expert's visit : — Printing, Is. 6d. per member; stamps, affiliation fee, and sundries, Is. ; prizes at show, Is. 3d. ; spring tour, Is. 6d. — total, 5s. 3d. It will be seen that it is difficult to add the free gift of even a monthly Journal to work already undertaken, but that the circulation of such a journal may be practicable, say, one copy to four members. My figures are based on our own balance- sheet; they may of course be different under different circumstances, such as a large increase of members. Organization of Associations. — I will pass over the ornamental officers, as president and vice-presidents, without whose guineas it would be difficult to work. It may have been noticed that I have assumed that the average member joins the Association from selfish motives for the advantage he may gain thereby, and accordingly I have discussed the work of the Association from this standpoint. In speaking, however, of those who assist in the management, I can safely assume that the average worker is willing to help from love of the cause and willingness to assist others ; being but human, however, he on the one hand loses interest if he is not assigned some share of actual work and responsibility — attending committees to approve of others' work is not sufficient — and on the other hand, if the main burden and responsibility of the Association gradually falls upon him, and he has practi- cally to manage a business for the benefit of others, a time comes when he feels he can do so no longer, and retires. The Central System. — By this name I refer to the older organization of most Associations, by which no work was done except by the Central Committee ; and as all work depends on personal energy, and no com- mittee-man, however energetic, had power of action except when the committee were called together by the secretary, it naturally came to pass that everything depended on the secretary, and the Association became a business managed practically by him alone. It is on account of this weak point that a change becomes ne- cessary, and that in the direction of power of inde- pendent action by workers in different parts of the county. District, System. — Under this plan the county is divided into districts, which should be defined by exisl ing divisions — in our county the petty sessional divisions were found the most suitable. Each district is given into charge of a local seei-etary, who shall take charge of the work of the Association in his district and receive subscriptions. He should call a meeting of members in his district once a-year, and in our case we have en- trusted the election of the local secretary for the ensuing year to this meeting. This meeting might l»e combined with a short lecture or discussion on practical points of bee-keeping1. It is doubtful whether local secretaries or other unpaid officials should undertake much expert work, for it too frequently happens that members who receive such help begin to ask for it as something due to them in return for their subscription. For this reason I have doubts about the advisability of appointing local advisers in districts, but I cannot speak from experience. February 9, 1888.] THE BRITISH SEE JOURNAL. 79 Hon. Secretary. — This post will be more easy to fill under the divided responsibility of the District System, but the success of the Association will still depend upon the energy of the hon. secretary, who will in some districts have to fill the place of non-existent or useless local secretaries. Treasurer.— On the one hand, it is well to have an in- dependent treasurer, as it presses one more into active interest in the work ; but, on the other hand, it creates extra work and expense in postage and remittance, if the treasurer should live at a distance from the ton. secretary ; and I am inclined to think that if the hon. secretary would also act as treasurer, it is not much in- crease to his work, and enables him to keep an accurate list of members, to apply for subscriptions at the time of sending out other notices, and thus to get in money much more quickly. Committee. — The local secretaries, with other officers, will constitute this body ; but as they live widely apart, I think it is well to add the names of a few suitable members living in or near the town where committee meetings are usually held. The rules of an Association should be as simple as possible, and not designed to cover every possible con- tingency. It is amusing to notice the space wasted in many annual reports on the ' Objects of the Association,' usually theoretical and not practical. — Alfrkd Wat- kins, Herefordshire B. K. A. COUNTY BEE-KEEPING ASSOCIATIONS. [1481.] Letter 1451 in your issue of the 26th January, 1888, asks some questions of me, or I would not further trouble you on the above subject. In what way does Mr. Garratt want the Committee of the B.13. K. A. to move ? Surely he might have given bis views to his county representative that they might have been discussed at the meeting of county representa- tives. If the counties work together they will be an assistance to the British, and at the same time the counties, as a body, can point out many ways in which the British can assist them, but if each county goes with a separate proposal the Committee of the B.B.K. A. can- not give the time to consider them. Why should not duly qualified county representatives, or County Honorary Secretaries, be ex-offiao members of the B.B.K. A. Committee? I have written on, and named, the subject for twelve months and never heard any one speak but in approval of the suggestion. Why, then, at the coming annual meeting cannot a rule to meet the subject be proposed ? I cannot attend the meeting, or I would have given notice of my proposition. Will Mr. Garratt pay me a visit? I will then prove to him that no paid Secretary with ample funds at his back could cover Lancashire and Cheshire for bee-work. In the six years the Association has been in existence, in place of paid, our Association has had unpaid Secre- taries, who have also had to consider the funds at their disposal. My Committee have been advised by post-cards of the date, &c, of the next meetings a week before they were to be held, and the post-cards have stated the nature of the business requiring their attendance, and at all these meetings the accounts have been produced for signature by the Chairman, and the position of the Association to date been made known to the Committee. This is the simple way in which the Committee, to whom I am greatly indebted, have assisted me with their atten- dances. After six more years with unpaid Secretaries, I am sure there will be new districts for an energetic Secretary to look up in Lancashire and Cheshire. Fortunately there is nothing uncertain or indefinite in our aims, and stimulus we must find in new districts, Mr. Garratt's long experience differs from my very short one about the selection of officers in an Association; and if all would resign when they do not fill the require- ments of the position they would confer a great benefit on bee-keepers in general, who prefer to let things drag on rather than hurt the feelings of some one who will neither act himself nor let any one else ; but on this question of officers of an Association I could write more, but I have already trespassed too much on your space. — War. Lees McClube, The Lathams. Prescot, January •17 th. SECTIONS WITHOUT SEPARATORS. [1482.] It might not be inappropriate, now that the time of preparation for the coming bee-season is ap- proaching, to review the question of the disuse of separators as noticed in the B.B.J, and elsewhere during the past year. We find many have tried working without them, and results varied. The \h in. wide thus worked has been a failure (see letters in B. B. J., Nos. 1371, 1372, and LJ80). The If in. not so. We may, in fact, consider them to have been a great success. Our first notice of this section is at the Hunts Agricultural Show (B.B.J., August 11th, page 346). Mr. J. H. Howard, junr., here took a first prize and B.B.K. A. silver medal with his dividerless If in., and Mr. J. H. Howard, of Holme Apiary, with the same takes first place at the Cambridge and Isle of Ely Agricultural (same page B.B.J.) and, I understand, the first prize in the Cottagers' class was also awarded to the If in. sections. Concerning these, Mr. Howard writes, ' Nothing can beat dividerless If in. sections.' Let us now turn to B.B.J., page 4G.5, letter 1321, and we find that in Co. Leitrim, Ireland, the largest recorded take of comb honey but one was taken by the open-sided lj in. dividerless, viz., 100 sections. This one larger, 104, by 'An Old Bee-master,' letter 1364, was taken from a hire worked on the 'Simmins' principle,' and as Mr. Simmins works this section without separators these may have also been the same. We next hear from the Isle of Man. Mr. Fryer writes (letter 1365), ' That his open-sided If in. worked without separators placed alongside his 2 in. looked better and weighed more, but that they were more easily injured in handling.' This applies to all open-sided sections, and will disappear when we become more accustomed to them; the close-sided If in. are safer in this respect; but in both we have a wide margin for unlucky knocks, extracting, and home consumption in the greater quantity of honey taken by them than by the 2 in. We now come to America. We have it on the bes t authority that this section is increasing in favour in Canada, our friends there considering they take most comb honey by its use ; but these sections were not quite level last year, nor were they at the Colonial the year previous. This can be explained by an indifferent and a bad honey year. It requires a strong honey-flow, such as we had for a short while this year here, to give quite level sections without separators. The same good authority says that in the States separators are in general use. Perhaps, the cheapness of extracted com- pared with comb honey, especially in the State of New York, has something to say to tins ; it won't pay to have to extract any section, and Brother Jonathan is willing to sacrifice quantity to get evenness of finish at all times. But we find Mr. Hutchinson at the Chicago Convention stating that he secures quite sufficiently even sections without separators (see B. B. J. about January 15th), and Mr. Heddon writes in the January Gleanings, ' That the best section for all purposes, whether with or without separators, is the lf-in. wide;' and in answer to a query from the Editor of Gleanings in the January number as to ' Which is the best width of section to use when separators are dispensed with ? ' only two of the leading bee-keepers, in reply, actually oppose working 80 THE BRITISH BEE JOUR&AL. [February 0, 1888. without thern ; a third says unless you know you will succeed, it is better to use separators, while the remain- ing twelve, with one exception, give the If in., or seven to the foot, as being the best width to use. This one exception, Mr. C. C. Miller, says, 'Perhaps 1A in.' Our review, so far, places the dividerless 1 J-in. section in the first rank as to both appearance and quantity, and shows it is increasing in the attention and favour of bee-keepers. The writer has nothing new to say of it from his own experience. His hives these last two years have been in a very exposed place, and he has enough to do to keep his bees alive and eke out a little extracted, without troubling for sections. Such a situation is the worst possible for bees, but even there they can be made pay their way, time and trouble not considered. However, lie has sold some hundreds of sections for cottagers and farmers worked without separators ; of these the 1| inch wide were the best, the 2-iuch good, when the hives had been kept level, rather overweight, but when not level, proportionately crooked. But a venerable clerical friend writes, ' I don't think bees like separators. This year (18s~) I had 700 two and three-pound sections (till lately our rev. friend made his own sections) worked without separators, and among the lot there were not twenty but were as level as a moulded brick.' Besides this our friend had -5 cwt. extracted, and how much more I know not. How is that our clergy make such good bee-keepers ? Must it not be from a closer acquaintance with the Book to which so many references have lately appeared in the B.B.J., and if the brother bee-keeper among us who has not been as successful as he wished, but desires to become more so, will only look up those references he will derive very valuable information from them. Statements there made, .'!000 years back, concerning honey and food connected with it, and the reasons for such, proved true by science only, now science and modern discoveries but confirm Scripture. Learning on bee matters is good, but it is the self-reliance and the habit of looking up to a Higher Power for aid that makes the successful bee-man. We find necessary a strong honey flow for best results with sections without separators; but, perhaps, Mr. Simmins' method of crowding the bees into sections, as practised by 'An Aged Bee-master' with such good results, and as evidenced in his new anti-swarming hive, might give the same good results other years that there might not be such a vigorous honey flow while it lasted as this. Our ' Aged Bee-master' has been ahead of the best of us in large returns of produce for these last seven years, has completely eclipsed our American brethren in general average, and his testimony should be valuable. — W. B., PatricksweU, Limerick. FLOOR-BOAKDS. [lis:!.] The sketch figured on page 06 is a repro- duction of the drawing of my floor-board, published in the English Mechanic, October 14th last year. If ' W. Corkhill' is not satisfied with my arguments in that journal, I shall be pleased to show him (and for that matter any bee-keeper interested) the boards as they have been in use since first invented. (The Editor has my address.) The sketch I published shows the alighting- board extending to front edge, and this is as it should be. The board in ' W. C.'s' sketch is too far back. I have stocks over these boards that have gone through the late frosts without loss of a bee, in hives 24 inches long inside. They have no dummies, and the air-space in front of the frames is about 12 inches deep. The clusters are at the back of the hive. I am also wintering stocks over the flight-holes without any loss in bees; these clusters are closed in with light dummies at the back. I consider dummies an abomination, and hope to do without them altogether, as I understand Mr. Simmins is doing. I make my hives three inches thick all round, packing the spaces with shavings. This leaves spaces be3'ond the frame-ends, which are fitted with strips same height as the frame-tops ; the quilt then extending about, an inch beyond the frames makes an air-tight top. — Silkb. [We have compared Mr. Corkhill's sketch, and descrip- tion thereof, with those in the English Mechanic, p. 100, and find the sketch almost identical, and the description nearly verbatim. The similaritv is remarkably striking. -Ed.] NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot aliways be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt oj their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended bo, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. J. B, Carrick-on-Suir. — 1. Building brace combs. — Bees frequently build brace combs when the space exceeds \ of an inch. We should place a slatted honey board between the two hives to reduce the space. This can be made of bars J inch wide and \ inch thick, framed so that they will correspond with the tops of the frames. The hive above is placed with the frames across. 2. — Queen ascending to third store//. — If you have any objection to the queen going up into the third storey, place a piece of American cloth on the tops of the frames 1 inch smaller all round than the inside of the hive, so that the queen would not be able to pass up the centre, but the workers could enter the upper storey round the sides. We have found this to answer in most cases. •'!. — New edition of Guide- Book. — We thank you for your kind remarks. The new edition which has been in a great measure re- written to bring it up to the times, is in the printer's hands, and we hope it will be ready very shortly. l!oniN,|W. Woodlby, Sussex Cottahe Bee-keeper. — It has been our earnest desire to bring the Bee Journal within the reach of cottagers by reducing the price to one penny, but after carefully considering the matter we have found it impossible to do so if we keep it the same size as at present and keep up its present standard. We hope the monthly Journal will meet the require- ments for the present, and we shall always be ready to give replies by post to any of its regular subscribers, between the dates of publication on any matters requiring immediate advice, upon receipt of stamped- directed envelope. O. Whalley. — Our thanks are due to you for your kind note of approbation of our conduct in the matter referred to. John Bainbbidge. — Third-class Examinations. — Place yourself in communication with the Secretary of your County Association ; who will give all necessary inform a- tion as to time and place where examinations are to be held. There is nothing formidable in the require- ments of a third-class examination. You are not required to write or speak on bee-keeping, only to prove to the examiner that you have a fair knowledge of the management of bees. M. II. — Doubling. — A frame of hatching brood in the centre of the upper hive, with frames of foundation around it, will induce the bees to commence work above, and if the colony is strong and the honey flow abundant a second storey will soon be required. Your failure probably arose from failure in the two points mentioned. February rJ, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 81 E. Seymour. — Bees in Peach-house. — Bees never succeed when kept in conservatories. In the case you pro- pound you would find great loss of bee-life from the inability of the bees to escape from the house. If you decide to move the bees, do it at once, but place your hive outside the house. The observatory hive tuisrht answer your purpose if well covered with woollen quilting. Novice. — We shall be pleased to hear further from you on the subject of your letter. W.J. — 1. Hice to Prevent Swarming. — We do not like the sketch you enclose. You would certainly require an eke, even if you work for sections only. 2. Large •Sections for Extracting. — We should certainly hesitate considerably before attempting to extract such large sections. Are you aware that the size you propose would, if the bees accede to your wishes as to filling them, contain about 4i lbs. of honey ? If you really wish for such large sections of heather honey, why not get the combs ready built out before going to the moors ? We do not admire your taste as regards the fretwork flower over entrance. W. L. Bird. — Carniolan Drones. — The bees sent are Carniolan. It is impossible to say from your query what is the exact state of your stock. Most likely it is queenless. Some fine day, when the shade tem- perature is 50", or over, examine the hive quickly but gently, and notice if there is any brood, and, if so, whether the cappings project considerably beyond tire surrounding comb ; if so, it is drone brood, and your queen is worthless, or you may have a fertile worker. Let us know the result of your examination, and we may possibly help you if you give full particulars. C. Wade. — We have requested an expert to pay you a visit. W. M. — A reply will be given in our next issue. Novice. — JS"ew Mode of Hanging Frames. — Your description being unaccompanied by a sketch does not enable us to judge of the merits of your method. If you send sketch, we will be happy to give an opinion. T. IIewgill. — Moor Hone;/ Granulating. — Heather honey is naturally much denser than, say, eloTer or lime honey. Last season's honey had a tendency to candy much more quickly than in ordinary seasons, owing to the prolonged drought. Did you keep your honey in a room at about 65° to 70 P Cheshire. — Economy in Foundation without Swarming. — Under the circumstances, we would recommend you to try Simmins' non-swarming plan by putting a bodj-- box containing frames witli half-an-inch of foundation only in as starters, under the brood-nest. \ ou would still tier up as you suggest, giving full sheets above. Ask any further information you may require. «T. H.V reply to 'A. C p. 08.— 'I do not fasten the pieces of wood for keeping the frames the proper distance apart at the bottom, but quite loose.' business directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour* Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Boad, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour it Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey A- Sons, St. Neots. Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Boad, London, S.E. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. d; 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B. , Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DDRRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire. JOHNSTON, A. B., Brickhall, Ballywoolen, Kiily- leagh, Co. Down. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON, C. T„ Crawley, Sussex. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J„ Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHINSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. Advertisements to The British bee journal. [Feb. 9, 1886. jgpecial prepaid jgLdvertisements. Exchange Column. — Sales of Honey and Second-hand Goods. — Intended to aid Bee-keepers in the disposal of Bee- produce and Appliances for which they have no further use. Terms: Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad- ditional Three words, One Penny extra. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, die. — Twenty words and under, One Shilling ; for every additional Three words, One Penny. No reduction made for continuous insertion. Now Ready. SIMMINS' NEW BOOK.— 'A MODERN BEE-FARM, AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.' Popular Edition, limp cloth cover, 3s. 9d. Special Edition, stiff covers, 7s. 6d., post free. The Special Edition includes Photos of the Author's Domestic Hive ; his Home Apiary, and another covered Apiary ; also one of Queen and Workers on a Comb. Of the Author, Rottingdean, Brighton ; Neighbour ifc Sons, 149 Regent Street, London ; and J. Huckle, Einga Langley, Herts. BEE-KEEPING, Plain and Practical : How to Make it Pay. By A. Rcsbridoe, Is. 6<£, post free, Is. 8d. Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts, a 1253 THE MANAGEMENT OF STRAW SKEPS. De- signed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best results at the least possible cost. By attention to its teach- ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny. Six copies and upwards, post free. J. Huckle, KingsLangley. WANTED. — Copies of British Bee Journal for January 7th, 1886, and Nov. 1873. Full price given. Apply J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. OFFERS Wanted for 6 dozen 1-lb. Sections of Clover Honey. Address J. CbagoS, Gilling, Richmond, Yorks. b 90 ADVERTISEMENTS for Derbyshire Bee-keepers' Asso- ciation Report (10U0) received at W. T. Atkins, 6 North Street, Derby. 10s. per page. HONEY, Extracted, very fine flavour, in 9-lb. tins, about 2 cwt. What offers ? Address Addington, Chawson, St. Neots, Hunts. B 94 PRIZE HONEY for Sale. 28-lb. Tins, 15s. each. Screw-cap Jars, 9s. per dozen. Address J. R. Truss, Bainton Heath, Stamford. b 98 OR SALE.—Vol. I. to X. British Bee Journal, bound in Publisher's covers, with Advertisements and extra blank pages. First-rate condition. Vol. II. minus Index, otherwise complete. Price £4 17s. Hd. Cheap. Rare op- portunity. Address T. Lowth, Brant Broughton, Newark. b 97 LANTERN SLIDES on Bee-keeping, all photo- graphed from Nature, sent on trial before purchasing. Send Two Stamps for loan of Album of Subjects. Address Alfred Watkins, Hereford. A 3431 A MODERN BEE FARM AND ITS ECO- NOMIC MANAGEMENT. Limp Cloth Edition, 3s. 9f/., post free. Special Edition, handsomely bound in cloth gilt, including four interesting Photos, 7s. 6d., post free of the Author, S. SIMMINS, Rottingdean, Brighton. OHO Publications of the British Bee-keepers' Association, BEE HOUSES AND HIVES. By Rev. George Ratnor. Second Edition (enlarged), Price 6d. rpHE CHEMISTRY OF THE HIVE. By Mr. Ottc J_ Hehner, F.I.C., F.C.S. Price 3d. ADULTERATION OF HONEY. By Otto Hehner, Esq., F.C.S., F.I.C. Price 6rf. J. HUCKLE, KINGS LANGLEY. F HAND-KNITTED SOCKS.— Six Pairs Warm Heather Socks sent Post free on receipt of 10s. KM. by Miss Fitz Gerald, Valencia Island Knitting Industry, Ireland. Sample pair, 2s. a 3463 GUIDE-BOOK PAMPHX.ETS.-No. 1. DOUBLING AND STORIFYING FOR Extracted and Comb Honey, and the Prevention of Swarming. By T. W. COWAN, F.G.S., F.R.M.S. Post Free, Threepence Halfpenny. J. HTJCKLE, ICIHSTGS I. -A- UST G-X.E'X". GUIDE-BOOK PAMPHZ.ETS.-iro. II. HOW TO MAKE AN EXTRACTOR, AND A BELLOWS SMOKER. By T. W. COWAN, F.G.S., F.R.M.S. Post Free, Sixpence Halfpenny. HUCKLE, KINGS I. -A. 3ST G- L E Y. The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World. THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL Established in 1861. Price 6s. 6d. per annum, post free. T. G. Newman, 925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A. London Agents: Messrs. GEO. NEIGHBOUR & SONS, 149 Regent Street, W. The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the renowned C. F. H. Gravenhorst, Brunswick. DEUTSCHE ILLUSTRIERTE BIENENZEITDNG. Sample copies sent on request. Also, ' DEB PRAKTISCHE IMKER.' Compendium of Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst. Fourth en- larged and improved edition, with fifty-two new original Pictures, and a frontispiece. Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched ; well bound, 5 marks. 0. A. Schwetschke dt Son (M. Bruhn), Brunswick. AMERICAN SECTIONS BY THE MILLION The cut, taken from a photograph, represents our bee-hive factory where wo annually turn out about 20,000 hives and 3,000,000 sections, besides enormous quantities of bee-supplies of every description. Dealers before ordering" elsewhere should correspond directly with us. We are prepared to quote better prices on sections in quantities than we have ever quoted before. We are also publishers of Oleanings in Bee Culture, with a circulation of 7674 subscribers. A sample copy Of our j ournal and our 40-page price list sent on application to A. Z. BOOT, ffiSCoclinn, Ohio, XT. S. A. J =^ 4.tAA.@ THE IffFlSH Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' STRANaEWAYs' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 295. Vol. XVI.] FEBRUARY 16, 1888. [Published Weekly.] <2Ebii0riaI, Itotias, tit. COTTAGER'S MONTHLY JOURNAL. We should feel obliged to County, Provincial, and Local Secretaries, if they would kindly furnish our publisher, Mr. J.Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts, with the names and addresses of all cottagers and artisans who take an interest in bee-keeping, so that he may have the opportunity of forwarding each a copy of the new Journal. COMB-FOUNDATION MANUFACTURE ON A LARGE SCALE. During our travels in America, when we went to see Messrs. Dadant & Son, we were very much interested in their manufacture of comb-foundation, and we asked them to give us fuller particulars than those we could take away in our notes during our brief viait there. What we saw there, and the hospitable manner in which we were received, must be reserved for future record, but as they have been kind enough to accede to our request we are quite sure that our readers will be in- terested in a description of the largest comb-foundation manufactory in the world. We noticed the particular care and precautions taken in the manufacture, and the resulting uniformly good quality of the foundation. This care in the manufacture has met with its reward, seeing that they are at the present time the largest makers of foundation in America, and we believe Mr. Ituot, of Medina, comes next. We hope the description will prove not only interesting, but also instructive. — Ed. The building into which tho wax in bulk is brought, and where it is also melted, is furnished, on its highest or northern side, with a strong platform, against wdiich the carriers push their carts, thereby facilitating the un- loading. As the height of the platform corresponds with that of the cart, the casks, cases, or sacks containing the wax in bulk can easily be shifted on to the platform. This platform extends to the interior of the structure, with which it is connected by means of sliding double doors running on rails. Inside, the platform acts also as the base of a large weighing machine, the flat plate of which is even with the floor. As soon as a package is weighed its contents are sorted, the best coloured wax being put aside to be afterwards used for the manufacture of comb-foundation for sections. The store-rooms consist of two compartments of un- equal size, and are capable of holding from 10,000 to 12,000 lbs. of wax. Between these store-rooms and the melting departments, there is a roomy corridor, allowing for the storing of many thousand pounds of purified wax in 40-lb. cakes. The copper or boiler used for melting and purifying the wax is in the shape of an oblong, made out of thin sheet copper, and capable of bidding S00 lbs. of wax. This copper is moveable, and is simply made to rest upon the brick stove or furnace. Not being a fixture it is easily cleaned. In front this boiler is furnished with two taps, one of which is placed level with the bottom, and the other about four inches above it. Before the fire is lighted the attendant puts some water in the boiler, say, four inches deep ; then the w.tx is added. As soon as the required heat is reached, the wax is carefully skimmed, and then drawn from the upper tap into tin moulds, into which about a couple of inches of hot water had already been put, drawn from the lower tap of the copper. These moulds are round, rather wider at the top than at their base, are furnished with two handles, and will hold about 40 lbs. of wax. As soon as one of these moulds is filled it is taken to a kind of double-walled cupboard. There are several of these cupboards all round the melting department, each of which can hold as many as nine of such moulds placed one upon the top of the other, and arranged in three tiers of three each. As soon as one of these cup- boards is full it is locked up, so that the wax may remain in a liquefied state at least twenty-four hours, and deposit in the water any impurity it ma)' contain. The melting operation is gone through three times a-day, making up from 2200 to 2400 lbs. of wax. 'When the wax is cold the moulds are carried to the back of the building, where they are turned over upon a tub, the bottom of which has been replaced by two small bars. In this position the water will run out ; the mould is then lifted up, leaving the coke resting upon the bavs. The attendant now scrapes off the cakes any impurities that may be found adhering and puts these into a tub where they are allowed to accumulate. Thus cleared, the cakes are piled up in the corridors or passages, pending their final removal either to the room where comb-foundation is made or to the purified wax- store. The latter is isolated from the other buildings and has been constructed of iron as an additional pic- caution against fire in the other buildings. As many as 1500 of these cakes can be stored in this building, repre- senting an aggregate of about 00,000 lbs. of wax. The present stock stored in it is estimated at -'i0,000 lbs. The impurities, including such particles as may be found in the washings, are drained and put out to dry in sixteen large flat boxes, four inches deep and well exposed to the rays of the sun. In summer, as soon as they are well dried, they are distributed among eight solar wax-extractors, three feet long by two wide. The wax dripping from them is taken to the coarse wax-store. What still remains about fths of the original bulk is once more melted down by steam 84 THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 1G, 1888. in water, containing a small quantity of sulphuric acid. It is then melted in a very large quantity of water in order to remove every trace of acid and to prevent the moulds from becoming oxidised. Between the building which serves as store-room and the one in which the comb-foundation is made there is a large pump, by means of which water is pumped into two large cisterns. Rain-water is better suited for all these operations than spring and well water, and large quan- tities of it are required. The room in which the wax is worked into sheets of foundation is supplied with a small steam boiler placed in one corner. From this boiler a pipe conveys the steam into a cask, where it heats the wax, to be afterwards worked into sheets of comb- foundation. In the centre of the room is a copper vessel, vase-shaped, twenty inches long by eight wide and fifteen high. The liquefied wax is put into this. At one end a small tub, two feet six inches wide, is placed, full of water, this is always kept cool; at the other end there is another of these square tubs, the latter contains tepid water, into which the plates with which the wax-sheets are made are dipped. Besides these there are two other narrow vessels, covered with tin, and a sponge is placed on the top of each. Two men are seated opposite each other, with the vessels containing the liquefied wax between them ; they wear waterproof aprons to protect them from the water and the wax, which drips off the plates during the operation of dipping. One of them takes hold of one of the boards, passes the sponge over it, and dips it three or four times into the liquefied wax up to where he holds it ; he then dips it into the cold-water tub, takes it by this cooled end and dips the other end three or four times more in the wax, finally he places it into the cold-water tub, whence it is taken up by the other man, who, after sponging it all over,repeats the dipping process and allows it to get cold. A third man, he who heats the wax and serves it out to the other two, then takes the sheets more or less cooled out of the tub, passes a knife along their edges, strips them off the plates, and distributes thera on eight or ten different piles, where they are allowed to get quite cool, thus preventing them from sticking to each other, which they would be sure to do if put up in one pile only. Twice a-day,that is, at noon and in the evening, these piles are weighed and taken down to the cellar, where they are allowed to get thoroughly cold and attain the necessary tenacity. Three men can dip as much as B!00 lbs. of wax for thick foundation per day ; four men, of whom two would be assistants, could do as much as 1500 lbs. for thiu foundation. The cellar is fitted with wooden cupboards to protect the sheets from dust, and in it as much as 10,000 lbs. of them can be stored. The room where the rolling is done is next to the dipping-room, and the same boiler warms the water which is used for softening the sheets before they are passed through the rollers. As many as fourteen sets of these rolling machines are to be seen in this room, although only four of them are worked simultaneously. The others are kept there in readiness in case any of those in use should require repairing, which is not a rare thing, considering the softness of the metal of which these rollers are made. There are four tables, their longest side being inclined slightly forward, on part of which stands a machine, fixed to a tin plate. These tables have an extension sloping inwards, covered with tin and soldered to the plates above mentioned, which catches the water falling from the sheets and keeps the workmen from getting wet. This water, as well as any dropping from the machine, runs into a vessel placed under the table. Two men attend to each machine. One of them stands by the handle, brushes the rollers with soap- suds, whilst the other sitting in front of the machine, takes a wax-sheet from the tepid water-tub standing on hi? right-hand side, and places it in front of the rollers to be drawn iu by them. The first man detaches the end with a comb, and pressing it against the upper cylinder, brings it within reach of the other, who takes hold of it with a pair of spring pliers with wooden jaws held in his left hand, whilst with his right hand he pre- pares another sheet. If the sheet comes out perfect it is piled up on the left-hand side of the table, but if it should show the slightest imperfection, it is thrown into a cask on the left-hand side of the workman, to be re- turned to the boiler and melted again. The sheets are afterwards cut to the proper sizes and then placed upon shelves. A ticket attached to each pile indicates their thickness. Four times a-day, whilst this work is going on, a few of the sheets are cut and weighed to ascertain if they give the number of feet per pound which each of the five sorts is expected to. These five sorts consist of the following, viz., for brood-combs, thick, 5 feet ; medium, C feet ; and thiu, S feet to the pound. For sections, thin, 10 feet; extra thin, 11 to 12 feet per pound. This checking of weights is necessary, because, when the sheets come from the machines their weight is not always uniform, but depends upon the heat of the rollers, which increases as the work proceeds. Many bee-keepers are of opinion that soap should not be used for lubricating the rollers. Its use no doubt would be detrimental if the sheets were not of a sufficient thickness before they were passed through the rollers, for, in that case, the wax would not reach the bottom of the engraved lines on the rollers, and the sheets would be wet with soapy water. But with sheets thick enough to be doubled in length after passing through the rollers, every particle of soapy water is driven out, and the rolled sheets come out of even thickness through their length and perfectly dry. The machines used are the Vanderwort. The rollers of those intended for thick foundation are from 12 to 18 in. long; those for section foundation are Gin. long only. To prevent the sheets from sticking to one another, tissue paper is placed between them. Those to be sent away are weighed and sent down to the packing-room by an inclined railway, where each lot is labelled with the customer's name, and on the back of the label the weight, quality, and size of foundation are given ; thus all mistakes are prevented. Comb-foundation-making requires a certain amount of experience and practice, which cannot possibly be attained without continuous practical work at the manufacture. When the men resume their work after the winter is over it often takes them several days before they c m get into the knack acquired the previous season. Comb-foundation-making requires, moreover, keen observation and sound judgment, in order to profit by every incident, however small, that may improve results, both as regards saving of time, improving the quality, and avoiding everything that may be detrimental. Even the most experienced men sometimes find them- selves confronted by difficulties, either in the wax- cleansing or the rolling process, which they are unable to solve satisfactorily, and these often lead to results which make it necessary for them to recommence the work afresh to try and do better. These facts bear out what Mr. James Ileddon wrote lately in Gleanings, Comb-foundation-making is a specialty of itself, and it is no more possible for a man to make a perfect article by working only a few weeks a-year at it, than it would be to become a good workman at any other trade during the same length of time. It is because we have made comb-foundation a specialty that we have succeeded in bringing up our sales for this year, notwithstanding the poor honey season, to nearly 58,000 lbs. (57,831 lbs.) These figures do not call for comments on our part. — Ch. Dadant & Son, Hamilton, November 12, 1887. February 1C, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 85 USEFUL HINTS. Weathkk. — Since our last the weather on the whole lias been fine, but not sufficiently warm to entice forth the bees to frequent flights, and this is all in their favour. We have never known a good season to follow an unusually warm and bright February. In such case, increase by breeding and rapid consumption of stores are carried on in advance of the season, and too often a cold March and April follow, when spring dwindling, v\ith other and even greater evils, speedily ensues. It h a pleasant thought, however, that days are gradually lengthening, that Nature is beginning to awake from her winter sleep, and one that should arouse the bee-keeper to make all possible preparation for the coming time of action. Although our colonies remain quietly at rest, to all outward appearance, yet within they are awaking to a life of activity. Cells are cleared out, and literally polished, for the reception of eggs; the brood-nest is day by day laterally and longitudinally extended; all cttbris is extruded from the hive ; honey and pollen are conveyed from the outside combs to the immediate vicinity of the brood-nest ; the young bees, on emerging from the cells, are carefully tended, brushed down, fed, and, on sunny days, enticed forth for their first flights by the older bees. In strong colonies, under these circumstances, stores rapidly disappear, and it behoves the careful, provident bee-keeper to see that none perish from starvation. For a month to come we allow no disturbances in our apiary by manipulation for inter- viewing queens, &c, but simply, by raising quilts, first on one side and then on the other, ascertain whether all is right within. If the scaled food has disappeared from the upper part of the combs, cakes of Good's food, mixed with a little pea-meal, are laid upon the frames and the quilts replaced, generally with an additional felt or woollen one, and the hives are closed for the next three or four weeks. Since no fear of attacks from robbers need at present lie entertained, our entrances are left at full width. When such are anticipated, slides of per- forated zinc are used for contracting, or a strip of glass i if the full width of the entrance is placed on the alighting-board, resting back upon the front of the hive, so as to allow of exit for the bees at each end, and this almost invariably prevents robbing. Stimulation by syrup feeding should he eschewed for the present. The middle of March we consider early enough for this in our climate. It is well also to keep the bees confined to a certain number of frames, and as spring advances and colonies increase in numbers, to gradually increase the breeding spaces by adding a frame of sealed food from behind the division-board on either side, having first re- moved or abraded the cell capping in the centre of the comb on both sides and cut a passage through it. We are no advocates for stimulating to early breeding, since the early flights consequent thereon result in great loss to such colonies. We emphatically say, therefore, ' Still let. your bees rest.' Give additional warmth by extra covering, but do not think of manipulation or disturbance of any kind except in cases of dire necessity. Encourage cleansing flights whenever the weather is bright enough and warm enough, for nothing is more conducive to health and cleanliness. A sheltered position, a south aspect, and sufficiency of food, are conducive to cleansing flights, and consequent healthiness. We might have added to such requirements — young and vigorous queens. In any ease these are a necessity to the highest attainments in honey production, hut the very early stimulation of even such queens will end disastrously, and their laying powers will become temporarily sus- pended at the time when they are most required. Should there be any sigus of dampness in the covering quilts, dry ones should take their place, and those removed should be disinfected and thoroughly dried, when they, in turn, may take the place of other damp ones requiring to he changed. It i3 better not to disturb the floor- hoards, unless they are foul with dead bees, excrement, &c, in which case let them be removed and replaced by clean dry ones, with as little shaking or disturbance as possible. Bee-keepers who are fond of flowers — and what bee- keepers are not ?— will do well to provide wallflowers, borage, and I/inrnanthes Douglusii, — the three best spring bee-flowers with which we are acquainted. The pretty little rock-plant, Aubrietia purpurea, is also a great favourite, and in sheltered situations will bloom from May until August. Those are fortunate whose apiaries are within reach of fields of that beautiful crimson- flowered clover, Trifolium incarnatum, in which bees i greatly rejoice, and which is the first to bloom of all the trifolia. This, together with winter beans, form the mainstay ■ of many apiaries, until the white clover blooms, with its abundant supplies of the finest honey producible, arrives. The tiny little yellow bloom on the common trefoil is also a great favourite witli our bees. The cotoneasters (Macropkila et micropltila) and the mezereon, with its early pink bloom, are fully appreciated by the bees, as are all the willow tribes. Artificial Pollen may be given towards the end of the month by sprinkling pea or lentil meal upon the blooms of crocuses during fine days when the bees are in full work ; also in skeps or boxes filled with shavings, and placed in a sheltered sunny spot. Some prefer dredging the meal into empty combs, which are placed beside the brood-nest and c untied by division-boards. Surface Mixture.— Sawdust, sand, and ashes, or a mixture of all three, placed around the hives, save much bee-life at this season by forming a dry and warm material on which heavily laden bees, on returning wearied from the fields, may rest before entering the hives. S.vow and Birds may still demand attention, although of the former we hope to see no more for a long time to Conic. Should it again appear, however, it most not he allowed to remain on the hives an hour, but should lie carefully swept off at once. Our old friends the tomtits, as also sparrows, must lie looked after, or our bees will suffer much from their depredations, especially where trees and evergreen hushes surround an apiary. Water. — We believe that much brood perishes during the early spring months from want of water, particularly where upward ventilation through pervious quilts is allowed. In small colonics, during cold weather, when the bees have difficulty in keeping up the temperature of the hive to brood-raising point, the larvre die from lack of moisture, and, putrefying-, becomes a fertile source of foul brood, while the colony dwindles, and finally becomes extinct. Circular earthen pans (milk-pans), which are often used as roofs for skeps, form good water-troughs. They should be supplied with a float of thin wood pierced with holes, upon which the bees may rest as they sip the water. They are best sunk in the ground, and the water should be changed occasionally, and a little salt mixed with it. Some prefer to fill these pans with stones, which prevent the bees from drowning. A warm sheltered nook should be selected, wdiere the sun shines with full force upon the pans, and, when first established, a few pieces of comb honey, or a plate of syrup, placed near them will soon induce the bees to mark the locality. Stands and Roofs should be overhauled and rendered secure and weather-proof before the March winds and snowstorms — to which we are still liable — play havoc in the apiary. All chinks should be stopped, and a coat or two of paint where required would improve appearances, and render the hives impervious to moisture. Price or Monthly Journal. — Mr. Watkins, secre- tary of the Herefordshire B. K. A., in his letter (1480) takes exception to the paragraph in our last ' Hints,' in 80 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 16, 1888. which we expressed the hope that county secretaries might find it practicable to supply the Monthly Journal gratis to all cottage subscribers of 2s. Gd. per annum, and charges us with raising undue expectation by the expression of such hope. But is such a hope really be3'ond the possibility of being realised ? We hope, and think, not. Our county Associations, as well as their parent, are based upon a philanthropic foundation, and we think that the English counties, even in the midst of this unparalleled depression, will be able to find sufficient funds to supply so great a boon to the poor agricultural labourer, to whom, in these hard times, every penny is an object. To be able to call the Journal his own — to have it at hand for reference in his doubts and difficulties ■ — and to be able to secure it by a rough binding at the end of the year, would, in our opinion, do more towards popularising bee-keeping amongst the very class we are so desirous of reaching, than almost any other measure which could be taken ; and we cannot give up the hope of seeing it accomplished, sooner or later. Nothing could be further from our wish than to ' increase the diffi- culties of the management of county Associations,' knowing how great already these are. Nor did we ' assume that there was no other Association work to be considered,' nor ' that subscribers of 2s. Gd. were to be granted a boon denied to 5a. members.' But we did sup- pose that a subscriber of 6s. per annum and upwards neither required nor would accept — even if offered to him — the monthly Journal gratis. Depend upon it the expert's visits and the monthly Journal will be found to be the most effective weapons in the hands of the county secretary for reaching the cottager and ' bettering his condition' Messes. Abbott's Skctiox. — We are indebted to this old-established firm for a nice specimen of their patent section, as illustrated and described in our last issue, together with the wood separators and a triangular piece of foundation. The invention is simplicity itself, and so tight is the grip of the foundation, when inserted, that there is no possibility of its escape. The celerity with which the operation of insertion is performed leaves nothing to be desired on that score, and the extra .cost of Gd. per 100 for sections, fitted with patent split bar, is a mere bagatelle. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday, February 8th, at 3.80 p.m., in the offices of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 10") Jermyn Street, St. James's, under the presidency of the Baroness Burdett-Coutts. The spacious Board-room was filled with a crowded audience of ladies and gentlemen, amongst whom were the Hon. and Rev. Henry and Mrs. Bligh, the Revs. Br. Bartrum, J. L. Seager, F. T. Scott, G. Raynor, F. S. Sclater, and W. E. Burkitt, Captain Bush, R.N. , and Messrs. Graham, Bellairs, Martin, Blow, Buller, Garratt, Andrews, Sambels, Booker, Baldwin, Zehetmayr, Leigh, Groves-Watson, Henderson, and the Misses Gayton and Brandard. The Secretary (Mr. J. Buckle) read the minutes of the last Annual General Meeting, which were confirmed. The President : I have now to put a resolution before you which as regards the wording of it might be con- sidered merely a matter of form, but I am quite sure it will evoke heartfelt emotion and sympathy in the minds of all true friends of the Association. It relates to the great loss which we and all bee-keepers have sustained in the untimely decease of an esteemed friend, the Rev. F. G. Jenyns. Last year we had a similar motion to propose when it was our painful duty to express regret on the death of Mr. Fox Kenworthy, and condole with his aged mother. That gentleman was one of the most active workers in our cause, and it was natural that he should have excited our affectionate regard. Those who only knew Mr. Jenyns as a supporter of this Association will feel we have lost a coadjutor competent to judge of all matters relating to bee-keeping, and one most anxious for the success and well-being of the institution. But his friends, among whom I may reckon myself, because I have seen a good deal of him, and had the pleasure of his company in relation with the Lytton family (Mr. Burdett-Coutts and I spend some time of the year in one of Colonel Bulwer's houses) can bear testimony to bis many excellent qualities. I am able to say how greatly his loss has been regretted at Heydon, and how severe a blow his death was to those who knew him at home — Kuebworth, We must all share this feeling, which our friends who remember his genial, kindly face and manly bearing, coupled with the highest intentions and upright- ness of purpose, will the best understand and appreciate. With regard to Mr. Jenyns' works on apiculture, I think I am right in saying that they have not only been of great service to the special cause they were written to promote, but also to those kindred subjects of agriculture and education about which Parliament will probably be called on to specially legislate this year. I beg to move :— ' That the members of the B. B.K. A., in Annual General Meeting assembled, desire to place on record their deep sense of the loss sustained by the Association in the death of the Rev. C. F. G. Jenyns, who for many years, until the time of his decease, was an active member of its General Committee, and in other ways rendered excellent service to the cause of British apiculture, especially by the publication of his well-known and highly appreciated educational work, entitled A Book on Bees. The meeting desires also to express its deep sympathy with Mrs. Jenyns and her bereaved family in the sudden and irreparable loss sustained by them.' The Rev. J. L. Seager, in seconding the motion, said he felt in danger of forgetting how much the bee-keeping public owed to the late Mr. Jenyns, because he was too much occupied with the thought of his own personal loss in the decease of that estimable friend, whose home was within three miles of bis own. He had grown to look on that gentleman as one of the wisest of all his acquaintance, a man to whom all of them might profit- ably turn to for advice in any difficulty, a man who possessed qualities comparatively rare in the world, for he (Mr. Seager) had never known him harbour an unkind thought against any one, or give expression to an angry or even a severe word. He was one of those who never sought popularity, and, as is nearly always a natural consequence, achieved popularity with all who came in contact with him. Every one who knew him was drawn towards him with a feeling of irresistible affection. He was ever ready to give advice, the best of advice, to all who desired it. In conclusion, he (the speaker) thought the meeting would heartily join with him and the President in expressing their sorrow at the loss of one of the most valuable members of the Associ- ation, because he was a good bee-keeper, and in every respect a sincerely good man. The President moved, ' That the Report and balance- sheet issued for the year 1887 be received and adopted, with a vote of thanks to Mr. Kirchner, the auditor. The Report was taken as read, and after the resolution had been seconded, it was carried unanimously. Mr. Garratt said he rose with feelings of great pleasure to propose the motion which stood No. 4 on the agenda. It was ' That this meeting tenders its hearty thanks to the retiring officers and Committee for their valuable services during the past year.' He felt sure that the audience would heartily concur in that expression of opinion, because they were all much indebted to the gentlemen referred to for the excellent assistance rendered by them to the bee-keeping world. The work of the past year has been carried on with its usual efficiency, and the interests of the Association had been carefully guarded and advanced. February 16, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 87 Mr. Martin seconded the resolution, and expressed his opinion that the Committee deserved all the thanks bee-keepers could bestow on them for their disinterested labours. The resolution was carried unanimously. The Rev. G. Raynor proposed a vote of thanks to the Council of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for the gratuitous use of their Board- room for Committee and other meetings. He said the obligations of the B.R.K.A. to the Royal Society had accumulated for some years past, and the Committee ■were especially thankful to their President (the Baroness) for having exerted her kind influence in this matter. What they would do if deprived of the use of the Society's room he could not say, but in any case serious expenses would be inevitable, therefore they were deeply indebted to the Society ; and lie trusted that, remembering one good turn deserves another, they would use their influence on behalf of the Society, which was doing excellent work. The Rev. F. S. Sclater, in seconding the motion, which was unanimously adopted, said that ho could re-echo eTery word uttered by Mr. Raynor concerning the Asso- ciation's indebtedness to the Royal Society for the Pre- vention of Cruelty to Animals. The President returned thanks, and assured the meeting that the R. S. P. C. A., of which she was President of the Ladies' Committee, always felt great pleasure in lending their Council Room to an institution of a kindred character like the B.B.K.A., which was was engaged in the promotion of objects similar to its own. The Rev. Br. Bartrum moved the election of the President, Vice-Presidents, treasurer, auditor, analyst, librarian, and secretary for the year 1888, in accordance with Rule 8. As regarded the President no words of his were needed to advocate her re-election. They all recognised her as the good queen-bee, who never grew old, and never needed to be replaced. lie could not bear to think of the terrible loss the Association would suffer if any circumstances were to cause her ladyship's with- drawal from it. The speaker then paid a tribute of admiration to each of the before-mentioned officers, highly commending them for the valuable services ren- dered by each to the cause of bee-culture, and concluded by proposing their re-election. Captain Bush, R.N., seconded the resolution, which was unanimously passed. The Secretary reported the names of the members nominated for election on the Committee for the year 1888, which were as follows: — ■ The Rev. B. Bartrum, D.D.; the Hon. and Rev. II. Bligh, Captain Bush, R.N. ; Captain Campbell, Mr. Thomas W. Cowan, the Rev. E. Clay, the Rev. It. Errington, Mr. J. M. Hooker, Mr. H. Jonas, the Rev. F. G. Jenyns* the Rev. Geo. Oddie, the Rev. Geo. Raynor, the Rev. P. S. Sclater, the Rev. J. L. Seager, the Rev. F. T. Scott. The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh said that the motion which he had to submit was simply intended to make the Rules more intelligible, and carry out the proposal decided on last year. In the place of Rule 8 he proposed to substitute Rules 8 and 0 as follows -.—Rule 8. ' Ihe Managing Committee shall be elected annually. Every candidate for election on the committee ' must be nominated by two members of the Association, upon a printed nomination paper to be obtained by application to the Secretary ; such nomination paper must bear tho signatures of the members so nominating, together with the signature of the nominee. Those so nominated shall be the committee-men for the year unless the nomina- tions exceed the number to be elected, in which event the election shall be completed by voting papers, which * Since died. shall be sent to each member of the Association. The names of the members nominated, together with the names of the nominators, shall be stated on the voting paper. Any vacancy that may occur during the year shall be filled up by the remaining members of the Com- mittee.' Rule 9. ' Au Annual General Meeting of the mem- bers shall be held in each year as early as possible. The President, Vice-Presidents, trustees, treasurer, auditor, and secretary, shall be elected at this meeting, and questions of the government and management of the Association (of which at least fourteen days' notice has been given) shall be discussed and resolved upon.' The Rev. F. T. Scott seconded the motion. Mr. T. B. Blow moved the following amendment : — ' That in case of any vacancy occurring in the committee, such vacancy be filled by election with voting papers in the ordinary way.' Mr. Webster seconded the amendment, which was also supported by Mr. Baldwin. The Rev. G. Raynor saw no cause for adopting Mr. Blow's suggestion, and deprecated the frequent altera- tion of rules, which in the present instance were working well. Mr. Bligh 's proposal involved only verbal changes for the purpose of making the rules more perspicuous. The Rev. Br. Bartrum opposed the amendment, one of his objections being, that an election of the kind advo- cated by Mr. Blow would cost between :',l. and -II., which would be an unnecessary strain on the funds of the Association. The discussion was continued by the President, Mr. Blow, the Rev. J. L. Seager, Mr. Garratt, Mr. Sambels, Mr. Webster, and Mr. Groves- Watson, after which the amendment was put to the meeting and lost by six votes, six being in favour and twelve against it. The original motion was then put to the vote, and carried by a majority of twelve. Mr. T. B. Blow moved : 'That the voting power of each member be limited to one vote, irrespective of amount of subscription.' He thought that proposal only just to the working classes, a large number of whom wen- only able to pay 5a. per annum. In their case that small subscription showed a genuine interest in the Associa- tion, and, in his opinion, represented far more than the guinea of the rich man, to whom money was no object. Besides, one man one vote was the general rule. The committee, who numbered fifteen, could command sixty votes, which almost enabled them to elect whomever they chose. Mr. G. J. Buller, as a working man, and one who knew the feelings of the working classes on the questi m, seconded the motion. The Rev. G. Raynor read an extract from a letter written to him by Mr. T. W. Cowan (Chairman), who, unfortunately, was not able to be present. Alluding to Mr. Blow's proposition, Mr. Cowan said: 'With regard to Resolution 0 I am quite sure this will be a wrong step to take, and would make it infinitely more diflicult to get subscriptions than now. As longas I have anything to do with this Association, it must retain its philan- thropic character. As soon as it becomes anything different I shall be obliged to leave it; it must be a society for promoting bee-keeping and nothing else.' He (Mr. Raynor) fully endorsed these opinions, which also represented the views of the late Mr. Peel, and should, therefore, strenuously oppose the motion. Mr. Baldwin supported the resolution, and the Rev. Br. Bartrum opposed it as being likely to chill charity, because many persons would be induced under the cir- cumstances to lower their subscriptions, to the financial disadvantage of the Association. The Rev. F. T. Scott and the Rev. J. L. Seager dis- puted the statement that the custom of one man one vote was now universal, the former quoting the case of orphan and other asylums, in which subscribers were 88 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 16, 1888. allowed votes in proportion to the amount of subscription paid by them ; and the latter stating that under the Public Health Act the number of votes was regulated according to the amount of rates paid. It was only fair that those who subscribed mo-it largely should have the largest share in deciding how the money should be spent. After a few words from Messrs. Blow and liuller, the motion was put to the meeting and negatived by twenty votes to ten. Mr. W. M. Graham moved: 'That the rules be so altered that any subscriber of five shillings per annum shall be eligible for election to serve on the Committee.' He had no ambition to serve on the Committee, and was acting entirely from disinterested motives ; but he thought the members of Committee should consist of all classes. Mr. Baldwin seconded the motion, which was sup- ported by Mr. Blow, who considered, without desiring to be offensive, that the Committee consisted too much of one class. The Rev. G. Hay nor said that the qualification was lowered last year from 1/. to 10*. on his proposition. He thought they had not yet given the present system a sufficiently fair trial to justify any alteration thereof. Any gentleman who could afford the time and expense of attending Committee meetings was able to pay 10s. yearly in support of the Association. After a few words from Mr. Graham, Mr. Blow, Captain Bush, and the President, a vote was taken on the resolution, which was lost by a majority of five, the numbers being eight in favour and thirteen against. Item No. 11 on the agenda, to be proposed by Mr. Graham as follows: — 'That the Committee be enlarged from fifteen to twenty, and that the five new seats thus created be filled up by the votes of the County Repre- sentatives and the County Secretaries,' was withdrawn by permission. Mr. T. B. Blow proposed : ' That any person who has sold or assigned the right of manufacture, or sale of any appliance designed or invented by the said person, shall not be qualified to act in the capacity of judge.' He brought no charge* against anyone, but he thought it desirable that the Association should have a rule like the one he suggested, so that even an appearance of favouritism might be avoided. Mr. Buller seconded the motion. The Rev. G. Raynor said the rule, if passed, would disqualify Mr. Cowan and himself from acting as judges, as well as several of the best-known authorities in api- culture. Mr. Garratt objected to the far-reaching character of the proposed rule, which would exclude some of the best judges, those who had been in the van of bee-keeping for many years. The President considered that the interests involved in the motion were so great that a more careful and prolonged study of them was necessary before a decision should be arrived at, and she, therefore, suggested that the subject should be postponed for the present. She had never invented or assigned an appliance, and was, therefore, quite disinterested. (Laughter.) A short conversation ensued, and eventually Mr. Blow consented to withdraw his motion. Item No. 13, thus : ' That attention be called to a petition sent to the Committee (receipt of which was acknowledged on November 17th), and to the subsequent action of Mr. J. M. Hooker with regard to the said petition,' was withdrawn from the agenda on the applica- tion of Mr. Blow and Mr. Baldwin. The Hon. and Rev. II. Bligh and the Rev. G. Raynor moved and seconded a hearty vote of thanks to the Baroness for her kindness in presiding. The President expressed her best thanks to the mem- bers for their kindness in re-electing her, she also appre- ciated the complimentary title of queen-bee. It was an immense pleasure for her to come to the meetings, and help, however slightly, in the development of a growing and important industry. She had lately spent a con- siderable time in the country, and was glad to note that the interest in bee-culture, far from abating, was growing rapidly. Perhaps that could be accounted for to some extent by the fact that everybody felt intere.--ted in that which gave them profit. No doubt people living in the country, particularly farmers, labourers, as well as persons of small means, had found they could add to their income by bee-keeping; such individuals were naturally anxious to dispose of their hone}', and she thought the B. B. K. A. would do well to consider how they could best make known far and wide where a ready market could be found for such produce. But apart from monetary considerations, bee-keeping was looked upon to a great extent as a wholesome recreation — one of those innocent pleasures, of which the world was very full, if one only sought after them. It was a source of amusement and instruction, giving relief to mind and body after the day's work was over. No one could deny that the bees taught many lessons to those who watched their curious habits, order, system of government, all of which they inherited by nature and instinct. She could only hope that the efforts of their philanthropic Asso- ciation would be rewarded with a higher measure of success, and that the exports and imports of honey would increase. She could heartily congratulate them on the excellent work already accomplished, for it could not be doubted that they had largely educated the working classes in regard to the science and utility of bee-keeping, one result of which was that the old custom of smother- ing the bees had been abolished. Her Ladyship then referred to some Bills which would be brought before Parliament during the present session, notably one by Mr. Jesse Oollings, M.P., for the better adaptation of education in the country to agricultural purposes; and she hoped some i ffort would be made by means of that measure to advance the bee industry amongst a class who were suffering greatly from depression at the present time. Her Ladyship also alluded to the fact that a schoolmaster near Faversham, taking advantage of the Elementary Education Act, which permitted the teaching of extra subjects, had selected bee-keeping as one of these. The Inspector sanctioned this, but the Board had afterwards objected thereto. She had consequently undertaken to see Lord Cross on that matter, and en- deavour to influence him in favour of introducing the subject into reading lessons. The Baroness concluded by wishing the members a prosperous new year (loud cheers). (tarcspoitijciicc. The Editor docs not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com' manications, and correspondents arc requested to write on one side of the jripcr only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, £c, must be addressed only to «Tue Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c/o Mesars. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, tV.C All business communications relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). •** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. COUNTY BKE-KEEPEUS' ASSOCIATIONS. [14S4.] On the subject of benefits conferred by the County Bee-keeping Associations on their members, I would like to add a testimony from my own experience as local Secretary. 'The Herefordshire Secretary '(14.)")) speaks of the ' waste of energy in attempts to help the cottager.' Scores of such instances may be brought forward, some most ludicrous in their results, while February 16, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 89 others are so depressing as to deter any further attempts. ]!ut 1 hope to show that there is too often a fundamental mi-take in the aim and object offered to the cottager. They have hardships enough to struggle against without deluding them into false hopes of immediate gain, &c. Living in an agricultural district as I do, I find that this new teaching of the art of bee-keeping has been a God-send to the class, which has the most natural right to understand it and profit, by it, though hitherto debarred from the means of studying it as a science until 1 he B.B. Association was formed and spread its ramifi- cations all over England. It is like a revelation to them. It has opened up a new trade and a new handicraft to them. It lias developed their powers of observation and excited their ingenuity in the very tastes most congenial to their habits of life. Organizations are the spirit of the age, and I know of none more calculated to strike deep into the hearts of the labouring class of all agricultural districts of England than the British Bee-keepers' Association, or more worthy of being powerfully supported for the good of all. As far as we local secretaries can help to improve the organization, let us take hold of this as a motive for willing co-operation, remembering that the cry of distress and depression of the farming trade is still painfully felt in our districts, and let us feel it an honour to be chosen as advocates of such a beneficial association. The gratitude of most of our members to the British Bee-keepers' Association for having introduced them to such an interesting as well as a profitable occupation wins over new converts year by year. There may be small advance numerically in the yearly list of members, but I do not look on that as a mark of deterioration, because only those who entered the lists carelessly and with no real object have dropped out of the ranks, whereas the keenly interested stay on and become firm supporters of improvements and suggestions from head- quarters, and draw in others who gradually see the ad- vantage of these improved methods. To obtain the like advantages and to enjoy the social meetings, lectures, &c, these new ones willingly consent to join the Asso- ciation. The spirit of emulation becomes stronger, the desire for competition in any form is easily excited, and when rewarded by an honourable mention (as has hap- pened in our case) in your popular Journal as well as in our county's report, in the latter of which these italicised words are used referring to our Apiary Competition having ' indirectly strengthened the hold of the Asso- ciation on its rural members. Besides this, the advan- tage was secured of bringing into prominence, in a con- crete form, the benefits of applied science.' I think it may fairly be said that the bond fide cottager of the present day is not so ungetatable or uneducated aa he is said to be. The stimulus to good and interesting reading is a re- markable feature in the work of the Association, and is another proof of the zeal among the same class. A few of our members prefer subscribing among themselves for the British Bee Journal, finding its expense none too great in compaiison with the amount of useful hints con- tained. Another copy, given as a present by a friend for members' use only, is circulated weekly, and eagerly read ; and it was particularly noticed that the apiaries which were most praised last year for neatness and order belonged to cottagers who were regular readers of your excellent Journal. Surely the Herefordshire Secretary (in 1480) has misunderstood the ' 2s. Gd. subscriber ! ' The cottagers' annual subscription to the Association is only is., and if he only adds 1*. Grf. to that, he will then be- come entitled to the new monthly journal, sent post free. Any other subscriber by paying this additional sum will reap the same advantage. I have left much unsaid for fear of trespassing on your space, especially as regards the gratitude I owe to our County Secretary for his for- bearance with my inexperience of the duties of a Secre- tary the first two years. — F. II., Local Secretary. CONSANGUINITY. [1485.] I have read with very much interest the articles that have appeared in the Journal referring to the breeding of bees. I have long since seen the advisability — I might say the necessity — for infusion of fresh blood; and to prevent, as far as possible, in-and-in breeding, fresh blood is annually introduced into my apiary by means of purchased swarms in summer or driven bees in the autumn. Consequently my apiary of thirty stocks con- sists of bees from at least a dozen different places, where- by the chances of consanguinity are considerably reduced although of course not entirely obviated. I have many times wished that some simple uncomplicated method could be devised which would enable us to cross our bees as readily as we can our poultry or other live stock, but I fear that happy day has not jet arrived. If it is true, as we have good reasons to suppose, that the progeny of a given queen inherit the characteristics of the drone with which the queen was mated rather than those of the queen herself, it is evident that the selection of drones must, as is so ably pointed out at page 68, last week's Journal, receive special and very careful attent ion. The writer of the article referred to suggests that the bee-keeper should purchase a Ligurian, or some other foreign queen, from which drones should be raised for the purpose of mating with black queens. Drone-breeding from the rest of the stocks in the apiary is to be sup- preased, and any drones that may chance to come into existence, in spite of the precautions taken by the bee- keeper, are to be trapped. I am not going to say that such cannot bo done; possibly it can by those who are able to devote the whole of their time to bee-culture. But we who have our daily duties to attend to, consisting of from twelve to fourteen hours per day, in addition to the garden, poultry-yard, and necessarj- work in the apiary, which at the time referred to is of a very primary nature, would be very reluctant to undertake the task of keeping twenty-nine out of thirty stocks entirely free from drones. But even if one could thus control drone -breeding in his own apiary, the chances of failure would be very great indeed unless the bee-keeper happened to live in a district where no other bees but his own are kept; an occurrence which, I should say, is very rare indeed. We ordinary bee- keepers will therefore have to await the invention of a more simple method before we improve the breed of our bees by the introduction of Ligurian or other expensive queens. In his able and most interesting article (1434) Mr. Webster advocates the purchasing of virgin queens to be fertilised in the owner's apiary ; but if we follow such a course and the queens purchased be of any of the foreign races, we shall, according to the article on ' The Coming Bee,' page 68, be propagating the very evils which we are most anxious should not exist. The only solution then of this important, interesting, but difficult problem, would appear to be the establishing of isolated apiaries containing only one kind of bee to which our virgin queens could be taken to be fertilised. But then the diffi- cult question arises, Where are these isolated spots to be found ? Query — Is it absolutely necessary that the drones and queens that we wish to mate should be kept at least two miles from any other bees? I have an allotment which is at least three-quarters of a mile from my apiary, and my own bees are the nearest of any to the spot named. I should like to set there a stock of foreign bees and raise from the same as many drones as possible, and then raise queens from the best stock in my apiary and take them to the allotment to be fertilised. Will some one who has had experience in the matter be good enough to tell me if I should be likely to succeed ? Up to the present I have had nothing to do with foreign bees on account of the unfavourable opinions expressed by those who have paid very dear for their ex- 90 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 16, 1888. perience. But of course judicious versus indiscriminate crossing may make all the difference between improving and deteriorating a race of bees. — A. Sharp. CONSANGUINITY. [1480.] The article of Mr. Webster on above subject seems to me to be rather strained taking it on the whole. He says our despised blacks could be renovated by the means he points out, and proceeds to call attention to the successful crossing with aliens as increasing the honey yield at once. I contend that our bees (English, I mean) do not require renovating, they are the result, and a good living specimen they are, cf the doctrine of the ' survival of the fittest,' and no recent or living writer has been able to prove that they have deteriorated in any point of excellence which they may have inherited from their ancestors. Would Mr. Webster, or any other writer, assert that the introduction of foreign blood by the inter-marriage of his or their offspring with the natives of Italy or the swarthy nomads of Eastern lands would improve the species either socially or intellectually? Where and among what people do we find in the world's history greater acts of prowess, more heroic acts of en- durance than in the annals of our own native land ? Who would, I ask, except Englishmen, hold out in a besieged fortress until the uppers of their boots were consumed to satisfy craving hunger ? And as the continual reiteration of the superior (?) qualities of foreign bees over the native race is made principally in the interest of dealers, I should like to ask if those queen-breeders in Palestine, Cyprus, Liguria, and other places, ever dream of sending for a supply of good, hardy English queens to improve their strain of bees? — I pause for an answer. Mr. Webster takes birds first (page 62) to prove the baneful effects of in-and-in breeding, probably his de- duction may be correct re the Barbary dove, but looking at the results achieved, was not theeffect the result of design in the man to test the recreative powers in the dove? Where ia Nature in the matter? simply perverted, I might say non est. I maintain if those dores had been in their natural state, and not forced by man to mate in confinement, probably without any billing and cooing, that they would not have died out in the fourth genera- tion. _ And if friend Webster, or any one else, intends studying physiology, let him undertake it in the wide realms of nature, and not in the circumscribed area of a birdcage or the revolving wire drum of tho imprisoned squirrel, neither in a confined space occupied by a pair of while mice or foreign rats. May I ask Mr. Webster whence he gets his deductions that man begins to succumb to the baleful effects of consanguinity in the Becond generation? I think the present rather large population of the earth will refute him in his assertion, unless he can prove there was other inhabitants besides father Adam. If there was, or had been, even the possibility of mankind dying out by close consanguinity, would not the Allwise Creator have provided some other way or means of peopling the earth than the command to our first parents — ' Go forth and multiply ? ' That was one of the first commands, and, judging by results, has evidently been the command most obeyed by the genus homo. Then, in next paragraph, Mr. Webster speaks so con- fidently of the consequences to an apiary by the neglect of an owner in not introducing new blood, referring especially to the depreciation, then deterioration, and finally annihilation ; though I give him credit for the admission that Xhejinale will or may not occur till— shall 1 say— the crack of doom. Then he concludes his article by reference to location, compelling in-and-in breeding and the evil results arising therefrom, winding up with examples. So far so good, but -when those examples can be refuted in toto by other examples in direct contradiction, I think bee-keepers will not be so ready to be frightened by a bogey. I give two cases that I have investigated this past week in the interests of bee-keepers, and I feel sure that, knowing both the parties personally and supplying the information first hand, that in-and-in breeding does not deteriorate the race of English bees as regards their size, working qualities or prolificness, though it should run on decade after decade and generation after generation of owners. In the first instance I walked several miles to see an old bee-keeper, who lives about seven miles from everywhere, or rather from an}- town or railway station. When I say old I do not mean that he is an octogenarian. Though probably he has seen sixty swarming seasons, I found him in full vigour of health plying his vocation as gardener and handyman on the farm. Our first greeting over our conversation naturally turned to bees, and after a few mutual inquiries I said to him, ' How long have you kept bees here ? ' ' All my lifetime, and my father before me, and my grandfather before him ; they both lived in the same cottage and the bees always have stood in the same place, and I can tell you how my grandfather first had them. His master died at the farm, and when the sale took place his mistress (the farmer's widow) gave him a smart (a second swarm), and we have had them ever since.' ' Have you ever lost them by disease, or otherwise ?' ' No, never. Those you now see are the same strain of bees my old grandfather started with.' ' How many do you generally leave to stand the winter?' ' Five.' ' Do you find them profitable ? ' ' Well,' he says, with a si}' twinkle in his eye, ' I shouldn't tell every one, but I have made 0/. this year and twenty gallons of drink for the winter; but you see,' he added, ' I make all my hives, stools, and hackles, so that I have no expense with them.' Now, here we have an instance of bees breeding in- and-in for three generations because of the isolation of the apiary. Yet here they are as prolific aud as profit- able as if the owner had spent every penny of his profits year after year in foreign or other queens, and where are the dire effects propounded by Mr. W.? — W, Woodley. [To be continued.) NEW METHOD OF FIXING FOUNDATION IN SECTIONS. [14*7.] In the last issue of tho B.B.J. I notice a claim by Messrs. Abbott Bros, as the inventors of a new method of fixing comb foundation in sections, by means of an angular cut through the top (?) of the section. I beg to state that I have for some consider- able time used and sold sections cut in a very similar manner, the only difference being in the shape of the cut itself ; that shown on page 72, No. 294, volume xvi., being larger at the top than at tho bottom, whereas the cut used by me is the same all through. I used to make a vertical cut, and that answered very well with sections in pieces, as a lateral pressure could be put on the unfixed half, so as to give a firm grip to the foundation before nailing ; but when I endeavoured to fix foundation by means of a vertical cut in the one- piece sections, I experienced difficulties, because if the divided parts were pulled apart sufficient to admit the foundation, they often broke at the V joint, and if not so opened, when putting the unfolded half into position there was a constant tendency to displace the foundation by downward pressure. To remedy these evils I made many experiments, and ultimately found that by cutting through the section at an angle of about 4-5° and the use of a wooden block similar to the block used when nailing sections, the sheets of foundations could be put in position and securely fixed, more expeditiously than by any other plan. February 16, 1888. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 91 I may here mention that I have written Messrs. Abbott Bros, informing them of the similarity in the methods used by them now and that used by myself for a long time. I do not wisli in any way to impute that my plan has been copied. It is, however, a lesson worth remembering. — S. J. Baldwin. 'NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN.' — FIXING COMB-FOUNDATION. [1433.] I see Messrs. Abbott are about to patent an invention I have worked out and improved long ago. The proof page of my 1883 Catalogue (yet in printer's hands) concerning angular cut rail, and foundation groove to sections, will show that I have a right to make and sell sections so treated. I enclose you drawings nine months old ( which please return ) showing the said application to one- piece sections, and also to bar-frames. Is further testi- mony wanted? I will give names and addresses of those now far from Holme Apiary to whom I showed the invention. The cut to top rail of section, at an angle of 45°, is all sufficient for holding the foundation, but side and bottom grooves are necessary to keep full sheets from buckling, and so treated the one-piece section is ahead in founda- tion-fixing of any section yet introduced. Yet this I have superseded, and have a method which will not only give fixing of foundation to sections and frames, but also securely against displacement of the honey and comb when filled, even should it so happen ' the Man in the Moon ' (P) had an accident in his apiary and dropped a crate of well-filled and finished sections to Mother Earth. From what I know concerning inventions in useful bee appliances, I judge none would hold an argu- ment supporting a patent, neither should there be if all the philanthropy given forth in the direction of bee-keeping is taken into consideration. Iohn II. Howard, The Model Apiary, Holme, Peterborough. [We have inspected the drawings Mr. Howard has kindly forwarded to us, and have been struck by the manj' ingenious contrivances he has discovered for the greater ease in apiculture. Among others there is the top rail of a section cut through at an angle of 45°. Messrs. Abbott's section has the angle rather wider at the top, affording a stronger grip. We have received a communication from Mr. Bonner Chambers to the same effect as Mr. Howard's letter. He further says, ' From exceedingly careful experiments I have come to the conclusion that perfectly filled sections cannot be obtained without the aid of full sheets of foun- dation : this, I find, is a fact that has been recognised only for about the past two years, and is a point little known at present ; hence the few arrangements that have been made, or even suggested, for fixing full sheets— the sort of foundation manufactured also not allowing full sheets being used until recently. Mr. C. J. II. Fitch, of Sible Hedingham, and others, inform us that they have for the last two years had the identical plan of Messrs. Abbott in operation, and have sent out a vast number of sections filled with the guides so fixed. Messrs. Abbott Bros, inform us that they have re- ceived numerous applications from all parts of the country from persons claiming to have previously in- vented their new mode of fixing comb foundation in sections; but after inquiry, every statement has proved incorrect, and the cut alluded to being in overy instance the simple straight cut that was invented about the same time as one-piece sections. One would hardly expect a bee-keeper making such an important discovery would omit to let his fellow bee-keepers remain long unin- forme 1. — Er>.] THE PREVENTION OF INCREASE. Number Three. [148!i.] In working for extracted honey, the pre- vention of increase is easily accomplished by a judicious management in tiering up and extracting. But when we come to the production of comb-honey, no system of man- agement has as yet succeeded in absolutely preventing increase. There are, however, different methods of manipulation that tend to decrease swarming ; but why try to entirely prevent swarming ? Prevent it as far as is consistent with the largest amount of nice comb- honey, and then make use of the swarms ii la Hutchin- son, and double up in the fall. Of the different methods tending to prevent swarming, I will offer the following as being with me the most successful. I use Heddon's sectional hive, but my system of man- agement can be varied to suit the workings of any hive. We will imagine white clover in full bloom and a good colony of bees occupying two sections of the Heddon hive, with honey-board and one section case on, the latter being about half full of honey : now lift off the section-case and one of the brood-cases, and from the case now remaining take four of the frames having the least amount of brood, crowding two to each side of the hive of the four remaining, and in the centre place four frames having a foundation starter half an inch wide, readjust your hive, and in about three days they will be ready for another case of sections, and as soon as the four frames below become filled with comb cut it out with the exception of half an inch for a starter, and re- place them, making use of the comb removed to fill your sections. Thus by a judicious tiering of section-eases and the removal of the comb in the four above- meutioned frames when about three-fourths full, not more than twelve per cent will swarm. The four frames of brood and honey first removed can bo tiered up on a few colonies and will be filled with nice stores for winter.— C. Solveson, Nashatah, Wis. (The American Apictlltlirist.) THE COMING BEE. [1400.] 1 seldom read anything with greater pleasure than that which I felt on reading your article on 'The Coming Bee,' on page 58. I have long held the opinion that the present system of introducing foreign queens was radically wrong, and four years ago I destroyed my own and re-queened with blacks, and since that time have done my best to keep them pure, not because I believe them to be the best bee to be obtained eventually, but because I believe that the present system, or want of system, in importing all and every kind of queens that are advertised will eventually leave us with a race of mongrels, perhaps good, but according to my experience more probably bad. With cattle and poultry, &c, the crossing of the various breeds is easily controlled ; with bees it is not so, and the ordinary bee-keeper with a few hives seldom exercises any control over the mating of his queens and drones. He purchases a queen because it is the fashion, introduces her to his best stock, makes swarms and gets a lot of hybrids. This is all very well so far, but the next year his hybrids go and hybridise his neighbours' bees, and very soon the neighbourhood is filled with vicious wretches, and bee-keeping loses part of its charm for want of a systematic method of trying to improve the race in place of the indiscriminate hap- hazard fashion now in vogue. Our cousins at the Antipodes have set us a good example in keeping an island entirely for one race of bees, and I hopo that some systematic plan will be adopted in England for raising the best possible race ; and I think ' specialisation ' in queen-rearing ought to be supported by bee-keepers. Surely it will be better to 92 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 16, 1888. purchase home-bred queens which are thoroughly accli- matised from ' specialists,' providing- they can supply bees of a reliable standard of excellence, than sending money abroad, draining the pockets for the benefit of foreigners. Our Bee-keepers' Associations are formed for the purpose of teaching people how to keep money at home instead of sending it abroad for foreign honey : therefore, why send half the profit to the foreigner for his queens ? I am not satisfied with my blacks alto- gether, but they are a better all-round bee than some of the mongrels I have come in contact with; and as I have not much time for attempting to improve by introducing foreign blood I shall keep them as pure as I can, aud hope that the specialist will be able to offer us a better inthe not very distant future. — W. Coxon, Ambaston, near Derby. HOW TO DESTROY WASPS. — (1432 and 1459.') [1401.] Your correspondent F. Goodrich says that with his pickle-bottle he entrapped as many bees as wasps. I think I can teach him, and perhaps some others, ' a more excellent way.' Bees will scarcely evei go to the back uf the hive to feed ! If, therefore, the pickle-bottle be placed there, it will speedily be filled with wasps without a bee ! If, however, the bee-hives are placed in rows, one before the others, of course the back one becomes the front of the other and the plan will not work so well, but even in this case by placing the bottle quite in the middle of the back of the hive the bees will very rarely interfere with the pleasure of the wasps. — C. C. P., Volentia, Co. Kerry. HIS FIP.ST FRAME HIVE. [1402.] About the middle of May, 1886,1 was at a place about six miles from Kipon. While there, I called to see a bee-keeper, living in a neat cottage with a nice garden in front, in which he kept his bees; there were about six hives in all. He was pleased to see me, as he wanted some one to tell him how to put a swarm into a frame-hive he had managed to get. So he took me to see the hive, and explain to him how to put his first swarm into it. It was a pattern of the Cowan hive, rather clumsy, but still a serviceable hive.. 'I've got it ready " baited,'" says he, as he pointed to the strip of founda- tion in each frame, ' now tell me what to do.' I explained to him how to hive the swarm in the usual way : put it on the stand the new hive had to occupy, then in the evening to shake them on a board in front of the hive and let them run in. lie promised he would do just as I had told him. About the end of July I was there again, so I called to see how he had got on with his bees. He had had several swarms — the first he had put in his frame-hive. He asked me to look at it, and took off the top. Oh, what a sight ! — the quilt not right on, frames on the top of each other, some with the metal ends off, the combs were built all ways. Now this is how it had been done. The swarm settled on a bush just the height of the garden wall, so he took the hive body and put it un the wall wrong side up to let the swarm run in ; the frames in that way being all upset. I could do nothing with them as I had no veil. I can assure you I turned away from that garden, wishing it, at least, had never possessed a frame-hive. I was not surprised when I heard that this bee-keeper had said, later on, that he liked skeps better than the new hives. — Jghx Wiiahton, Iluney Cott, Howes, Yorkshire. \ queens at the head of our colonies, we have, or nearly so, overlooked the fact that good kings are equally to be had in reverence. Would it not be interesting, perhaps profitable, if some of our more advanced brethren would discuss, through the Journal, not only what drones are the best, after careful crossing and recrossing, but unravel for us, who are merely babes yet, the other duties of the drone bees, which, according to some people's ideas, are many, to others few, to others none? One can hardly be per- suaded to believe that they are brought into existence as the swarmiug season approaches solely for the purpose of mating with the young princesses. If this wero their only use, then, as some tell us, a smaller quantity of better quality would, perhaps, answer the purpose. But is it so? I suppose those colonies that are the most forward in the spring are the first to raise and send out drones. Is this the standard rule between strong and weak stocks, or is there some other reason ? For bees, like most human beings, have a reason ; ought I to sa}', on the part of the bee, instinct, f Are we doing exactly the right kind of thing in a hive of say ten frames when we use ten sheets, or nearly so, of worker foundation ? Might it not be discovered some day that a little drone foundation given to each hive is helpful instead of baneful, even if it did help to fill the hive with the worthless, honey-eating, lazy drone ! I have one hive — No. 4 — which has been, and 1 am expect- ing will be again this year, the best of my nine. It was the largest swarm I ever saw, when it came into my pos- session on the 31st May, three or four years ago, and gave good account of itself ; same year I sent out a swarm as well. This last season it gave me about 100 lbs. of splendid honey (extracted) on the tiering-up system ; and had there been any yield from the limes, I did hopo to have got 30 lbs. more, but they failed on account of the drought. I noticed in this hive, particularly, the large number of drones it sent out, or rather went in and out of it ; no doubt that hive was their right home ; and also, although they might be seeu Hying by hundreds on a fine day, there still seemed anxiety on the part of the bees to raise more, for, as the supers went on, drone- comb was built in nearly every bit of space where worker foundation did not intrude itself. Of course, I allow no breeding above-deck. As there is queen-and- drone prevention for all my hives, with bee-space above anil below, 1 do not find the bees object to it, nor has there a queen ever got through to my knowledge. • >ther hives that only yielded, say about 30 lbs. of honey, were nearly destitute of drones. I give this for what it is worth ; perhaps some one else may have something to say on the subject more experienced than myself. — J. W. BlANELBT, Denton, Lincolnshire. DRONES. [1403.] I am glad to see an article in your Journal setting forth some of the excellences of the drone bee, for, although a bee-keeper of ouly four or five years' standing, I have arrived at the conclusion, rightly or wrongly I know not, that in our anxiety to have good BEE-KEEPING IN MALTA. [1404.] You ask me in your number of 5th January for any particulars of bee-keeping in Malta. At present I believe I am the only frame-hive owner in the island, unless the llev. Fathers at the Jesuit College have them. The natives keep bees largely in earthenware pots, about a foot in diameter and 1| long, shaped like a stump- necked bottle, the mouth being filled by a stone bung with four channels for the bees to pass through ; but this they invariably refuse to do, and prefer to use the big end, which is simply covered loosely with a board, the pot being on its side, and generally on the ground, and under a tree. Consequently you can imagine the assort- ment of creatures to be found inside. They take the honey and wax once a-year, and leave little or no stores, and are astonished at the loss in numbers during the autumn. My brother started three or four frame-hives late last year. One, the first, is in very good order; the February 16, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 93 other very weak, but breeding fast, and they are getting iu pollen in greater quantities already. I have made myself two hives, but on account of the great heat in summer and the temperate winter, I have not stuck to the English form quite. My hive proper i-s single-walled, J in. stuff, and this I place iu a large box on legs, giving quite 3-in. room all round, with roof to lift or hinge, raintight but not air- tight. To allow of a current of air in the summer, I intend boring holes in the outer case low down, and covering with perforated zinc, and leaving the tops slightly open during the day ; and if I find the sun's rays too powerful, propose having a hood like a child's perambulator to draw over to shade the south side. The natives simply cover with grass mats, but these I do not fancy, as the ants and insects are in legions, and will harbour in them. Ants are a pest, but they are get-at-able. Hornets, however, are the enemies. Last year nearly 400 were killed round the hives. I am trying to devise a plan to lessen the evil, and offer a reward for each nest, or for each dozen of dead hornets. I do not like the Palestine dodge of smoke, The bees themselves appear to be docile, but I am told that at certain seasons they get vicious. I fancy orange blossom and karob bloom affect them. They have, as far as my inexperience goes, all the appearance of Cyprian bees, yellow bands, &c, and fly in any weather almost. I sent some dead ones to Mr. Baldwin lately to look at, and if I visit England in the summer, shall try and bring a hive with me for examination by experts. The natives, as usual, are superstitious, and object, as a rule, to their hives being looked at, and I have difficulty in getting information. They laugh at my hives, and the trouble I take, and also the feeding, but I hope by the time the Agricultural .Show takes place to have some frames and sections to show, and some extracted honey, and perhaps a hive; but wax as yet beats me, I cannot get it clean. Certainly I have only smelted down old black combs and scraps hitherto, and if any one could give me a few hints 1 should be grateful. There is no question about it being a splendid place for a bee-farm. The winter is so mild that no wintering, other than feeding, and perhaps a stopping-up of draughts, is necessary, and already the honey is being gathered, white broom, mignonette, and other flowers being out. Later on the sulfa, or crimson clover, will give a harvest, and orange and other plants until the end of August. From September I expect to have to feed a little, and during the heat water is the difficulty. I am so afraid that the heat will cause heavy combs to drop that in fixing foundation I make the sides of top-bars moveable, then fix the sheet with glue on both sides, and screw the moveable piece back. Some I have tried without glue, and am waiting for results. I find screws are necessary, as the wood is so liable to warp that nails and tacks do not hold. I have planted white clover and limnanthes,but I do not think they will do. In some parts of the island wild thyme grows freely, and some keepers move their bees to this, which comes much later. Should I find out anything interesting or queer as I get along I will let you know.— Malta. A USEFUL SUGGESTION. [1495.] Let me suggest to some one with leisure to draw up some striking handbills, which in the present time of cheap printing are produced at marvellously low prices. Most of the matter could be culled from the many useful hints which appear in the Journal; for instance, 'The Cure of Bronchitis,' from your corre- spondent last week. These could be distributed through the local secretaries, or the plan might be extended to print at foot the name of the retailer or the bee-keeper at a slight extra cost. In large quantities a bill 7 in. by 5 in. could be produced at about Is. per thousand; or if a bitter bill is necessary estimates could be asked for and the result published for the benefit of all interested ill the sale of honey. I am not writing without some knowledge of how honey can be sold, as my turn-oat approached nearly two toils in the last nine months. If the suggestion is worth anything I shall be glad to send ray idea of a bill, aud perhaps others will follow suit. — II. J. B. THE TIME TEST. [1496.] Last autumn I made my first — and last — attempt to obtain the third-class expert's certificate. Much to my disgust, owing to the time test, I failed, being considerably longer than the stipulated time in finding her majesty. Now, whether or not my examiner could have found her earlier I know not. This I do know, that if he could honestly have passed me under the pre- sent rules he would have done so ; but, though most flattering were his expressions as to my general fitness, he was bound by the watch. I cannot say I was less annoyed when 1 remembered that at the previous ex- amination held here, a gentleman who was examined in my presenCJ passed who did not find the queen at alt — but it was under another examin-'r. On the day of my inglorious attempt, one of the best, if not the best, manipulators I know actually drove and found in twice the time I occupied; but he was not up for examination, Like all bee-keepers who have done much driving, I have had good and bad drives, but from the experience thus gained, anything so uncertain as a time test is most unfair when a style test would settle the matter at once. —II. J. B., Southrjate. QUEEN-BREEDING. [1497.1 I think the best plan to remedy the ill effects of in-and-in breeding is that given by Mr. Edey, page 111 of the present volume, in which he says, ' that frames of wired comb containing egg.-i have been invariably success- ful when subjected to proper treatment after arrival.' Bee-keepers could with advantage, and very little expense or labour, exchange eggs to raise queens from, and thus prevent in-and-in breeding by the following plan, which I think would be successful if proper care be taken. Take your best stock which you wish to breed from, and insert in the middle of brood-nest a frame of li inches sections containing new comb, and as soon as filled with ego-s remove with the adherent bees, taking care not to take the queen with them, and put in "Woodley's tin sec- tion case, making a hole or two with a pricker for ventilation. Tie a cord round to secure the lid and forward by rail at once. The contents being visible they will be handled with great care and the attendant bees will prevent the eggs from being chilled. My opinion is that eggs sent without attendant bees will not raise such strong queens as those which have had sufficient bees to keep them on even temperature. As small a number of sections containing eggs may be obtained as desired by filling the frame up with sections having |- inch starters only where you do not want the queen to lay, which may be removed to other hives worked for comb honey when you remove the section of comb containing eggs. In one section there would be sufficient eggs to raise at least thirty queens on Mr. Alley's plan, as given in his book on Queen-reariny and as practised by Mr. l'ometta in Italy (-4 Bee-keeper s Experience in the East). In conclusion I would recommend those that exchange eggs to inform those to whom they are sendiug them when they are about to forward them, so that all may be in readiness to insert the eggs in the hive immediately after arrival, and be careful to accept no eggs from a district in which there is foul brood. — A. Woodhead, Goole. 94 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 16, 1888. &z\m fram % jjxfres. Twi/nholm, Kirkcudbrightshire, Feb. 6th. — Seeing it is a long time since you had' a ' bit ' of jotting from me, I thought it would not be entirely out of place— at this, the beginning of another bee-season— to inform you how ' our pets ' have survived the past winter in this corner of the i kingdom. The ' deaths,' as far as I can learn, are at. present very few ; and I have only lost one out of eight hives, and that through utter starvation, it being a driven colony that refused to take the food supplied and there- fore had to pay the penalty. Saturday, Feb. 4th, was very mild, and warm gleams of sunshine tempted the bees forth for a cleansing flight and in search of pollen, of which I saw some collected from the snowdrops, and which is a fortnight earlier than the first I noticed last year. Bar-frame hives are gaining ground here now, since I got an ' Abbott's Combination,' and old-fashioned notions are getting rooted out ; thanks to the B. B. J. I am ' given down ' by some people here to be ' daft aboot bees; ' and one old woman had the ' cheek ' to tell me, 'if my ghost was seen onywhaur it wad be amang thae bee hooses ' (that's always some consolation for the future at any rate) ; but when the honey-taking season comes on, and anti-bee-keepers get a ' taste ' of the precious nectar, ' thae blessed bees ' are transformed into 'wonderfu' wee craturs.' Hoping you will excuse me for spinning such a long yarn, yours, Bonnie Scotland. Homy Cott, Hawes, North Yorkshire, February 9th. — To-day with us has been a beautiful day. The bees have had a good cleansing flight. All my stocks so far have passed the winter safely. The snow- drops have commenced to bloom, and I noticed to-day that several bees were gathering loads of pollen from them. This is earlier than any other season I can remember for them to begin pollen-gathering in this cold and backward climate. Last year they took in the first grain on the 19th February, iii 1886 on the 25th March, in 1885 on the 13th March. After such an early start may all bee-keepers have a prosperous year is the wish of— John Wharton. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- ' Aspibo.'— 1. Heather Honey.— Heather blooming after nearly all other honey-producing flowers have ceased, renders it very easy to keep the former distinct from the latter, therefore you should 'run' your colonies for clover at the commencement of the season, and and after prepare for the heather-flow. This is done by most advanced bee-keepers in the north. When sojourning in North England and South Scotland we paid particular attention to this subject, and found that the best results were obtained in the following manner : The hives were provided with section-racks at the commencement of the clover-flow, and just before the heather bloomed as many of the sections that had been filled with clover honey as were required for the heather harvest extracted. These empty combs were then placed in the racks; as a result heather honey only was stored by the bees in those sections. Before filling the racks with the empty combs, the hive should be contracted to eight frames. There is little fear so late in the season of the queen ' going up' in the sections. Do not super at the back of the hive, but ' tier up.' 2. Queen Excluder— No doubt the excluder-zinc was the cause of the bees not ' going up.' 3. Superseding Queens. — With your present experience you ought to be able to find and catch the queen. It is a very simple operation. It is of little use uniting with a cast, as perhaps the young- queen would be killed. 4. Scentmg Bees.— Sprinkle the bees with a small bunch of feathers, do not on any account 'drench' them. 5. Candy Making.— See The British Bes-keepers Guide-book for recipes for candy- making. 6. Moving Bees. — Move the bees after a spell of bad weather, and as soon as possible. The skeps can be transferred to bar-frame hives. 7. Entrances. — Entrances should be kept wide open even in your latitude. C. Wade. — We have received the bee forwarded by yon by post. But it arrived so smashed and flattened that being without shape or form it was impossible to say with any precision whether it was a queen or a worker bee. It was equally impossible to pass an}' opinion as to its race. We are, however, inclined to the opinion that the bee was not the queen, but a worker, and that it was a black bee. Arthur S. Hughes. — Hoge's Horehound Honey. — We are not unfamiliar with Mr. W. M. Hoge's pamphlet on the virtues of horehound and ' prepared ' table honey. As a pamphlet it is interesting, and we should be pleased if a somewhat similar one were distributed by the Honey Company through the length and breadth of the kingdom showing the excellences of British honey. The first we heard of Mr. Hoge was at the Royal Agricultural Show held at Kilburn in 1879. As the agent of Messrs. Thurber, of America, he exhibited about two tons of honey in sections ; and the clean, compact, and perfect appearance of the honey furnished very valuable lessons in marketing honey to the British bee-keeper. The ' prepared' honey of Mr. Hoge, of later years, would not, however, stand the test of the analyst. Several samples of Hoge's honey were forwarded to Mr. Otto Hehner for analysis, and he pronounced them, with great 'certainty,' to bo adulterated. He said : — ' They are products of the action of sulphuric acid upon starch, and consist in part of corn syrup, or of a mixture of the same with more or less of honey.' Mr. Hoge called himself ' purveyor to Her Majesty the Queen,' but on inquiry the title could not be sustained. Hoge's 'prepared' honey was not allowed to be exhibited in proximity to the department arranged by the Council of the Inter- national Health Exhibition to the B. B. K. A. at South Kensington in 1884. We believe that Mr. Hoge got up a Honey Company, but we have not heard much of it for some time. 11. L. Richardson. — Crate for Lee's Sections. — 1. Lee's sections as at present adapted do not fit ordinary crates, but we understand that Mr. Lee has an arrangement in prospect by which this desideratum will lie managed. 2. Water for bees. — AVe do not consider the plan of giving the bees water inside the hive with a bottle desirable. Consult the 'Useful Hints' in this issue, under the heading ' Water,' p 85, for a better manner of giving bees water. A. L. C. — You state in your communication that a recent letter signed 'W. B. Webster' is 'nothing more or less than a series of fallacies and misapprehensions,' but that ' you have neither time nor inclination to go into the matter in detail.' It becomes us, therefore, not to give ear to an unproven or unsupported asser- tion, or to come to any hasty conclusion respecting the trustworthiness of so old and reliable a corre- spondent as Mr. Webster has always proved himself to be. A. F. Parish. — We are obliged to you for the copy of the English Mechanic: we dealt with the matter in our last number. 2. The foundation being of last year's manufacture will not be a drawback to its being worked by the bees. If found to be dry let it be exposed to a gentle heat, or it may be immersed in water slightly warm. Ernest Wood. — Bee Farming and Appliance ~l..a- ) act uring— This is a question which is now engaging the attention of apiculturists (-see ' Simmins Bee Company' in issue of February 9th, 1888). Like all February 16, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 95 other bnsinesses some have floated, others have sunk. To an ' outsider,' as holding no position in the ' bee world/ the manufacture of appliances would most likely prove a failure. J. S. — North Devon. — We should not rely on such drones for fertilisation. We should not breed drones from the queen referred to. The drones sent appear to be hybrids. OOTSWOLD. — Moving Bees. — Yes, now at once ; if done on a ccld day when no bees are flying. 11. Chapman. — Bees in Sleeps Starling. — You must not attempt uniting till a warm day in April. If the skeps have feed -holes strew moist cane sugar over hole, say a pound, cover up nice and warm. If there is no hole put a quantity under skep on floor-board. Marcus J. Astle. — Preserving Frozen Queen. — The queen could be kept alive on one frame of comb with honey, and, say, a quarter to half-pint of bees if you had a single frame observatory hive and kept same at a comfortable temperature of 45°. Or fewer bees in a small box, ventilated, but kept warm. This is pre- suming you can get at your bees. As a last resource put her in a cage and insert same in feed-hole, some- times bees will feed a queen so caged even when not queenless. Kindly let us know later on what plan you adopted and how you succeed. It has been noticed that queens exposed to- great cold sometimes breed nothing but drones afterwards. W. M. — Heavy Death Bute. — Without seeing any of the dead bees referred to we should say it is the old bees dying off and not being removed by their comrades, who have apparently quite enough to do to attend to their brood, judging from your report. Experience similar to yours is not unknown, though not very frequent. We would recommend you to introduce some new blood by means of a queen from a distance, and then raise queens from her eggs, and so re-queen your stocks. You might send us a few bees for examination. Far North. — 1. Obtaining Comb-honey from a Stock that swarms. — 1'lace the swarm on the stand, till then occupied by the stock from which it proceeded, put the super from the stock — including any bees that may happen to be in it — on the swarm. Use queen- excluder over frames which should contain only inch starters of foundation. When the super is three parts finished, place another between it and the frames. 2. liaising Queens. — See ' Practical Work in the Apiary,' now running in this Journal, and the many references to this subject already given. business directory. Eeceived per post from Mr. G. Stothard, Welwyn, Herts, one dozen top bars lij inches, these are handy for inter- changing with metal end frames ; a Gray's covered feeder, of an improved pattern, and a Klimitz queen-catcher and cage, easily made by a novice ; a very clever contrivance for capturing a queen, which we hope to illustrate in a future issue. Mr. Stothard writes : ' I tried a new foundation-holder last year which I found excellent, and, I think, is my idea. It consists of a metal clip to slip over a top bar and has two little screws to tighten on the foundation. Three are necessary to each bar ; all three can be fi xed on in two minutes. When the foundation is built out they can be easily removed, and used over and over again for years. The little screws do not press directly on foundation, but on two little strips of wood d\ thick, J wide, and 14 long), which can easily be stuck on foundation by the fingers, one on each side of foundation. I have also schemed a strong steel spring for same purpose ; the only fault these have, however, is that they tear away a small piece of comb when they are removed if left long.' *„* On account of the extent of the Report of the annual meeting of the B. B. A". A. we have been obliged to postpone the appearance of the reports of several Associations. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 25Ga Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchmvh St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester. Edet & Son, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. Webster, W. B., Binfiekl, Berks. Woodley, A. D., 2G Donnington Boad, Beading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchureh St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H, Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. it 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour ROOT, Medinn, Ohio, XJ. S. ^V.*> Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stranoeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 296. Vol. XVI.] FEBRUARY 23, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (^tutorial, Maims, #c. COTTAGER'S MONTHLY JOURNAL. We should feci obliged to County, Provincial, and Local Secretaries, if they would kindly furnish our publisher, Mr. J.Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts, with the names and addresses of all cottagers and artisans who take an interest in bee-keeping, so that he may have the opportunity of forwarding each a copy of the new Journal. Numerous names have been forwarded, and we beg to thank those who have taken this trouble. PRACTICAL WORK IX THE APIARY. The bee-keeper most likely to succeed will be the one who is always ready to lake advantage of every favourable circumstance. During the summer months he finds plenty of employment, and many think there is nothing to do in the winter. Tins is certainly a more leisure season, but it can be very profitably employed by the bee-keeper in malum;' preparations for the coming season. Bees require little or no attention, but he must not neglect to attend to hives, crates, and any other appliances he may require. If be is of a mechanical turn of mind he will make a great many things himself, and (aily purchase such articles as frames and sections, winch are required in large quantities, and require special machinery to turn them out accurately at cheap rates. Those who depend on purchased articles must bear in mind that hives and appliances are too bulky to be made in quantity by the manufacturers and stored, therefore what he is likely to require be should order without delay, so as to give the dealer sufficient time to complete them. Orders are frequently left until the swarming season, and then there is such a rush that many have to wait some time before their orders can be completed, and often do not get their things until too late in the season when they are no longer wanted. We do not recommend one manufacturer in preference to another, and our readers are invited to choose from our advertisement columns, where they will find wdiat they require. There are now a large number of manu- facturers in England, and our columns are, and always have been, open freely to all to describe and illustrate any new and interesting inventions, and to advertise them, if they think fit to do so ; and if they do not take advan- tage of this they have only themselves to blame if they are not remembered when orders have to be given. We urge upon our readers the advisability of giving their orders at once. All old hives and appliances which were used last season should be thoroughly examined and put into good working order. The hives should be well scalded, and put out to dry, after which they shoidd be painted over with a solution of salicylic or carbolic acid. In view of the prevalence of foul brood in many districts this precaution is doubly necessary. We would strongly advise no bee-keeper to purchase any second- hand hives or appliances without having them first properly scalded and disinfected, even if he is certain they come from a district where foul brood is not known. Our own hives are in several pieces and are easily cleaned, and we prefer them to those on fixed legs, which ■ also have their inner and outer casings fixed for- tius very reason. In fact it was a very costly ex- perience with foul brood that determined us to have our hive so constructed that it could be easily taken to pieces and scalded. We have a copper holding about fifty gallons, and as t'le water boils the hive is dipped into it and scrubbed over with a whitewasher's brush. The bristles of tins must be bound with copper, or they are lik 1\ tn dime out when the glue holding them becomes melted. Every part of t lie hive in this way becomes thoroughly cleaned, the wax and propolis coatingthewood and forming a kind of varnish, which assists in protecting the w 1 and answers the purpose of a coating of paint. \\ e only paint our outer cases and those parts ex- posed to the weather. The bee-keeper should do all the repairing necessary, and then give all painted w.ork a couple of good coats of oil-paint. The painting ought not to cost much, as good paint already mixed and of any tint required can be purchased in tins at sixpence a pound, and a very little practice will enable any one to turn out a creditable job. Look over frames of combs stored away, and if they show signs of damp, such as becoming mouldy, put them into a warm place and spray them with carbolic acid solution. Now is also the best time to order what foundation is likely to be wanted as well as sections. AVe are fre- quently asked what sort of foundation should be used. For brood-frames we recommend that from four to six square feet, and if the frames are wired it can be even lighter, some using it eight feet to the pound. Those who are going in for extracted honey should wire their frames and they would not run any chance of combs 98 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 23, 1888. breaking. For sections the thinnest foundation should be used, twelve feet to the pound. As to ordering sec- tions, the bee-keeper must decide upon the size of these according to his market, hut those 4| x 4J- are just now mostly in favour. For every hive it is intended to use for comb honey we should lay iu a stock of 80 to 100 sections and three section-racks. The racks should be made to hold from twenty-one to twenty-seven sections and should be provided with dividers. The dividers used last season should be scalded and then hammered flat, so as to fit properly in their places. If he is going to work for extracted honey he must see that he has plenty of spare body-boxes so as to be able to raise his hives to three or even four storeys. A proportionate number of frames will also be required. Make-shift hives are always useful in an apiary for hiving unexpected swarms and many other purposes, and can be made by almost any bee-keeper or purchased for a few shillings. We cannot insist too strongly on making all these preparations now, so as to be ready when the honey season comes round again. The planting of trees and shrubs should also engage the attention of the bee-keeper now. The willow is one of our earliest pollen-bearing plants, grows freely anywhere, and is easily propagated by cutting3. Larger trees transplanted would yield a supply of pollen this season even. Plant also raspberry- suckers, as well as currant and gooseberry-bushes. Some of the finest flavoured honey we have tasted was obtained from raspberries, and these continue in bloom for a con- siderable time. Almost all trees and shrubs useful for bee pasturage may be transplanted now, but the trans- planting should only be done on days when the weather is fine and the ground in a fit condition. THE 'WILEY LIE' IN ENGLAND. Under the above heading in the American Bee Journal for January 25, the Editor gives a part ion of an article which appeared on page 568 of British Bee Journal for December 28. We are sorry the whole was not repro- duced, but pending an inquiry into the truth of the in- formation supplied, we reprint Mr. Newman's reproof as it appears in the American Bee Journal. lie says : — ' As usual in such cases, a clergyman is brought into it, so as to give some appearance of truth to the story — for he "visited many of the adulterating bee-farms," says the article. It is a base slander — a nefarious lie ; neither the clergyman in question, nor " any other man," ever visited any such " adulderating bee-farms I " They do not exist!! It is nothing more nor less than a scandalous falsehood — the production of a sensational reporter's brain, written for spice, but lacking even the flimsiest " thread " of truth ! Its only possible excuse is the infamous " scientific pleas- antry " written "for the fun of the thing," by Professor Wiley — who is so unprincipled as to let it " fly " on electric wires to " the uttermost parts of the earth," without a word of regret, or denial! When cornered by the American Bee Journal he admitted that he wrote it as a scientific pleasantry, never dreaming that any one would imagine it to be a sober fact. Now the British Bee Journal repub- lishes it under the heading of " Facts." It is astonishing, to say the least ! We have repeatedly offered large sums of money to persons (one of them a clergyman, too) who had repeated this story as a. fact, to take us to the place where these " artificial combs" are made, or where the " adultera- ting bee-farms " may be found, but no one can take us to them ! No such places can be found ! Mr. A. I. Root, editor of Gleanings in Bee-Culture, has for two years had a standing offer of $1500 to any one who will point out such places to him — yet there are none who can do it. They do not exist ! Now when honey is scarce and prices high, it is just the time for putting this " artificial comb honey" on the market at good prices, for our British contemporary says that it is " so much like the genuine article that only experts can detect the difference." But what are the facts? Not even a single pound of the " artificial honey " can be produced! Not even a single "adulterating bee- farm" can be shown ! ! Send your "clergyman" over here, Mr. Scribbler, to point out such farms. It will pay him to do so ! ' ASSOCIATIONS. SOMERSET BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting was held on the 26th January at the committee-room of the S.P.C.K., Union Street, Bath, only one member, besides the Hon. Secretary (Rev. O. G. Anderson), putting in an appearance. No business was transacted. The position of the Association is as fol- lows:— Members of the Association,."!); Taunton Branch, 28 ; Bedminster Branch, 10 ; total, 77. Receipts of the Association, 24/. 18s. 6d.; expenditure, 861. 2s. lid, ; balance against the Association, 11/. 4s. 5d. Taunton Branch receipts, t»/. 10s. Qd. ; expenditure, 0/. Us. Orf. ; Bedminster Branch receipts, 1/. 12s. 6d. ; expenditure, 1/. 6s. 3d. The work of the Association has been crippled both from want of funds and energy among the mem- bers. Shows were held at Bath, Bedminster, Taunton, Dunster, North Betberton, Stoke Courcy, Nunney, &c. The Rev. Charles G. Anderson, having resigned the Hon. Secretary and Treasurerships, will no longer be respon- sible for the Association in any way. No business being transacted at the meeting, both offices are vacant ; and no plan for carrying on the Association was proposed, though a letter was read from Mr. Hamilton Palairet, offering to assist in paying off the debt due to the treasurer. LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Lancashire and Cheshire Bee-keeepers' Association held their annual meeting at the Bear's Paw, Lord Street, Liverpool, at 4 p.m., on Wednesday, the 8th February, li?88. Amongst those present were Revs. J. F. Buckler, Sheffield, Hardinge, and Thos. Slevan; Colonel Heme, Mrs. Milner, and Miss Rowe ; Messrs. W. B. Carr, Geo. Roberts, Litherley, Williams, Scotson, Sadler, Procter, Bally, Bather, Caldwell, Wade, Lyon, Deane, Milner, &c. The Report and accounts were taken as read. The Chairman (the Rev. F. Buckler) informed the meeting of a letter he had received from Lord La- thom, the President, regretting his inability to be present, as he was called to London for the opening of Parliament. A vote of thanks to the officers of the Association for the year 1887 having been proposed, seconded, and carried unanimously, the re-election of officers for 1888 was proceeded with. To the list of patrons the Duke of Westminster had kindly consented to his name being added. The President, Lord Lathom, was unanimously re-elected amidst expressions of general thanks for his kind letter. The other officers of the Association were mostly re-elected, additions being made to fill vacancies, subject to the parties appointed consenting to act. Rule 6 of the Association was altered so as to make subscriptions become due the day of the annual meeting and after the balance-sheet of the previous year had been published, and the Seciretary was asked to write to those members who had not paid prior to the expert making his visit that the expert would be prepared to receive their subscriptions. Tea was provided for the lady members, and there was a short discussion on the relative qualities of three samples of honey brought before the meeting by the February 23, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 99 Hon. Secretary, when the meeting was brought to a close. Several of the members dined together and discussed the work of the Association for the year, all agreeing that every effort should be put to make the bee and honey department of the Royal Manchester, Liverpool, and North Lancashire Agricultural Society, to be held at Lancaster this year, a great success by offering a very full and valuable list of prizes. It augurs well for the Association that already several new members have joined since the commencement of 1888. HEREFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual general meeting of this Association was held on Thursday, February 2, in the Woolhope Club- room at the Free Library, under the presidency of Mr. James Rankin, M.P., there being also present — the Rev. James Oakley, Dr. T. A. Chapman, the Misses Marillier, Mr. W. Toinkius (Burghill), Mr. George (Abbevdore), Mr. H. Lovesav (Ilolmer), Mr. W. Smith (Thinghill), Mr. M. Meadham (Burghill), Mr. J. R. Hole (Tar- rington), Rev. F. S. Stooke-Vaughan (lion, treasurer), Mr. Alfred Watkins (lion, secretary), &c. From the annual balance-sheet, which was read by the Secretary, it appeared that during the past year the expenditure (including 151. 7*. 6d. offered in prizes) had been 4-V. Ills, '.hi., and there was a balance in hand amounting to 1/. 19s. Id. Mr. Watkins added that although the amount of subscriptions had fallen off K. during the year, their expenditure had been less, andthe Association was in a no worse position than last year. The Secretary remarked that at a committee meeting, held on January 8th, it was proposed that the county be divided into districts corresponding with the petty sessional districts, each district to be in charge of a local secretary. On the motion of Mr. Watkins, the recom- mendations of the committee were confirmed and em- bodied in the following minutes : — 1. The county is divided into districts corresponding with the petty sessional divisions, each district to be in charge of a local secretary, who shall, after the first holder of the office, be elected by the members of the district. 2. Each local secretary to have charge of the work of the Association in his district, and to be empowered to receive and give receipts for subscriptions ; such subscriptions to be remitted to the Treasurer at the end of each quarter, any expenses incurred for postage, etc., being deducted from the amount remitted. 3. Each local secretary to call an annual meeting of all members in his district during the month of January (before the 20th) for the purpose of electing the local secre- tary for the ensuing year, discussing the work of the year, and any other matter of interest. He may also call such additional meeting as he may think fit. The election of officers was then proceeded with. In reference to the hon. secretaryship, Mr. Watkins said he had come to the conclusion to resign, but would be pre- pared to act as local secretary for the Hereford district. The Chairman, in appreciative terms, proposed that the best, thanks of the Association be given to Mr. Watkins for his most useful services as general hon. secretary in the past, and for his offer of continued service as secretary of the Hereford district for the future. The Rev. F. S. Stooke-Vaughan seconded, and it was unanimously passed. Mr. Watkins replied, stating that it had been to him a labour of love, and he hoped still to be able to do some good work fir the sam>' good cause. The Chairman then proposed that the Rev. James Oakley, Hereford, be elected general hon. secretary, re- marking that that gentleman was fond of the work, and had consented to take up the post. Dr. Chapman seconded the proposal, and it was carried unanimously. Sir Joseph Bailey, the member for the city, was elected president for the ensuing year. Local secretaries for the various districts were appointed as follows: — Abbeydore, Captain Freke Lewis ; Bredwardine, Miss Kearsey Thomas, Winforton ; Bromyard, Mr. E. L. Cave ; Harewood End, Rev. G. Herbert, Llangarren ; Hereford, Mr. Alfred Watkins; Kington, Mr. J. W. Lloyd; Ledbury, Mr. T. Charles; Leominster, Mr. A. Bannister, Docklow ; Ross, Mr. A. P. Small ; Wigmore, Mrs. Cartwright, Leintwardiue ; Weobley, Mr. John Griffiths. The committee was also elected. The Rev, F. S. Stooke-Vaughan was re-appointed treasurer. The following were appointed experts: — Mr. J. R. Hole (Tarrington), Mr. M. Meadham (Huntington), and Mr. Thomas Pritchard (Bucknell) ; and as representatives to the British Bee-keepers' Association, the Rev. James ( lakley and Mr. A. Watkins were re-elected. Mr. Watkins then read the annual Report, which re- capitulated the work done by the Association during the year, including private demonstrations, arrangements, and lectures, the bee tent, and the Hereford Honey Fair. Referring to the position of the Association, the Report stated : — ' About fifty names have been taken off the list of members during the year, but a number of these had ceased paying their subscriptions for several seasons. On the other hand, seventeen new members have joined.' It will be noticed that the income by subscriptions is SI. less than last season, but that liabilities remain at about the same amount. The report was adopted, and a vote of thanks was heartily accorded to Mr. Rankin for presiding. N< tKTHAMPTOXSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of members of this Association was held on Saturday afternoon, January 28th, at All Saints' Schools, Northampton. Mr. A. T. Adams (Crick) presided/and there were also present — the Rev. J . Phillips (Weston Favel), Mr. Francis (Northampton, treasurer), Mr. Collins (Berrv Wood), Mr. Adams and Mr. Kimbell (Spratton), Mr. R. Hefford and Mr. O. C. Hollis (Boughton), Mr. W. L. Bird (Ilorton Hall), and Mr. F. D. Douglas (Wootton). Mr. Francis said the first business of the meeting was to consider whether the Society should be continued or dissolved. It would, perhaps, be advisable before they took the matter into their consideration to have a state- ment of the receipts and expenditure for the past year, and of the financial position of the Association submitted to them. From the statement it appeared that, excluding the bee-tent, which was the property of the Association, tho Society was upwards of 0/. in debt. In answer to a question, Mr. Francis said the members of the Association numbered about seventy. Four or five years ago, when he became treasurer, the Society was encumbered with a debt of between 40/. and 50/. After some conversation he added that the Society could not work the county properly with its present income. If the bee-tent, with an expert, were sent to the different agricultural shows, a large outlay would be entailed, and this the funds of the Society would not permit. Eventually Mr. Collins proposed, Mr. Bird seconded and it was carried without one dissentient, that the Association be not dissolved. It was decided to ask Lady Knightley to kindly be- come President of the Society for the ensuing year, in place of the Hon. C. R. Spencer, the retiring president. The following gentlemen were then elected as the Committee : — The Rev. J. Phillips, and Messrs. W. E. Stimpson, R. Hefford, W.Adams, J. Rooke, W. L. Bird, and E. Adams. Mr. Hefford, at the wish of the meet- ing, undertook the secretaryship, and Mr. Francis, the treasurership. 100 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 23, 1888. The thanks of the Society were given to the Hon. C. E. Spencer, to the Committee, and to the Treasurer, for their services during the past year, and with a similar compliment to Mr. Adams, for presiding, the meeting came to a close. ESSEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the Association was held at Chelmsford, at 6..'!0 p.m. on Friday, January 26th. Mr. Reg. W. Christy presided; and there were also present Messrs. Ed. Durrant, W. E. Bovill, C. R. Finch, W. R. Gibbens, F. W. Brenes (Brentwood), F. H. Mpggy, honorary secretary, and W. Debnam, expert and assistant secretary. The Report stated that county shows had been held successfully on June 7th, in connexion with the Essex Agricultural Society, and November 16th in connexion with the Chelmsford and Essex Horticultural Society. At the tirst-named there was the best exhibition of hives and appliances which has been seen in the county, and at the latter the largest and best display of honev. At one or other the B.B.K.A. silver and bronze medals and certificates were awarded, and for the first time in Essex candidates were examined for the B.B.K.A. third-class certificate for proficiency in bee-keeping. Mr. Debnam received the silver medal for comb-honey and the bronze medal for run-honey, Mr. Runcieman the certificate for run-honey, and Mr. Cheek the certificate for proficiency. The offer of the Association to give lectures in winter, or send the bee-tent in summer, wherever the cost in- curred is guaranteed, was taken advantage of at West Hanningfield for a lecture, and at Rayleigh, on the occasion of the rural fete, for the bee-tent demonstra- tions and lectures. The bee-tent is found to be a welcome addition wherever it is engaged; and the attractive lecture, illustrated by lantern and slides, prepared by Mr. Ed. Durrant, is appreciated wherever heard. The Committee attach so much importance to lectures in the winter season as a means of spreading the know- ledge of economic bee-keeping, that they have recently decided to pay half the cost of at least one lecture in each year, to be delivered at some centre where they are not well represented. If the funds allowed they would gladly apply 10/. a-year in a similar way, which would enable them to hold many more village lectures. The division of the county into districts has not, in many cases, borne great results; but the thanks of the Association are, nevertheless, due to all who have acted as district secretaries and local advisers, some for help given during the past year, and others for assistance hoped for in the future. A very slight effort on the part of each District Secretary, planted as they are all over the county, should bring 'such an addition to the funds as would enable the Committee at least to carry out the scheme for lectures advocated above. Thanks are tendered to all others who have helped forward the work of the Association during the year, and among them to Mr. Debnam, who has waived all claim for recompense for the many hours he has given to the work of assistant secretary. In reply to a question put by Mr. Durrant, the Secre- tary pointed out that centres for the sale of honey had been formed in the ordinary course of trade. Honey was sold at a dozen places in Chelmsford only, and it was staged by nearly every grocer. If some sold inferior, foreign, or manufactured stuff, the public were quickh learning to demand what was good, well-flavoured English honey. Mr. Durrant admitted if people did not sell it was generally because they wanted the high prices of times now passed. The prices offered by the honey companies were so low that only those could make a profit who had learned the lessons of the last few years and could make their bees produce double the quantity of honey. Of course they should sell near home if they could. Per-onally, he could sell almost any quantity. Mr. Brenes, who took second prize for the best cot- tagers' apiary last year, corroborated, and stated, after the meeting, that he had sold nearly a hundredweight of honey near home without taking much trouble. The following are the elected Committee: — Messrs. W. E. BoviU, Reg. W. Christy, II. S. Coleman, Ed. Durrant, C. R. Finch, W. R. Gibbens. Among the notices issued by the Secretary with the annual Report is an intimation that the Essex Agri- cultural Society will hold their show this year at Ilford, June 28th and 2'Hh, when it is intended to offer prizes similar to those offered in the past year. There will be a class for the best collection of last season's honey. The terms in which the Secretary announces the cottagers' apiary competition, for which Mr. Ed. Durrant offered a prize, are ' for the best kept cottager's apiary giving largest returns, in comparison with the number of hives. The expert to judge on his rounds. Com- petitors to be allowed the right of protesting by letter to the Committee.' NOTTS BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual general meeting of the Nottinghamshire Bee-keepers' Association was held on Saturday at the People's Hall, Heathcote Street, Nottingham. Mr. T. J. Gosling was elected to preside, and amongst those present were — Mrs. Wootton, Messrs. P. Scattergood, Jan., It. Turner, S.Godfrey, D. Burnham, II. J. Raven, S. Marriott, and F. H. K. Fisher. Mr. Fisher (hon. secretary) presented the annual report for the year 1887, which stated that they had every reason to be satisfied with the results of the year. The committee had met six times, and had done all they could towards promoting bee-keeping and assisting bee- keepers. Last year's expenses had been met, although the membership had fallen off. With an increase of members there was every prospect of the Association paying off its bad debts. The great difficulty with members seemed to be the sale of their honey, and to assist them the committee arranged to hold a honey fair on the 16th and 17th December last at Nottingham. .Messrs. Morris and Place kindly placed their mart at their disposal, and the amount of honey staged was a little over a ton, besides a small quantity of wax. The sales were, however, slow, only six or seven hundred- weight being sold. At this fair the medals of the British Bee-keepers' Association and their certificate were offered for competition. There were numerous competitors, including most of the leading bee-keepers in the county. The silver medal was won by Mr. W. Silver, of Retford ; the bronze medal by the Rev. R. A. McKee, of Farnsfield; and the certificate by .Mr. G. E. Caporn, of Newton. The honey fair was a loss of 8/. to the Association. The committee would be glad to arrange for lectures in different parts of the county if desired. Mr. C. E. Walton, of North Muskham, had resigned the office of expert in consequence of press of business. The balance-sheet for the year 1887 showed that the income had been 'I'M. lis. -\d., and the expen- diture -HI. 1«. <»/. Votes of thanks were then accorded to the retiring office bearers. The office-bearers for the ensuing year were then elected. The annual drawing for bee-keeping appliances, which had been presented by various manufacturers, was next proceeded with, and a vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close. IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Committee met on the 7th inst. Present — Mr. Millner (in the chair), Rev. P. Kavanagh, Mr. Sproule, Mr. Gillies, Mr. Read, and the hon secretary. The Annual General Meeting of members was fixed February 23, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 101 for Thursday, 5th April, one of the days of the Royal Dublin Society's Spring Show. Mr. Sproule brought up the report of the Hive Sub-Committee, which was adopted. This report recommended the addition of further details to the description of the Asso- ciation's Standard hive, which appeared in the Bee Journal for October 20th, 1887. The full descrip- tion, with the addition of these details, is as follows: — The length of top bar to be 16 in. out to out; width, g in. ; thickness, f in. ; sides, \ x jj in. ; bottom, g x J in. ; outside measurement of frame, 8i x 14 in. The top bar of the frame to be what is known as open-ended, with screw-distance-keepers 1 in. in length, and f\ in. across the eye, outside measurements, the eye screws to be inserted immediately over side bars. The runners to be of hard wood, as narrow as possible, and in every way calculated to reduce propolisation to a minimum, for which pur- pose also the top bars should be bevelled almost to a chisel edge. The hive to be 22 in. long, 14A in. wide, and. 9S in deep from the top of frame to floor-hoard inside. The walls, if single, to be of J in. wood, and 10A in. deep, with a strip of wood at the top to cover the ends of the frames; the strip to be s in. full when finished. With double walls these details may be varied when necessary. The floor to be of 1 in. timber, planed on both sides' nailed to rabbet in the sides, and, if joined, to be tongued and grooved. A super cover to be provided of same dimensions inside as outside of hive, so as to cover the latter without plinths, a strip being tacked inside each end to keep it in position ; the cover to be of suf- ficient depth to hold a doubling-box, with frames exactly similar to the brood-frames. The flight-hole to be nine inches wide. The following fittings to be supplied with the hive : — Convenient entrance slides, an effective porch, one close- fitting division-board; quilts, consisting of one layer of canvas, two layers of jute carpeting, and two of flannel or their equivalent ; each quilt, to cover the frames fully with an excess of a quarter of an inch all round. Legs, butting on slip along top of slides, raising the hive bottom nine to twelve inches from the ground ; the legs to be screwed on and numbered, to facilitate replace- ment on unpacking ; the screws to be well spread, and not less than three in number for each leg. (forcspflirtrcitte. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed ly his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, Jtc, must be addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c/o Sfessrs. Strange ways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C All business communications relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, A'iuys Langlcy, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). *m* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, xchen speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as v ell as the paye on which it appears. CONSANGUINITY. [1498.] To the account of an isolated apiary I gave last week, without any of the dire effects one would expect to see developed if there is any deterioration by in-and-in breeding amongst the insecta, as promulgated by Mr. Webster (and which I doubt), I will add another striking instance of long continued and still continuing success in another isolated apiary, situated, like the old lady's men- tioned by Mr. W., in a valley, and surrounded at an easy distance by woods, and interspersed with arable land adapted to the growth of sanfoin, of which a good breadth is generally grown. Now for sixty years this isolated cottage, with only a small farmyard adjoining, was tenanted by a labourer and his wife. Here they spent their wedding, and here, fifty years later, they celebrated their jubilee or golden wedding, and during that number of years they kept bees, and a good-s'zed apiary, too. The old lady told me they started with three stocks, and increased up to ten, which number they kept for several years, and, finding them profitable, they decided on keeping twenty stocks spring count, except from any winter loss, and which, she said, amounted to barely one per }'ear on an average. They never had any disease among them — in fact, the old lady wa3 incredu- lous as to bees being subject to disease. A point in this case on which I lay stress, and can vouch for from my own personal knowledge and memory, was this, that the W — s bees always swarmed very early in the season; and years ago when I was a lad I well remember hearing year after year of the earliest swarms of the season, by two or three weeks, falling to the share of the people in question. I would add I kept bees then and remember staying at home to watch my bees instead of going to Newbury to the celebration and rejoicings on the conclusion of the war and restoration of peace with Russia in 1866. Now if these bees swarmed the last week in April and early in May, or say a fortnight earlier than any other neigh- bours' bees, and the nearest neighbour was nearly two miles in a bee-line, it follows that if ever a case of in- and-in breeding year after year by bees in one apian,' was known, or could be proved, surely it is this one; yet here, on the testimony of sixty years' experience, we find that their losses were barely five per cent. Here we have queens mating with drones, probably brother and sister (according to our affinity), or with first cousins, without tlie possibility of meeting with any new blood, even in a long flight — the earliness of the season being an insuper- able barrier from the very fact that in other apiaries the drones had not made their appearance. The old couple have passed away to the home beyond, and their name with them, as they left no offspring ; but the bees still continue to thrive, aye, and swarm early, and other apiaries have sprung from them within a mile of the original ! The man who lives at the cottage now, a carpenter, called on me this week for instructions how to make a bar-frame hive, and a pattern of a frame. He told me his bees are strong and that the withies (palm) would soon be out in sheltered situations. In conclusion, I submit these two cases of continued apiarian prosperity during a lengthened period are entirely at variance with the notions enunciated by Mr. \Y. in his recent article on consanguinity; and when the weather is warmer I shall be pleased to send Mr. W. or any other gentleman a sample of the bees (subject to the owner's approval) so that he or they may see for them- selves the results of long-continued consanguinity. As regards ' The Old Lady of the Valley,' mentioned by Mr. W., he must seek some other reason or cause, I think; to solve the question of failure rather than consanguinity extending to only the sixth season in face of the two cases cited above, one continuing through as many decades and the other to nearly as many generations (of mankind, not bees). Probably the secluded apiary in the pine -woods languished and died out by spring- dwindling for want of sufficient food to carry them through till the heather came into bloom, as we know the undergrowth in pine-woods — or fir-plantations, as we call them here — is practically nil as regards honey- producing plants, and I should be much more inclined to say they died from slow starvation from sheer inability to gather a living for an increasing population in the spring than from in-and-in breeding, and the debility mentioned would be the natural result of a bare sub- sistence. Instances of this are everywhere apparent in all and every form of life. Creatures not receiving proper nourishment must be debilitated — W. Woodley 102 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 23, 1888. COUNTY BEE-KEEPING ASSOCIATIONS. 1 1499.] I regret that I was prevented from noticing at the proper time Mr. McClure's further observations, and replying to the inquiries contained in his letter published on the 9th inst. He therein asks, ' In what way do I want the Committee of the B.B.K.A. to move ? ' To this I would answer that thev should institute an inquiry into the condition of each county Association with a view to ascertaining how far they have fulfilled, or are fulfilling the primary objects for which they were formed ; and then further consider and advise upon the objects which they should set before them. In this county of Kent the missionary work of spreading the knowledge of improved bee-keeping has been proceeding for ten years, and it is not unreasonable to suppose that its task has been largely accomplished. This being so, the question arises, how can we retain that interest and support which hitherto has been liberally given ? Is it to be supposed that county bee-keeping Associations will find it possible to maintain a permanent position, depending only upon their benevolent purposes ? Or has the time come to any of them when, benevolence having done its part, they shall begin to transform themselves into societies or clubs with defined practical and commercial aims ? In asking this I do not wish it to be assumed that I am assenting to it, but the con- sideration of it may, at least, be of some use in eluci- dating the main question of the continued vitality of the affiliated Associations. In the remarks, which may be taken as the starting-point of the discussion which has now been running on for several weeks, attention was drawn to the now neglected condition of some of the counties which had made a fair start. What has happened to these may happen to others. In passing, I would observe that it is to be regretted that the counties thus implicated have not found a voice where- with to deplore their condition or to support the sug- gestion for an inquiry. To Mr. McClure's observation that I did not bring the subject under the notice of the meeting of county representatives last month, I would say that had I been able to attend I should have endeavoured to have done so, but not knowing beforehand whether an attack of illness from which I was suffering would allow of my doing so, the opportunity was, for the time, lost. I was even prevented from conferring with my colleague on the matter. For Mr. McClure's kind invitation to pay him a visit I am much obliged, and would assure him how much I should enjoy an inspection of the field over which his Association holds sway, but for the purpose which we have in view I hardly think it is necessary. Generally speaking, our work appears to proceed upon very similar lines, but the result, so far as attendance at committees is concerned, differs in a marked degree. With a large infusion of new blood this year into the working body of this Association, I trust the close of the year may show a great improvement on the past. — Jesse Garratt, Hon. Sec. Kent Bee-keepers' Association, February 18. 1888. PARALLEL OR, RECTANGULAR FRAMES.— YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION. [1500.] The ' parallel or rectangular frames ' controversy still continues in the B. B. Journal, and I read it with interest. Having a preference for the former, I was confirmed in it by seeing your advocacy of the parallel in a late number of the B. B. J., and glad to have the support of your more scientific experience. My first frame-hive was obtained in 1875, a Cheshire of that date with rectangular arrangement. When Mr. Abbott subsequently proposed parallel frames I thought I saw many advantages in them, and had hives made by the village carpenter, combining them witli Ches- hire's hinged cover and chain to support it when open, and legs eighteen inches high. It is hinged on the front and opens from the back so that I am shut out from the sight of the bees as they return to the hive, when I operate. I have myself made several hives on that plan and see no reason to alter it, and shall be glad if you can still continue to be a ' parallelist.' And now I am going to rather find fault with you. Severe strictures on the want of energy of the Yorkshire Bee-keepers' Association and its secretary appeared in the B. B. J. at the end of 1886 which eventually resulted in your being appointed co-secretary with Dr. Rickards. 1 was glad to see this announced and said, Now with two secretaries we shall have more movement and energy, and a vigorous promotion of the district associations at numerous centres in the very large county of York, which you yourself advocated. But excepting the one at Horsforth, where you reside, I have not seen that any other has been set on foot. So I am much disappointed. You may naturally enough say, Why do not you yourself get up a York Association ? I might if I was younger, but being obliged to resign my vicarage from age in 1883, to say nothing of very serious illnesses in '85 and '86, and being now in my eighty-first year, I am quite unequal to the task. Even the writing of this letter is a perfect labour. If you reply to it, and can suggest anything, I shall be glad to hear from you, and should you at any time be in York, still more pleased if you would give me a call. Believe me, clear sir, yours truly, Jno. Hodgkinson. N.B. — I still keep on three stocks. Copy of Reply. January Slst, 1888. Dear Sir, — I cannot express to you the delight I experienced in receiving a letter from so venerable a bee- keeper as yourself, and I thank you for the trouble you have taken in writing to me. I consider your letter quite in the light of a slight (and perhaps salutary) personal parental castigation, qualified by sufficient honeyed drops of praise respecting ' parallel- ism ' to make your correction rather agreeable than otherwise. Parallel Frames. — I can see nothing but the greatest advantages connected with this system, and if you will permit me to publish your letter, I will publish a reply, showing how I explain my apparent inaction since (twelve months ago) being appointed co-Secretary with Mr. Rickards. It niay be useful in two ways : as showing how an old bee-keeper prefers the parallel frames, and how a young one explains his mysterious and seemingly inconsistent conduct to others who may feel the same as yourself. I was a bee-keeper living about six miles from the Hon. Secretary Y.B.K.A., and could hear nothing of the Y.B.K.A., although I wrote, you know how strongly, in the Journal. Yet 1 was not going to personally unearth them by a visit to Dr. Rickards. A friend, however, showed him a B.B.J, containing my latest exhortation for information. He thereupon wrote me a letter saying the annual meeting would be held in ;i tVw days, and he would propose me as co-Secretary. I did not want this, for my leisure (very little it is) is filled up with physiological inquiries into bee-life — that is my hobby. In spite of my protest I was elected, and 1 promised to assist in anything Dr. Rickards would let me do. Upon this, my first acquaintance with him, I found him a very courteous, aged gentleman, who would gladly have sung Nunc dimittis (so far as regards bee- keeping) with joy. He was tired of the Hon. Secretary- ship, and tendered his resignation, which we begged him to withdraw. I believe he is about your own age, and had been personally acquainted with my grandfather, I found. I think he did not treat me properly, for, being co- Secretary with him, I judged he would ask me to look at the Secretary's books, list of members, and so on, but nut so. He did not ask me to his house, and I could not ask an old man to wait upon me with the books, so I was co-Secretary in nothing but name, and in finding February 23, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL 103 out for myself what I could do. I could no longer harass one I found so far advanced in years, and 1 also partly regretted ruy past vigorous action. I was to wait. I answered very many letters of inquiry for information, acceded to every invitation to lecture during this my first year of office, without the least remuneration (or payment of expenses) from any one. We issued a circular to every bee-keeper of the Y.B.K.A. advocating the formation of branch Associ- ation, and so on ; formed one at Horsforth, and a ver}* flourishing one at Skipton (they had a nice show of their own last year, and the Skiptonites are funning two new branches in their district this year). I wrote a reply to Mr. C. Atkinson, Toekwitb, near York, begging him to call the York bee-keepers together : to Mr. \V. Goodall, Bligliouse, and to the others in the same strain. So, if they won't ' help themselves,' how can we expect to get on? We cannot with an 11/. annual income send a secretary round Yorkshire. Well, on Saturday last Dr. Rickards finally resigned, and I am left with ' the dog to hold.' I intend to try twelve months, and if I cannot do something / will resign. I should have told you that I was determined to resign on Saturday, owing to my peculiar position as 'Secretary yet no secretary,' but Dr. R. opened the meeting by resignation. I was therefore compelled to keep office (at a general annual meeting consisting of five members) or create a panic for a few seconds. You will see by our report how we stand, and I hope you will acquit me of seeming inertness or idleness. We have been governed by people who did not keep bees, by committee-men who did not attend meetings, and supported by members who never attended any, and through it all my mouth was closed out of respect for estimable old age. I was pledged to action, yet couldn't act for fear of wounding, and I had not sufficient leisure myself to undertake the whole duties. Will you then permit me to send to the B. B. J. your very just and kindly worded complaint, and my explana- tion? The two letters ma37stir up a few lethargic souls. I sincerely trust you may be spared many years yet of calm delighting twilight, in which the hum of home- returning bees will linger in the mind as the sweetest music Dame Nature can supply after the sun of your more active life has set. Such an evening of life as yours (if free from suffering) is a happy dream to such as I — a dream rarely realised. — I am, yours respectfully, R. A. H. Grimshaw, Hon. See. Yorkshire B. K. A. THE FORMATION OF DISTRICTS. [1501] The idea was recently suggested to me by Mr. A. W. Henderson (a prominent bee-keeper in this district) that an excellent way of enlisting the sympathy and efforts of bee-keepers in the forming of branch or district associations, would be to write for your columns an appeal to all bee-keepers (and others interested in bee- keeping) in the county, asking for their individual help in forming desirable offshoots of the county Association in their immediate neighbourhood. The II. B.J. for the particular week containing such an appeal should then be bought, and a copy sent to every subscriber to the county Association. The suggestion seems so excel- lent that I hasten to comply with it, and I will, at an early meeting, ask our committee to authorise this extra outlay, for; taking the worst possible view of the matter, we shall be disseminating modern ideas on bee-keeping affairs, and probably increasing the circulation of (shall I say ?) our B.B.J. One objection to this plan may turn out an advantage, e.g., it will happen that copies of the Journal will be sent to those who are already subscribers to it. In this case I will ask them to give the matter their own attention, and to be kind enough to forward the surplus copy to some other enthusiastic bee-keeper. My remarks shall be confined to the position of my own county, but, perhaps, they may apply to others; any- way it is only to Yorkshiremen I am now writing. The Y.B.K.A. was founded in 1^82 with "4 members subscribing I'll. 10*. ; 1838 showed 95 members sub- scribing 17/. 13s. Gd. ; 1884, 86 members subscribing 161. 13s.; 1885, 74 members subscribing 161.5s.; 1886, 4-'! members subscribing 10/. 18«. 6rf.; 1887, 47 mem- bers subscribing 10/. 14s. So that, from these figures, it seems there was a wave of enthusiasm when the Association was formed, which, had it continued at the initial rate, would have led to our being a body having somewhat magnificent proportions. Instead of this, however, we seem to have slowly but surely dwindled to half our numbers and nearly half our funds, until (if this descent into A vermis be continued) we shall soon be ' (Jiving to an airy nothing A local habitation and a name.' Thanks though to the firm, regular support given through these six years by many estimable ladies and gentlemen, amongst whom I am pleased to record tlie usual srrand preponderance of our clorgy (the mainstay of British bee-keeping), support, ungrulgingly given, with a sturdiness characteristic of the county; given, too, without any return beiug made other than the annual report, and such help and counsel as the worthy late Hon. Sec. could give, we still exist. We want you, the re.ider, to take up the question of forming a district B. K. A. in your own neighbourhood. We wish you to srive it ' a local habitation and a name,' and by meeting and working together with your brother bee-keepers to prevent your Association becoming ' an airy nothing.' A few postcards sent to the known bee- keepers in your district, or a short advertisement in the local newspaper asking those interested in bee-keeping to meet at a given date, hour, and pluce in order to dis- cuss the matter, will surely rally round you sufficient to form a ' nucleus.' You will at once appoint a lion, secretary and treasurer, and if your number be few, form the remainder into a committee. Next, by in- forming the county hon. secretary and enclosing as. (the annual subscription) you become a branch of the B. B. K. A. You will ask what advantage you derive from subscribing to the county. I reply that you may have for your local show the use of the bee tent, lecture diagrams, driving irons, &c. Your lion, secretary and another member also become members of the County Committee ; they are admitted to the annual show of the Association, to the bae tent there, and at all the village flower and cottage garden shows. Your members may also compete for the prizes. It maybe urged that in forming districts we are robbing ourselves of members. This may be so, and we may be practising the song of the dyingswan. I trust, however, that the greater spirit and verve (a sort of developing energy like that of generating steam) imported into our County Association by your action will, in quite the opposite way, enable us to grow. lie this as it may, it is our duty to get you established locally; and if the know- ledge of humane and scientific bee-keeping be by this action further spread abroad we may say to the young District Association ' Morituri te militant J' I, for one, believe it is only necessary to bring such an important question as the benefits conferred on the farmer by the bee before our landed gentry and our county families, to enlist and ensure their interest, following which their support to the County Association would guarantee its position and usefulness. If I can obtain their ear I do not hesitate to say to the nobility and gentry of this, the vastest county in England, that it is a disgrace to them, and to every one who can support County Bee Associations, and do not, that a body of voluntary workers should lack help when the owners of farms and pasturage are those who benefit most by the labours of the bee they represent. 104 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 23, 1888. Many 'benefits are indirectly conferred, but they are none the less distinct ; the farmer little thinks that but for the gentle breeze which undulates his sea-like corn- fields, his harvest would be mostly one of straw instead of grain. Let my lord's steward ride amongst his tenants' farms and reflect that a moderately strong hive of bees will present the farmer with something like 280,000,000 clover seeds and 40 lbs. of surplus honey in one season. These seeds all weigh (and heavily too) in the forage, and convey the bulk of nitrogenous flesh-forming matter ; to say nothing of providing seed for another year. It is surely late in the day to reiterate the fact that if bees (honey and humble) were exterminated, we should have to import all our clover seed every year at an immense national loss! Must we again say that a bee-keeper is practically making a present of a great part of the annual fruit harvest to his neighbours, for fruit trees, beans, peas, &c, are all carefully attended to by his bees? The village doctor and the chemist, however, cannot look upon our bee as an assistant (excepting as it enables him to prescribe and dispense mel boracis), for bronchitis, asthma, dyspepsia, and many other ills, are dissipated by the use of honey. Our well-to-do people, I am sure, are not apathetic on this point ; they simply do not see a direct benefit, and consequently do not take a direct interest in it. ' It is more from want of thought Than from any want of feeling ! ' Every village in Yorkshire should have a district Association, even if they only mustered the parson, the clerk, and the gravedigger. The kindly word and bit of mutual help would go a great way in rubbing off 'cutting edges' — the one by a bit of scientific advice, and the other by a bit of hive-making. These would not appeal in vain for support to 'the squire and the ladies at the Hall,' I know. Ah ! if only the half- crowns rubbing pockets through, and the half-sovereigns trying to hide away in purse corners, were only sentient ! Would they not cry witli Sterne's starling, 'I can't get out,' or I would come over and help you ? Reader, we must go round with the hat sometimes, but then this is not so much a necessity as is the will required by bee-keepers to ' help themselves.' Hon. Secretaries would personally wait upon them, and stir up the dry bones, but who is to pay the piper? We want you to make a little music for yourselves. There are many bee-keepers who would dearly like a district Association, but who wouldn't like any work ; besides, they want to see how much they arc going to (jet back. Such at present are not in our view ; we will leave them to put the question to the churchwarden when he goes round with the hat. — R. A. H. Grimsha'W, Hon, Sec, Y.B.K.A., llorsforth, near Leeds. BEE-TENTS. [l^Oi'.] The time will soon be round when Associations will be making their arrangements for the bee-tent to be present at agricultural and horticultural shows, and I think it will be well before the season begins to carefully consider how we can make the best use of the prominent positions usually assigned to the tents at such exhibitions. In almost every county the bee-tent is now well known, and every time I have witnessed the manipulations they have been practically the same, consisting of simply driving a skep and trying the almost impossible task of explaining to the public how by this means they can avert killing their bees to get the honey. Provided a cottager learns to successfully drive his skeps the bees are valueless to him in the autumn, unless he adopts the bar-frame hive. The instructions on the management of modern frame-hives are usually very scantily touched upon, the utmost that I have seen done in this respect being to have an untenanted frame-hive and extractor in the tent with which the lecturer en- deavours to explain the best system of working. To my mind much more useful lessons could be given by having a frame-hive in the tent with three frames of foundation and three combs partly filled with honey. I would then suggest that the lecturer should bring into the tent a skep containing no combs, but only a swarm of driven bees. These he would hive in the ordinary manner, and afterwards show how easily frames may be added or removed, and also how to super the hive, how to feed, and how to pack for winter, &c. It may be urged that after once hiving the bees the lecturer could not go through that part of the proceedings a second time without having a fresh lot of bees and new hive, but I think he could easily explain exactly how he had done it and thus convey more instruction than by merely driving a skep. With the exception of hiving the bees the lecturer could go through the other details named as often as required. In the present day, with foundation so cheap, no one counsels a beginner to transfer his combs and bees from a skep, but rather to purchase a new hive and to place in it his first swarm. If my suggested plan were carried out such a beginner would have performed before him the operation which we advise him to carry out. Many cottagers have asked me how they are to hive their swarms in a modern frame-hive, ' because if we turn the hive upside down the frames will fall out.' Instead of hiving the bees in the tent it might be better to obtain a full working bar-frame hive from some neighbouring bee-keeper so as to ensure having no difficulty in repeatedly opening a hive containing a swarm just inserted, and for the lecturer to fully explain how to tenant such a hive. I do not wish to find fault with what has been done in the past, for 1 am aware of much good having been done by bee-tents, but I think we may well consider now that ' driving' is so well known whether we cannut. make the bee-tent more useful and at the same time more attractive than it has proved of late. — Edwd. J. Gibbins, Neath, Feb. 14///. QUEEN-RAISING. [1503.] I was very pleased to see Mr. Edey's letter (1443) in a recent Journal, and also the writer of ' Useful Hints' in Journal of February 2, where he says, ' We should limit it to eggs only.' Well, I guess Mr. Edey intended it to be only eggs, and not brood or queen cells. A frame of eggs is easy to be got in, say, the months of June or July, Jjy placing a frame of comb in the centre of a strong working colony of either variety which is wanted, and taken out at the end of thirty-six hours. Such a comb would contain a large number of eggs. Placed between two thin boards and a sheet of paper, sent off to the purchaser by the evening's parcel post, there is no harm coming to such eggs up to forty- eight hours or longer in a June or July temperature. I have no doubt that many would avail themselves of this mode of getting new blood, but this is the question which will be asked (and I have already been asked), What will such a comb cost ? This is the point. What will Mr. Edey, or some other queen-breeder, supply such a comb for (in June or July) when eggs are plentiful? If such a comb will cost as much as a fertile queen in the early autumn, it would be wiser for the amateur of only a few hives to get a queen, or queens, ready to put into his hives, and so do away with all the trouble of raising them, and maybe losing them when out to meet the drones, because there is a great risk with young queens. I am well aware such a comb supplied to a practical queen-raiser would be a success ; he would raise a good number of queens, and so pay cost of original comb and all his trouble bestowed upon them ; but not so February 23, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 105 with him who only wants two or three just for a trial, or to see what they are like. — A Cottage Amateur, Barton, St. Maryehurch, Torquay. PAINTING THE INSIDE OF HIVES. [1-504.] This heing the time of year when the in- dustrious bee-keeper is busy preparing new hives, &c, for the approaching spring, I wish to give a word of warning to any one who is intending to paint the inside of his hives. I can only give the same advice as was given by Punch 'To those "about to marry,' 'Don't!' The year before last I painted the floor-boards, inner wall, and dummies of several hives, and covered the bees which I placed in them with waterproof quilts, intending to give the plan a thorough trial (it appearing to follow the instinct of the bees). The frames were placed at the back of the hives, with a dummy back ami front, and parallel with the front of hives. All apparently went on well until one warm day in February after a long spell of cold, when I noticed the bees were not Hying nearly so freely from the painted hives as from those which were only painted outside. On examining the former to discover the reason, on looking down into the space between the dummy and front of the hives, I found the floor-boards more or less covered with water, and a great number of _ dead bees floating in it. One of these hives (with a sunk floor-hoard) contained more than a pint of water, so thai the bees could not leave the combs without being drowned, the w ater nearly covering the exit in the front dummy. I was obliged to change the bees into a dry unpainted hive, and cover them with porous quilts. As the season advanced, and breeding was going on, the bees in the hives painted inside did better, and no difference was perceptible during the summer from those unpainted. I find this season the same excessive dampness in the hives which have the inner walls painted, many bees being lost from getting casl on their backs and usable to light themselves owing to the wet floor-board. I shall therefore remove (as soon as possible) the paint from the inside of the hives, as, instead of lie- moisture soaking into the wood and gradually evaporating, when the walls are painted it runs down and forms a pool upon the floor-board, so that the bees dare not leave the frame. 1 shall take good care not to winter any stocks in hives whicli have been painted inside in the future. Wintering. — I find that my bees winter better (the porous quilts remaining dryer) if the lift or second storey is left on the hive, there being then a large air-space above the frames in which the air circulates. Moisture is not so likely to condense on the inside of the roof or cover, and run down and wet the quilts, as is the case if the roof is close down over the frames. The extra weight will compensate for the greater surface exposed to strong winds, which might blow over the hive if in an exposed position. — Hahold Adcock, MidcUeton, North- ampton. §cb ictus. The Bee-kekci:i:s' Review. — This is the title of a new bee paper edited by Mr. W. Z. Hutchinson, and is published at Flint, -Michigan, U.S.A. The first number is on our table, and is, as its name indicates, a Review of the current literature on bee-keeping. In it the Editor says, 'Errors and fallacious ideas will be faith- fully but courteously pointed out, while nothing valuable will be allowed to pass unnoticed.' Instead of copying articles in full, thev will be condensed giving the ideas, and these will be gathered from every available source, The task the editor imposes upon himself is great, for few people have an idea of the amount of labour there is in condensing long articles so as to make them readable, while they contain only just the pith of the matter. To give a column of 'Gleanings' in our own Bee Journal costs us considerably more time and labour than writing half-a-dozen columns of other matter, SO we can sym- pathise with .Mr. Hutchinson in the work he has im- posed upon himself. lie has long been known as a con- tributor to the leading American periodicals, being also author of The Pi'oduction of Comb Honey, which we have had occasion to allude to in the Bee Journal. It is intended to make each number as much as possible a ' special' one. The one before us treats more especially on the • i (isturbance of Bees in Winter,' and extracts from the writings of different bee-keepers giving their views on this subject. As a practical bee-keeper of many years' standing, the experience of the editor will add to the usefulness of the journal, and we wish the enterprise every .success. The Bee-Keepers' Magazine, which has been published for some time past by Messrs. Aspinwall & Tie dwell, is now entirely in the hands of Mr. John Aspinwall. The partnership between the above gentle- men has I n dissolved, and Mr. Aspinwall has given up the manufacturing business, and intends to devote the whole of his energies to the editing of the Magazine and make it an independent expositor of bee-keeping pro- gress. The January number is already an improvement on its predecessors. Saving spent a moat enjoyable time with Mr. Aspinwall last summer, we know his earnest desire is to adva ice bee-keeping and raise it to a higher level than making it merely a means for obtaining money. Being free from the trammels of a manufac- turing business, we have no doubt the improvement in the last number will lie maintained. 'I'm: Canadian Honby-Pboduceb. — We have re- ceived the first eleven numbers of the above, which is published, as stated, for the advancement of honey- producers exclusively. This journal gives the news of all that goes on in the bee-keeping world in Canada, as well as extracts from the leading British, German, and French papers. Also the American papers are extracted of anything of interest to Canadian bee-keepers. It is edited by our special correspondent, Mr. 1'. U. llolter- lnann, whose pleasing articles in the British Bee Journal are well known to our readers. 'The Canadian Honey- Producer is published by Messrs. Goold & Co.,Brantford, who are manufacturers and dealers iu appliances. Conduits (In 11" h,-r, ou CalendrUr de VApiculteur mobilist, avee In description de trois types He Ruches et la recette pour VHydromel, par FA. Bert rand, Nyon, Suisse. This book, as its name implies, is a guide to the management of an apiary and a calendar of operati ins for the moveable frame "hi vist. It is entirely devoted to practical bee-keepiug in moveable comb hives, and is not tilled, as is too often the case, with descriptions of obsolete appliances or exploded theories, which take up too much space in many books, increasing the size and cost without adding to their value, and which more often tend to distract than to instruct. Contrary to the usual style, the plan adopted by the author enables the bee-keeper to see at a glance what he has to do at any particular season. For instance, if the bee-keeper wishes to know what to do, say, in June, he has only to turn to that month on page 70, where he will find in- structions under different headings, such as 'When to remove Honey,' ' Honey House,' ' Extracting Honey,' ' Comb Honey,' ' Wax Purification,' ' Precautions to be taken after the Harvest,' ' Transporting Hives,' &c. Descriptions of all these operations are very minute, and appliances brought into requisition are also fully described. To know something about the inhabitants of the hive, he must refer to March, and here he will find a long and 106 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 23, 1888. interesting chapter. Not only is the natural history of the bee entered into, not too exhaustively so as to weary, but also the method of handling bees at this season is described. M. Bertrand, who stands in the foremost rank amongst Continental bee-keepers, is the President of the Societe Romande d" Apiculture and editor of the leading bee-paper in the French language devoted to modern bee-keeping, the Revue Internationale d Apiculture. He is not only a practical master of bee-keeping, but he has also the gift of imparting knowledge in a pleasant and attractive style, explicit without being verbose. Having had many years' practice in the management of four apiaries and having tried many styles of hives and different systems, he has been able without bias to com- pare them and to advocate the best from practical ex- perience. The first part of the book is devoted to practical operations and the second part to illustrations and descriptions of hives and appliances. Engravings of several large apiaries are also given and at the end two folding plates contain working drawings with dimensions of three typical hives, the ' Dadant,' the ' Layens,' and the ' Burki-Jeker,' the hives mostly in use in Switzer- land. We are glad to rind our friend at one with us on so many important points connected with the manage- ment of bees and that the methods differ so slightly. The hives in use differ little from ours, but are some- what larger, for extracted honey is the object of Con- tinental bee-keepers rather than comb, although some advance has been made in this respect of late, which we are convinced is entirely owing to the teaching of the Revue Internationale, and we hope the author may be long spared to see the good results of his teaching. On every page will be found good sound instruction, and a copious index makes reference easy. We have much pleasure in recommending this book to those of our readers who understand the French language, and we are sure that it will be welcomed as a useful addition to the literature of progressive bee-keeping. Jtaip. FRANCE. French bee-keepers are informed that among others the following local shows will take place in the course of the present year, viz., Auch and Nimes — this will open on 21st of April and close on the 20th ; Laon — this will open on 19th of May and close on the 27th ; Chiiteauroux — this will open on 23rd of May and close on the 3rd June ; Autun — this will open on 3rd of June and close on the 10th ; Epinal — this will open on 9th of June and close on the 16th ; Alencon — this will open on Kith of June and close on the 24th. Applications for exhibiting in these shows must be sent in at least one month before their opening date. Among the subjects set down for discussion during the sittings of the Society of French agriculturists, which will take place in the course of this month, there will be two affecting apiculture, viz., the utility of floating apiaries and the teaching of bee-keeping in rural and normal schools. Both these subjects will be dis- cussed in the eighth or entomology section. In com- menting upon these two subjects the Apiculteur of Paris gives it as its opinion that the want or utility of floating apiaries is not felt in France as in some other countries. Our canals, adds our contemporary, are comparatively small, and run, generally speaking, along narrow and swampy valleys. It is very different in such countries as are crossed by large rivers like the Nile and the Danube, running across immense tracts of clayey and sandy soils, producing plenty of honey-yielding plants. They might probably be introduced also with advantage in some parts of Holland aud China, some of whose plains are a net of canals. ITALY. The Apicoltnre reports that Signor Francesco Paolo Nervegna, of Ortona-a-Mare, has decided upon intro- ducing bee-keeping into his scholastic establishment, and, according to his present arrangements, whilst this tuition will be limited to theory in winter, it is to take the form of practical instruction at his apiary in the spring and summer. The Apiculture praises Signor Nervegna for taking this important step in the interest of apiculture, and expresses the hope that others will follow his example. Through the energy and influence of Signori Gabriele Passeri and Yincenzo Dei Michetti, a new Bee-keepers' Association has been started at Osirao. One of its objects that it has in view is the establishing of a model apiary where lectures and practical instruction will be given. Signor Luigi Sartori, of Milan, has undertaken the sale in Italy of Prof. J. C. Bessler's collection of the photo- graphs of 230 bee-masters of all countries. This work takes the form of a large sheet, forty-two centimetres by thirty-four, and will be sent to any address for frs. 5,50, or, say, 4s. 6d. Generally speaking, the cold has hitherto been rather severe throughout the country, and bees have, so far, been prevented from making occasional flights. CANADA. Annual Meeting of the Ontario Bee-keepers' Association. The annual meeting of the above Association was held at Woodstock, Ontario, January 10th and 11th. There were present at the opening session about forty-five, the number increasing considerably the second day. The President, S. T. Pettit, Belmont, Ont., occupied . the chair throughout the meeting. The production of extracted honey was the first topic for consideration, and was opened by a paper by F. Malcolm, Innerkip, Ontario. Almost all were, in favour of extracting only from the upper storey, and not from the brood-chamber, as many had done in the past. Also that honey should be well ripened, and the honey capped over by the bees before extracting. All were in favour of this, and objected to advancing the idea that honey extracted when unripe and evaporated by artificial means would be as good as that finished by the bees. The storifying system was apparently the one in use by all but one, and in a good flow two storeys should be used besides the brood-chamber. J. B. Hall, Woodstock, Ont., gave a paper, 'The Best Method to 1 roduce Comb Honey,' as follows : — 1st, Bee pasturage in abundance, of not more than two miles radius from apiary. 2nd, That said pasturage should not be over-stocked, but rather that it should not have enough bees on it to gather all the honey-flow. 3rd, That there be in charge of said bees an apiarist adapted by Nature, assisted by study and practice, to manage the same (but the Nature part I consider the most important). 4th, It is essential that a hive with moveable combs having a large top surface be used. 5th, That the bee-keeper be a specialist, or, as the phrase is, have all the eggs in one basket. In that case they can be jealously watched and guarded, and used to the best advantage ; not so if said eggs are mixed in many baskets with other things. If the bees have passed the winter and spring well, and are strong in bees and brood at the commencement of the surplus honey-flow, a good crop of comb-honey can be secured by putting on the hive a shallow super of sections primed with comb or foundation (I say sections, because if not in nice sections it cannot be sold to advantage). Open the entrance of hive to its full size, and when work is well commenced in the super, raise it up, and put an empty super between it and the hive. Continue thus until your judgment or experience tells you they have enough space to contain the surplus honey that will be secured. Other things being right, you will rejoice in a good crop of comb honey. February 23, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. iof A long discussion followed as to the use of dummies for contracting- the brood-chamber, and if swarms should he hived on starter-foundation, full sheets of foundation, or old combs. The general verdict appeared to be that swarms should not be hived on dummies and a few combs, unless the bee-keeper was prepared to destroy the colony after the honey season was over. That starters would give nicer comb in the sections, but the combs built in the brood chambers -were useless on account of so much drone- comb. With a young and vigorous queen such objection- able comb would be much less. The President, in his address which followed, pointed out during his term of office (two years) the Association had secured incorporation, an annual grant of -lOO dols. The exhibit had been made at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition. The prize lists of our leading exhibitions are under our control, and the laying of the foundation of an Association library. The first work having been contributed by Mr. T, W. Cowan of England. The President spoke of the necessity of measures being taken to keep down and stamp out foul-brood in the provinces, and the advisability of an affiliation scheme with county Associations. In closing, the President desired to have it placed on record that he considered the British honey markets had been practically lost to us at paying prices. The temperature favoured for cellar wintering was from 48° to 56°. Mr. Allen Pringle, Selby, Ont., gave a paper upon ' Ought everybody to Keep Bees ? ' Mr. Pringle thought, after leaving out those who kept them for health, pas- time, or entomological knowledge, no one would want to keep them unless it paid. Mr. Pringle appeared to take a moderate view of the question, and thought many could keep bees to advantage, yet, at the same time, there were many who had lost and would lose money on them. He thought if the Ontario Bee-keepers' Associa- tion could take a lesson from the British Bee-keepers' Association, they at least would not discourage others from keeping bees. Mr. Jas. Ileddon, Dowagiac, Mich., gave a very able paper on overstocking; and Doctor C.C. Miller, Meringo, Ills., on the question of the capability of specialists pro- ducing more and better honey than others. The doctor favoured the specialist, and the majority of speakers following took his side. Some, however,strongly dissented. The committee of statistics reported that the Bureau of Industries was about to issue a schedule, which would enable the province to ascertain the extent of the industry in the province. R. McKnight gave a paper on 'Our Honey Markets, and how to Cultivate them.' Mr. McKnight stated our best market was our home market, and he knew of no better paying market, and we must seek to cultivate it. The paper was very favourably received by the Association. Messrs. Thomas Win, Cowan, England, and Ivar S. Young, Norway, were elected honorary members of the Association. A constitution and bye-laws were adopted, by means of which county associations can affiliate with the Ontario to advantage. Each member for 1887 will receive the revised copy of the Rev. L. L. Langstroth's work on The Honey Bee. The officers for the ensuing year were duly elected. Owen Sound will be the next place of meeting. — R. F. Holtermann, Brantford, Canada. j^clcctco (ljucru [1.] — In establishing an apiary, which would be the better situation, a low position sheltered from wind- storms, but rather damp, or one on high ground free from damp, with no shelter from winds? Neither position being desirable, I see little use in discussing the question, but, if compelled to accept either forthwith, I should prefer the dry situation, if not too ' high.' and should at once set about creating shelter. On the other hand, what is meant by ' rather damp ?' If an undrainable pit or bog, ankle-deep in mud and sludge, I would give it a wide berth ; other- wise, the natural shelter supposed, is not to be despised, and thorough drainage might make the position tenable and advantageous. ' High ' and ' low ' might mean the top of a mountain and the bottom of a valley, the former without water and the latter with too much of it. Aspect, too, would weigh with me considerably. — C. N. Abbott, SouthaU. Dampness is one of the worst enemies with which bees have to contend, but I should prefer the low situation until the higher one had been provided with shelter for the hives by planting hardy evergreen shrubs of quick growth, such as the Portugal laurel, &c. — George Raynor. With covers painted annually, and sound hives painted every second season, I would prefer the sheltered and rather damp position. — John II. Howard, Holme, Peterborough. I should prefer the low situation. — John Walton. Of the two I should recommend that the low, sheltered position be chosen in spite of its being damp. — J. Garratt. There are objections to both the positions mentioned which should, if possible, be avoided in establishing a new apiary, and thus avoid, rather than contend with the evils of both dampness and exposure. A sheltered position lias many and very important advantages over an exposed one, and as by judicious arrangements the beea may be made perfectly secure from dampness, I should give the preference to the low, sheltered position. — S. J. Baldwin. If I could plant or arrange some shelter, 1 should prefer a high and dry situation for an apiary, as I think bees do better in such a position, but I consider some shelter from the storms in spring and some shade in summer most important for the welfare of bees. — M. L. Gayton, Much Hadham. Neither position is desirable. A low, sheltered situation on dry soil is the right place. — Sam. Simmins. I should choose the sheltered position, other things being equal, as it is so much easier to build up stocks in spring ready for the honey-flow in a sheltered situation than in an exposed one, owing to the great loss of bee- life (both young and old), so many perishing with the cold winds after being allured out by the fitful sunshine. — W. WOODLEY. I should prefer a sheltered position with S.E. aspect, even though low, to one on high ground without shelter from winds. — John M. Hooker. HOW TO COMMENCE BEE-KEEPING. If a start in bee-keeping you're anxious to make, The following hints may be useful to take, That from the pursuit may arise satisfaction Instead of disgust with your stocks, and distraction ; For bees when mismanaged are sources of danger, And spare with their sting neither owner nor stranger. Get a good strong frame-hive iu the spring, for this reason, The paint can get dry, and the wood can well season ; And in view of your harvest you'll have less vexation If vou have standard frames filled with good comb foundation. The first hive you buy should be from a good maker, Abbott, Neighbour, Blow, Baldwin, Edey, Howard, or Baker, 108 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 23, 188$. Or any good firm whom you see advertise Will be glad to supply a good hive and advise. Then with veil, gloves, and smoker, you need have no fear of The first four pound swarm you have fortune to hear of; To get this in May will repay extra trouble, Compared with July it is fully worth double. And if possible try by all means to contrive it To have it brought home the same day that they hive it, Say an hour before dusk ; place your hive on the ground, Prop it open an inch, then a sheet must be found ; Draw this well up the floor-board, place quilts on and feeder, Throw the bees on the sheet and they follow their leader. To see them march in is most truly delightful : If vicious, your smoker will make them less spiteful. They soon hasten in ; close the hive about dark, Lift the bees to their stand and they're ready for work. They draw the foundation, and very slight feeding Will stimulate better for working and breeding. And now if the weather be clear, warm, and sunny, Your hive will soon fill with the purest of honey. If further advice of the best you would seek, Consult the Bee Journal that comes once a-week : And there _you will certainly find the true key To pleasure and profit from our honey bee. — Samuel Kiukuy, Beeston, Notts, 16 Feb. A Reminiscence of the Rev. F. G. Jenyns. — I remember the first time I ever saw Mr. Jenyns acting as judge. The labour was heavy, the day hot. The class was one of ' Amateur Hives made by cottagers,' the time was up for to admit the public. I was shut in with the judges, but there were many eyes peering through the loops in the canvas. Presently a lad in knickerbockers broke through and rushed up to our friend, and, clutching hold of his coat -sleeve, said : ' If you please, sir, you did not half look at my hive, you did not notice my new idea in it : this is the one ; ' and leading him back pointed out a neatly painted hive that looked nothing out of the ordinary from the others. I see him now being led by that lad of thirteen, who had worked his heart into his hive. Officialism, in tin' person of the secretary of the show, was for putting him out of the tent, remarking ' the judges could not be interfered with in the execution of their duty.' But no, the lad had got hold of one who had something of the spirit of his Divine Master. He looked well at the hive, allowed the boy to explain his idea, asked him to retire from the tent, fetched back his four colleagues, and persuaded them to award an 'extra.' That lad is now a young man, and is still a bee-keeper, and that judge is in the presence of Him who shall judge righteously. — Amateur Expert. <2£rjj0jcs from % Hibcs. Honey ('nit, Weston, Learning) mi, Feb. \-\lh, 1888.— Here we are right into the middle of February, and what changeable weather it has been : severe frosts for two or three days, then very mild, which the bees have taken advantage of. Last week they were out trying the snow- drops and fetching water, while the air seemed all alive with them ; a few seemed to be on the look-out to plunder one another if there was a possible chance. On the whole, I think they have wintered exceedingly well so far ; and as the days are getting longer there will not be much fear to the contrary. Hoping we may all have another good season. — John Walton. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- T. Nixon. — 1. Simmins' Non- swarming System. — Mr. Simmins has given his ' Non-swarming System ' in his new book, A Modern Bee-farm, fully illustrated. 2. Sections. — The 4{ x 4^- xlf sections "without dividers hold one pound. Mr. Simmins uses full sheets of foundation, firmly fixed in centre, and he says that no separators are required. A Novice in Modern Bee-keeping. — Hemming Vagrant Colony from Chimney. — This is usually a most unsatisfactory job, especially for a novice, but from your description the combs are easily reached. In the first place, make up your mind to receive a fair allowance of stings; then remove the chimney-pot, and while so doing keep the bees in subjection by smoke. This can be done by burning some brown paper in the drawing-room or bedroom grates, as there must be a communication if the bees come down into these rooms. When the bees have become intimidated remove each comb and brush the bees off into a straw skep. Serve each comb in a like manner, and if they are got out in good condition tie those containing brood into the frames of a bar-frame hive. After take this hive to the ground and turn most of the bees from the straw skep into it with the brood combs. When all the combs have been removed from the chimney, dust some carbolic acid powder around the flue where they were attached and place an empty skep over the flue, propping it up on one side. Early next morning remove the skep, when most of the bees will be found clustered in the inside. They can then be placed with the others in the bar-frame hive. If you cannot smoke the bees from the fireplace a smoker or fumigator must be used from the top, but you would have to remove the chinmey-pot first, in doing which the bees will be disturbed, unless it could be done the night before. These directions might be modified if we were in a position to view their posi- tion. Advice in all such cases is very speculative. W. J. Sueppard. — We should prefer to give good, cleau foundation. Tiios. — Cowan's Extractor. — This extractor can be turned at any rate desirable, so that you were wrongly informed. All honey extractors will throw out or damage the combs if turned too quickly. Wired foundation is much better for extracting purposes, as then combs of the current season can be extracted from, whereas without wiring they are most likely to be damaged. Horace. — Old Combs. — With our present opportunities of procuring foundation, we do not consider it advis- able to use combs longer than four or five years. The successive batches of brood, through the bees not re- moving the exuviae, reduce the size of the brood-cells, and consequently the bees reared therefrom will be smaller in size. Ehwd. J. Gibbins. — 1. Cottager's Bee Journal. — The greater portion of the matter that will appear in tin- new Journal will be taken from the pages of the British Bee Journal ; but we do not bind ourselves that it shall be so absolutely. 2. Mouldy Combs. — We advise you to melt the combs. Damp, mouldy combs if given to the bees would be hurtful, and if kept until the summer, would be of less advantage than whole sheets of foundation, since the mouldy, dried-up pollen would be useless as food, and would be cast out. of the hive, and the combs having become tender, brittle, and dis- coloured, would cause to the bees far more trouble and loss of time than to build new ones from foundation. J. S. Wood. — Movim) Swarm. — Very few of the bees from the swarm will return to their original stand if they are removed the same evening. You may thus place them at a distance of 300 yards with safety. February 23, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 109 E. S. R. — 1. Making Good Candy. — Castor sugar will do nicely if pure cane sugar. The proportion of sugar depends on the consistency of the honey. Try a small quantity first, adding honey or sugar as may be necessary. 2. Placing Good Candy in Frames. — Your plan will do excellently well. •">. Sadiring a Stock. — The proposed sheet of queen excluder between the two hives would greatly impede the bees, besides they have a decided opinion against storing- honey below the brood nest. No honey pressed out is equal to extracted, in our opinion. 4. Placing Sleeps on Frame Hires. — The obtuse cottager could lift his skeps, but he could not extract much, if any, honey from the frames, because his bees are sufficiently obtuse to generally refuse to store below their brood. We should strongly recom- mend you to try to get supers. We recently saw a sleep that had been treated as you suggest. The brood nest had been carried down into the frame- hive, as evidenced by the colour of the comb, but no honey. Thomas Colton. — Bee-home. — 1. A circular hole, three or four inches in diameter, in the upper part of each gable is desirable for ventilation. 2. The bees are prevented from gaining access to the interior of the house, by inside packing of strips of wood around the entrances, which should correspond exactly with those of the hives, and should not be less than eight inches in width — better the whole width of the hive — with perforated zinc slides, fixed on the outer entrances for enlarging or contracting them. 8. There is no necessity for a pivot window if the ventilating holes are covered by slides of perforated zinc, which can be drawn aside to allow of the exit of bees. There is little difficulty about the escape of bees, since manipulations are carried on while the doors are open. 4. Salicylic Acid in Candy. — After the candy has been removed from the fire thoroughly stir in one scruple of the solu- tion. 5. Colony with Dysentery.— Do not use artificial heat unless the colony is removed from the hive before so doing. Cannot you place them temporarily in a box while the hive is being dried ? If so, take the frames out en bloc in a warm room. If you cannot remove the bees from the hive provide them with clean, dry warm quilts. Honey Flow. — Obtaining limey. — You have un- doubtedly two advantages like others, and if orchards are so abundant in your district, you ought in favour- able weather to get some honey. In this case you should commence stimulative feeding about the middle of March, by uncapping some of the honey-cells from time to time, and afterwards giving liquid food in small quantities very regularly, until the bees can collect more than they require for their own sustenance. Of course the clover will be the main crop on which you will have to depend, although in some districts a con- siderable quantity of honey is obtained from fruit blossom. 1). M. — We are not of the opinion that candied or granu- lated honey is injurious to bees. C. T— Mr. J. Camaschella, 10 Derby Villas, Forest Hill, will assist you. C. W, — Inquiries will be made. ^Business ^Directory. Wc have received from Mr. H. Dobbie, Hcthersett, Nor- wich, one of our first-class experts, a packet of seeds con- taining twelve popular annuals, twelve choice vegetables, and six of the best bee-flowers, namely, mignonette, cyanus minor, motherwort, limnaithes douglasii, borage, mixed wallflowers, with directions when and how they are to be sown. *,* A number of Reports of Annual Meetings of County Associations are still waiting insertion. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey iSj Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B. , Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. SniMiNs, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., Muskham, Newam, BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE J. R. W., Tarrlngton, Ledbury, Herefordshire. JOHNSTON, A. B., BrickhaU, Ballywoolen, Killy- leagh, Co. Down. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 14« Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON, C. T., Crawley, Sussex. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHINSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading, WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 23, i88g. Special prepaid .advertisements. Exchange Column. — Sales of Honey and Second-hand Ooods. — Intended to aid Bee-keepers in the disposal of Bee- produce and Appliances for which they have no further use. Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad- ditional Three words, One Penny extra. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, dx. — Twenty words and under, One Shilling ; for every additional Three words, One Penny, No reduction made for continuous insertion. Now Ready. SIMMINS' NEW BOOK.— 'A MODERN BEE-FARM, AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.' Popular Edition, limp cloth cover, 3s. 9c(crtctr (£ucra. [2.] — 717// honey stored in combs from which the honey wat removed in the autumn, and the sections with comb kept through the winter, be as good-looking and as saleable when completed as those finished the same season that they are begun? Not as a rule. — S. Simmins. Yes, if the comb remains unsoiled. — C. N. Abbott. Extracted honey taken from stored combs of not more than a year old and free from pollen will be equal in quality to that extracted from any other comb, ceteris paribus ; but sections of comb, even if carefully stored, when refilled and capped in the second season, are neither equal in appearance nor quality to those which are quickly worked and. completed in one season. Sections of the first quality are always those which have been quickly worked during an unbroken honey-flow. — George Raynor. No. As all new goods bear their own impress, even so is newly-built, stored and sealed comb honey its own witness. In all our comb-honey productions, none but the entirely new were ever selected for competition, and the awards given us have justified the selection made. Old comb-work, freshly stored and sealed, is more opaque than the newly-wrought ; hence, when held to view under a strong light, no judge would select the former for a premier place. Good saleable honey 114 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 1, 1888. we have had in many a last year's comb, hut from ex- perience I am convinced it is unwise to gather sectional honey in old comb-work. Also the cells of combs for storifying and extracting should be well cut down ere used. When so treated we have found the work of storing and sealing more progressive throughout. — John H. Howard, Holme, near Peterborough. I frequently have many sections left over at the end of the season, which I extract and place in crates on top of hives for bees to clean up ; then I get the propolis cleaned off, and store them away in the crates, and use a few of them in each crate when first putting them on the hives, and can see no appreciable difference in the colour of the honey ; the wood does not look quite so nice, but the presence of worked-out combs makes the bees take to them sooner. — John Walton. Yes.* — J. Garratt. It frequently happens that the combs built in sections after the latter end of the honey-harvest are, as well as the honey in them, darker than those built in the early season, and such combs may retain their colour, and consequently will somewhat depreciate their value when filled the following year. If, however, the section combs are of a light colour, properly treated in the autumn and carefully preserved through the winter, their value to the bee-keeper is almost inestimable, as the bees may he tempted to commence active operations in supers furnished, or partly furnished, with such more readily than if foundation only be in the first place given, and they will be as good-looking and as saleable when completed as those commenced and finished the game season. — S. J. Baldwin. If the combs, whether in frames or in sections, are not discoloured, and are put away perfectly dry and clean, and kept during the winter in a warm, dry room, care- fully protected from dust and insects, I have never found any difference in appearance between them and others newly-worked from foundation when both are filled and sealed. — M. L. Gayton, Much Hadham. Certainly not. —John M. Hooker. ASSOCIATIONS. MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of this Association took place on Friday the 10th nit., at 5.80 p.m., in the Council-room at the offices of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The Baroness Burdett-Coutts ( President ) occupied the Chair, and was supported by the Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh, Mr. Jonas, Mr. Harveyson, Mr. Rose, Dr. Rayner, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Vye English, Mr. Willan, Mr. Mason, Mr. Wm. Gardiner, Mr. W. M. Graham, and other ladies and gentlemen. The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh read the minutes of the last annual meeting, which were confirmed. The President moved that the report and balance-sheet for the year 1887 be adopted, with a vote of thanks to Mr. Arthur Kenworthy the auditor. Mr. Rose read the balance-sheet, after which the reso- lution was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the retiring officers and committee for their services during the past year was moved and seconded, and carried nem. con. Mr. Jonas proposed a vote of thanks to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for kindly granting the Association the use of their Board- room ; Mr. Pye English seconded the resolution, which was carried. The President, who is also President of the Ladies' * I understand the question thus : The honey was ex- tracted from combs and sections in the autumn, and in th« spring given to the bees in an empty state to fill. Committee of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animais, expressed her thanks on behalf of that Society. Mr. Harris moved the re-election of the President and Vice-Presidents of the Association. He thought it would be superfluous for him to say anything in advocacy of the resolution. The Baroness's name was a household word, and the other noblemen and gentlemen were men of the highest reputation and influence. Dr. Rayner seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The President returned thanks for her re-election to a position she would be very sorry to lose. Mr. Jonas moved the re-election of the Treasurer, the Auditor, the Secretary, and the Provincial Secretaries, which, after some discussion, was carried unanimously. The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh proposed the re-elec- tion of the Committee, which was seconded, and debated at some length by Messrs. Harris, English, Graham, Jonas, and the President, and ultimately passed un- animously. The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh proposed the election of Mr. Fewtrell as expert, which resolution was seconded by Mr. Mason. Mr. English moved that Mr. Baldwin's name be substituted for Mr. Fewtrell's. This amendment was carried without a division. The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh proposed that Mr. Graham and Dr. Rayner be the County Representatives at the quarterly conferences of the fi. B. K. A. during the current year, which motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh proposed a cordial vote of thanks to the Baroness for her kindness in pre- siding, which was seconded and carried by acclamation. The President expressed her sincere thanks for the kindly way in which she had been received. It had afforded her extreme gratification to be present that day as well as at the meeting of the B. B. K. A., which took place on the previous Wednesday. It might be said that she was a queen with a double sting, or better, perhaps, the queen of two hives (laughter). Her ladyship then referred at length to a Bill for the better adaptation of education to agricultural pursuits, about to be brought into Parlia- ment by Mr. Jesse Collings, M.P., and recommended those present to do their best to aid the passing of that measure. A great deal might be done in the country to furl her the adoption of bee-keeping as a means of profit to labourers and others if the subject were taken up in schools. While admitting that education of any kind was good, she could not help thinking that some theoretical subjects were taught in country schools which were likely to be of little, if any, use "to the scholars, and that it would be highly desirable to replace those lessons by technical education in agricultural and its kindred studies. The President then alluded to the circumstance «f a schoolmaster at Faversham having chosen bee-keep- ing as an extra subject upon which to instruct his pupils; also that the Education Board had made objection there- to, and that she intended to bring the matter under the consideration of Lord Cross. Possibly he might be willing to receive a deputation on the subject, in which case she hoped to receive the co-operation of all present. Her ladyship concluded by heartily wishing prosperity to the Association. Mr. Graham read a list of prize-winners who had been successful in the annual drawing. DERBYSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual general meeting of this Association was held in the Guild Hall, Derby on Friday, February 10th. Mr. J. L. P. Barber, of Stanton House, Burton, presided, and amongst those present were Messrs. Cooper, Coxen, Turton, Hugh, Pearson, Morley, Smith, Rowland, Wilks, Shipman Handley, Rawson, Bryan, Atkins (secretary), &c. The Chairman moved the adoption of the Report March 1, 18f8.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 115 and statement of accounts. The following is an extract from the report : — During the year a much greater amount of work has been done than in any previous one, and the Society may be congratulated on the position it has gained as one of the institutions of the county. Notwithstanding this, it will be seen by the balance- sheet that there is a need for further and increased subscriptions and donations to the society, especially to meet the large increase in the experts' charges. The appointment of Mr. W. Coxen as expert for the southern division seems to have given satisfaction, and in con- junction with Mr. Handley, for the northern division, he has made spring and autumn visits which have been attended with good results. The number of subscribing members is now 411, and 19 donors, making 4.'!0, against 350 and 23—373 last year. Increase, 57. After paying all expenses, we are able to carry forward a balance of 20/. 16s. 6d., against 251. 16s. L'irf. last year, and 71. 8s. 4d. in 1885. The annual show and fair for 1887 was held as usual by the kind permission of the Committee of the Derbyshire Agricultural Society, on their grounds, on September 14th and 15th, and was again a success, the number of exhibits being fully fifty per cent more than on any previous year. The report was unanimously passed. The officers were then re-elected, and several alterations were made in the rules. The name of Mr. Barber was added to the list of vice-presidents, and those of Messrs. Barber, Rowley, and Turton, to the Committee, Messrs. W. G. Copestake,"F. Holbrook, and W. T. Atkins, were re-appointed treasurer, steward, and secretary re- spectively ; and votes of thanks for past services wer« accorded. Second-class certificates given by the British Bee-keepers' Association were presented to the following: Messrs. Coxen, Shipman, Rawson, and Austin. The annual draw for hives was made, the following being the winners: Mr. G.T. Banks, Church Gresley, Burton-on- Trent, and Mr. W. T. Atkins, Derby. Mr. Benjamin Skinner was instructed to provide the hives at UK. each. A vote of thanks to the Mayor and Mr. Gadsby for the use of the room was carried, as was one to the Rev. G. Shipton, Brampton, for lecturing on behalf of the Asso- ciation. A similar vote was passed to the Chairman. This concluded the business. THE SOMERSET BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Annual Meeting and Conversazione of the Taunton Branch. The annual general meeting of the Taunton Branch of the Somerset Bee-keepers' Association was held at the Coffee Hotel, Taunton, on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 16. There was a good attendance. The chair was taken by Mr. C. E. Lance, the president of the branch ; and there were also present Mr. E. W. Newton (Barton Grange), the Rev. II. S. Hume (vicar of Wilton), Mr. C. Tite (Wellington), Mr. T. S. Penny, Mr. A. J. Smith (honorary secretary), Mr. C. Lewis, the Rev. W. B. Caparn, Mr. II. Maynard, Mr. W. B. Maynard, Mr. Barter, Mr. Hosegood (Williton), Mr. James Buckland (Pitminster), Mr. W. Tout and Mr. C. Tout (Thornfalcon), Mrs. Newton, Miss E. Maynard, Miss K. Maynard, Miss Rawlins, Mrs. Tite, and Miss Scarlett. The Chairman said the accounts of the branch were exactly balanced. The Hon. Secretary read the annual report, which was duly adopted, from which it appeared that the committee of the Taunton branch of the Somer- set Bee-keepers' Association were able to give an account of increased success and progress during the past year. In February, 1867, Mr. W. B. Maynard was elected hon. secretary in the place of Mr. E. S. Hammond (resigned), and a representative and influential committee haviDg been formed, with C. E. Lance, Esq., as president, arrangements were made with the Parent Society for the management by the branch of its own affairs, subject to the approval of the county hon. secretary, and the pay- ment of an affiliation fee fixed at twenty-five per cent of the 5s. subscriptions. A circular was published setting forth the objects of the association, which was sent to all the principal known bee-keepers of the neighbourhood, and a guarantee fund was started, which enabled the committee to offer prizes at the Taunton flower show to the amount of nearly five guineas. In consequence of the efforts thus put forth, the number of members was raised from about twelve to twenty-eight. The exhibition held in connexion with the above-mentioned flower show was a great success. The funds at the disposal of the Committee had not permitted the employment of a visiting expert ; they therefore pleaded for augmented support in order that the Association might be made a greater source of benefit to its members than in the past. The committee regretted that Mr. W. B. Maynard had found it necessary to resign the post of hon. secretary, Mr. A. J. Smith kindly consenting to fill the office pro tent. The annual report of the county association was also real I , and considerable discussion thereon followed, general regret and surprise being expressed that Somersetshire 1 -keepers had allowed the association to reach such a low ebb, notwithstanding the strenuous efforts of their zealous hon. secretary, the Rev. C. G. Anderson. It was felt that an effort should bo made to carry on the county organization, and the following resolutions were passed : — 'That the president, committee, and members of the Taunton branch of the Somerset Bee-keepers' Association, express their sincere regret that Mr. Anderson should have to issue such an unfavourable report after so many years of arduous and painstaking work in the interests of bee-keeping, as well as their thanks for his unwearied services;' also, ' That Mr. Anderson be invited to hold a general meeting of the County Association at Taunton on an early dale.' The meeting then proceeded to the election of officers. The lion. sec. said he had accepted that post very reluctantly, as he was a business man and he had very little time to spare. Provided, however, they could not find a better man he was willing to serve for another year. The Chairman was sure they could not find a better man. Mr. Smith was then re-elected, The Rev. II. F. S. Gurney had resigned his place on the committee, and on the motion of Mr. II. Maynard, seconded by the Chairman, the Rev. II. S. Hume was elected to succeed him. The committee now stands as folio ws :— President, Mr. C. E. Lance; Rev. W. B. Caparn, Rev. II. 8. Hume, Colonel Lowis, Mr. J. Buck- land, Mr. E. S. Hammond, Mr. C. Lewis, Mr. II. Maynard, Mr. J. Scarlet, jun., Mr. A. J. Smith, Mr. C. Tite, Mr. J. G. Vile; hon. sec, Mr. A. J. Smith. Mr. Penny proposed and Mr. Tite seconded a vote of thanks to Mr. W. B. Maynard for his services as hon. sec. in the past. This was carried unanimously ; and Mr. Maynard replied. A conversazione followed, and Mr. C. Tito delivered an address on ' Bee-keeping, for pleasure and profit.' In his opening remarks, he observed that he intended to pass over many matters which would interest those who did not keep bees, as he was aware that the members of the association were already well acquainted with the prin- cipal facts connected with bees and their management. His aim would be first to remind those who had begun bee-keeping as a source of amusement that it really was capable of affording interest and pleasure of a high order, and then venture to offer a few hints for the extensios of their research. Secondly, to point out to those whe wanted to make a profit by the pursuit that an apiary could be made to yield a very fair return for capital in- vested provided it was conducted on business lines. Those of his hearers who belonged to the class first referred to he strongly urged to start an observatory hive or two, so that they might test for themselves the theories 116 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 1, 1888. of scientists, and note carefully the life history of the bee in all its interesting stages, which he then referred to in detail. If they did this he thought they would all agree with Mr. Cheshire, who said that this was a ' field which must repay every investigator, while it must bring to our mind strange thoughts of the oneness of all things, whose interworking is the outworking of beauty, order, and de- velopment, the limit of which the dispensation of the fulness of time alone can reveal.' After referring to the writings of Cowan, Dzierzon, Langstroth, Lubbock, and others, the lecturer pointed out a number of matters still open for investigation which offered a fertile field for interest and study. He then turned to the more practical part of the subject, remarking that bee-keeping was one of those minor industries that might well be taken up by cottagers, market-gardeners, and others of similar occu- pations. There was no royal road to success, but if beginners would be content to commence on a small scale, and to gain their experience gradually, there were few men in the rural districts who could not make bee- keeping pay. The great outcry was that there was no market for surplus honey, but this he considered ridiculous when many thousands of pounds were being paid annually for imported honey. Moreover, he had met with many instances in the county where, in the same town or village, one man could sell all he had to spare and was compelled to buy in order to meet the demand, while another could not find purchasers for half his stock, and what he did sell was disposed of at a lower price than his neighbour obtained. The explanation of this was simple — one man was a better salesman than another, and probably put his honey upon the market in a more acceptable form. Another objection to bee-keeping, from a business point of view, was that the price of honey had fallen consider- ably of late years. This was perfectly true, but the yield of surplus under the improved system of management was so much greater than in days gone by that the decreased value was more than compensated for. Mr. Tite then gave a number of figures to prove this, men- tioning among other matters that a series of returns obtained by the Rev. C. G. Anderson, hon. secretary of the Somerset Bee-keepers' Association, in 1884, from various parts of the county, showed an average yield of 57 lbs. from 230 stocks. Mr. Tite then referred to the work of the Somerset Association, and to the self-denying labours of Mr. Anderson. He also spoke of the great improvement in the literature relating to bee-keeping; and, in conclusion, urged his hearers to do their utmost to spread a knowledge of humane bee-keeping amongst their friends and neighbours, so that the use of super-less straw skeps and the cruel custom of suffocating bees may soon become things of the past. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Tite for his paper, on the proposition of the Chairman. A number of bee appliances and books on the subject, lent by Messrs. Neighbour, of London, Mr. James Lee, and others, were exhibited by Mr. Tite ; also a set of photographic and microscopic slides illustrating the anatomy of the bee and work in connexion with the apiary, which were kindly lent for the occasion by Mr. Alfred Watkins, of Hereford. Mr. W. N. Griffin, of Reading, sent samples of his ' honey dubbin,' and Mr. C. Lewis, of Fore Street, Taunton, also had some model bee-keeping appliances on view, as well as a supply of confections, liqeurs, &c, in the manufacture of which honey is largely used. Refresh- ments were provided, and the proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. WIGTOWNSHIRE APIARIAN ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the members of this Association was held on Friday, February 17th, at the George Hotel, Stranraer. Mr. McNally, Glenluce, occupied the chair, and amongst those present were Messrs. Ross (Governor of the Reformatory), Fleming, Wither (members of the Committee of Management), and others. Before proceeding with the ordinary business, the Chairman called upon Mr. Ross to make a presentation to their esteemed Secretary, the Rev. J. B. Robertson, for his valuable services to the Association. The presentation consisted of two drawings in oil, ex- ecuted by Mr. Nairn, artist, West Regent Street, Glasgow. The committee had entrusted Mr. J. D. McNally, Glasgow, to make the purchase. They each bore the following inscription: — ' Presented to the Rev. J. Balfour Robertson, of Leswalt, by the Wigtownshire Apiarian Association, in recognition of his services. — 17 th February, 1888.' Mr. Robertson, in reply, said that he did not know how he could really thank them for the very handsome present they had given to him. He looked back to the past, and to his connexion with the Association, and he felt he did not merit half of the kind words the Chairman had used regarding him. Some, six years ago the Wig- townshire Horticultural Society did not grant prizes, but allowed an exhibition of honey. He then met Mr. McNally, of Glenluce, for the first time, and he ventured to think that the super of honey he showed was a good one. After that some correspondence appeared in the local papers, and a suggestion was made that an Associa- tion should be formed. He happened to reply to that letter, and afterwards the Apiarian Association was formed. In 1882 he had stated, and he did not think he was wrong, that all the honey gathered in Wigtown- shire did not realise 50/. per annum. After six years he did not think he was wrong in saying that the honey gathered in the county and sold in the market did not realise less than 500/. That was, no doubt, particularly realised through the benefits of their Association. He referred to the difficulties they had to encounter at the outset of their Association, and the statement of a landed gentleman of the county that the Association would only exist for the benefit of a few, and not for the working man. This same gentleman had since stated that the Association had conferred great benefit on the working people, whose gardens were graced with hives. With reference to the making of money by bee-keeping, Mr. Robertson, gave his own experience, showing that a good profit could be realised, and that even in the hands of a raw amateur not less than 30s. per hive could be realised. Mr. Robertson concluded by thanking the members heartily for the present of the pictures, which, he hoped, would long grace his manse, and be handed down by him to posterity. The Chairman said that their Association, though small in numbers— at the commencement they were only seven, but now numbered more than thirty — had all heartily contributed to the proposal to make this pre- sentation of these handsome oil paintings to the respected aud honoured Secretary. A vote of thanks was given to the Chairman. Inverted Hives. — What was said in 1842 about them by John Wighton in his History and Managemmt of Bees, p. 75 : — ' The inverted hive is better adapted to adorn the lawn and garden, and to amuse the curious, than to supply the purpose of the practical bee-keeper ; while its expense is an obstacle to its general use. The name explains its principle, which wars against the natural habits of the bees in the construction of their cells, whence its position must either cause the honey to drop, or compel the little architects to alter their rule of building. All dirt also, and many of the dead, must fall to the bottom of the inverted cone, whence it cannot be removed — a manifest evil. In other respects the hive differs little from those on the storifying plan, and though I have tried it for years I have obtained from it scarcely so much as from one of these last.' March 1, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 117 forrespaiTacnxc. The Editor docs not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side oj the viper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of goodfaith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Bo<-ks for Review, Jbc, must be addressed only to 'The FCditor of the " Uritish Bee Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C All business communications relating to 4dusi ti wntents, 4c, must be addressed to Air. J. Huckle, Kings Langlcy, tlerts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). *»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige 6y mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on wltich it appears. BEE DISEASE (So called). [ 1 505.] I consider this, when the symptoms are clearly given, only another name for pollen-cold, or what is more commonly known as hay-fever. A bee-keeper (1360) consulted his doctor during an attack, and was t Id it was analogous to hay-fever, but evidently arose from some other cause, as he suffered from it throughout the year. Let us place side by side the symptoms of bee disease as shown by Mr. Ileddon (Ed. foot-note, page 51", Vol. xv.), and the catarrhal symptoms of hay-fever as given by (now) Sir Morel Mackenzie in hi9 work on that disease. Symptoms, ice., of Bee- disease. — Heddon. First felt ten years ago itch- ing sensation in ears, gradually extended to mouth and near root of tongue. Later on severe sensation in roof of mouth. Eyelids itch and burn fol- lowed by swelling. After three years found out to open a hive, and breathe odour of bees, brought ou the irrita- tion. Irritating and tingling sen- sation crept down bronchia until woke up with asthma. Symptoms reappeared on coming back to his bees after a fortnight. Since ceasing working in apiary has been free. Disease reappearing on bee flying past his face, severe paroxysm ; speechless eight hours. Bee disease symptoms of 'A Bee-keeper' (1366). For last three years sutlers from what appears like violent cold in head, comes without warning, with frequent sneezing and continued running at eyes and nose, lasts a few hours, some- times one or two days. Catarrhal Symptoms, Hay fever, }>■ 81. Itching, smarting sensation in nose and eyes, and some- times in cavity and roof of mouth. Not unfrequently the attack commences with a feeling of extreme irritation of the inner angles of the eyelids : occasion- ally the eyelids became puffed so as to almost close the eyes. The asthmatic form of the complaint may be superadded to the disorder just described. Difficult breathing may con- tinue, with only slight remis- sions, as long as the sufferer is exposed to the influence of pollen. The paroxysm may pass off in a few hours. Dr. Roe thinks everybody who is subject to hay-fever has a cohl in the head some- time during year. Dr. M. M. says the irritation of the lining membrane of the nose causes running of the nose and eyes, and paroxysms of sneezing quickly ensue, fol- lowed by an abundant thin discharge from nose. We are told by various authors that hay-fever is pro- duced by the pollen of grasses and flowers, and it is proved that pollen is an essential factor. I must, how- ever, say that it has been attributed to an excess of ozone in the air. Dr. Blackley studied the effects of benzoic acid (pace ' W. B. W.' ) found as it is in sweet vernal grass, coumarin, essential perfumes of peppermint, juniper, rosemary, and livender, in vain for symptoms ; and it remains beyond doubt that hay-fever is caused by the irritating actiou of pollen-grains on the mucous membrane of the nostrils in the first place, probably next by long fingerlike growing of the intine of the grain absorbing moisture by a process termed osmose, and penetrating deeper into the tissue, thus increasing the irritation. Finally the chemical action on various parts of the throat and bronchial tubes of the contents of the burst grains will complete the list of causes for the symptoms above given. Such pollen-poisoning must be a very distressing affair to the small percentage of people subjected to it, for it has been calculated (Herapath) that in 'the granular matter of pollen-grains of several orders of plants there is forty-six per cent of a peculiar inflam- mable azotised principle insoluble in nearly even/ liquid, .Mackenzie also says that as pollen granules are only one- tenth the size of blood-corpuscles, they may enter the blood-vessels by actual penetrations of the walls,' circula- ting, and thus causing the fever. All pollen-grains, it must be understood, will not cause annoyance, but only peculiar kinds, and these only upon peculiar idiosyncrasies of constitution. For example, Dr. Marsh has stated that iu America only the pollen of the Roman wormwood (Ambrosia Ar'temisicefolia), is the cause of hay-fever, but this opinion is not generally received. Grasses, too (Indian corn excepted), have slight effect in America. The English and Americans are almost the only people subject to hay-fever, and it would be interesting to learn if any of our Continental brethren are subject to this alleged bee disease. Again, those affected consist almost entirely of persons of some education and of fair position, they also nearly all belong to the highly energetic class, and are of generally nervous temperament. Let us now give a glance at the cause of pollen-poisoning, alias hay-fever as it affects the bee-keeper. It is agreed on all hands that the bee-keeper is only punished when he opens his hives. If we read what Pastor Schiinfeld tells us (p. 12, B. B.J.) on 'What do bees use in winter when the pollen collected by them is exhausted?' we shall find plenty of evidence that there is plenty of pollen at hand in the hive in winter, in old combs, cell-walls, and margins, mem- branes left by the nymphs, and in the excreta of larvae at the bottom of cells. He shows that even the stomach of I he bee, let alone that of the larva, is unable to make all the pollen-grains yield up their contents, by reason of the hardness of theVxtine resisting their digestive or assimilative juices. Now when bees go out of their hives silvern and golden in hue, the body hairs covered with pollen, bent, as the insects are, in making the most of a bonev glut, and leaving the pollen-cleaning until dark, the whole hive will be not unlike a flour-mill, the air charged with floating grains. If one, at this time, only take a peep under the edge of quilt (even has a smell at the bees, as Mr. Heddon puts it) a current of hot air rushes out of the opening, carrying on it myriads of pollen-grains to the nostrils. By the showing of various bee-keepers, the disease instantly begins its course. What theory so reasonable as that he gets it from pollen- grains fanned about by multitudes of agitated wings, especially when the apparent causes and symptoms are so identical with those of hay-fever known under other names, e.g., pollen catarrh, summer catarrh, idiosyncratic catarrh, rose-cold, peach-cold, and pollen poisoning ? I do not doubt, that the bee which flew close past Mr. Heddon's face, and gave him an attack, instead^ of dis- charging poison, wafted pollen-grains, which he inhaled. In short, with the infinitesimal percentage of people who are subject to pollen-poisoning, to keep off certain flora gives immunity, and equally keep away from the pollen collected by the bee, and there is no bee-disease. The two must be identical. My remarks, however imperfect, would be still more so if I did not say something with regard to preven- tion, &c. Dr. Morel Mackenzie says, ' If the poison be continually introduced into the system, the antidote, if 118 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 1, 1888. one exists, can have hut little chance of effecting a cure. Change of residence, from the country to the seaside or town, is recommended/ (keep off the bees). And (strange to say, but welcome to bee-keepers), he recommends also a veil to be worn over the face. ' I have found a "double gossamer" veil, which can be had in several colours, answer the purpose iu some cases. Protected in this way many people predisposed to hay- fever escape altogether.' Verb. sap. Tobacco-smoke sometimes affords relief. One part salicylic acid to 1000 of water, snuffed up the nostrils cut's short the di- sease. (Binz.) Prevention being better than cure let those who are susceptible wear a fine silk veil. — R. A. H. Grimshaw, Horsforth, near Leeds. COUNTY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATIONS. [150(5.] There is one thing that might be encouraged through the Journal and county Associations' reports which I do not remember seeing anything about, viz., each county committee to get one practical bee-keeper in each district who will fix five or six days, or rather evenings, during the months of May, June, and July to •welcome members of County B.K.A., and to show and explain any different hives or supers which he may be working in his apiary or anything else. — John It. Critchlow, Maer Farm, Newcastle, Staffordshire. SENDING QUEEN-CELLS. [1507.] Mr. Sharp in his article (1485) inquires, should he take his young queens to his allotment to be fertilised with foreign drones he intends raising ? I would say no. Let the following incident suffice : — A bee- keeper, distant exactly two miles from this village, about six years ago introduced Italian queens into his apiary, the following summer young queens from three different hives in the village had mated with the Italian drones, their offspring being finely marked in the two upper rings of the abdomen ; I found them quite as harmless as my own old-fashioned blacks. To encourage Mr. Sharp, at his request I will have pleasure in forwarding him as early as possible this sum- mer a few ripe queen-cells, which he could make use of either iu his old or nucleus hives. His foreign drones and pure Scotch black queens would impart fresh blood into his apiary. Foul-brood unknown in this locality. — Jas. Phingle, Cockburnspath, K.B. THE TIME TEST. _ [1508.] I quite understand ' H. J. B.' (1490) feeling disgusted, and saying that it was his first— and last — attempt to obtain the third-class certificate. I don't wish the rules to be altered to admit any bee-keeper to be a third-class expert, but I do think failing to find her majesty in a given time ought not to throw a candidate overboard, which appears from 'II. J. B.' to be the case. The men we want for experts are those who are thoroughly practical, and can work a good return from then- own stocks. One of your correspondents, some months back, said all District Secretaries and local advisers (if I remember right) ought to hold a third- class certificate, and I say so too; but how many of these gentlemen, who are well-known bee-keepers, will come forward to be plucked and sent back empty ? I know one District Secretary who would have been a candidate last year only for the above cause. The only reason be had for wanting a certificate was in case the County B. K. A . got short of funds he could take the expert's tour sometimes in bis own district. This gentleman, to my knowledge, has spent weeks in the last five years for the good of our County Association by starting new members, attending committees, shows, &c; at least he is always ready to give a helping hand when his own duties will allow him, — all gratis. It would not be a bad plan, after candidates have applied to be examined, for County B.K. A. Committees to say whether they have made a good stand as practical bee-keepers and also successful exhibitors, as I am sure if men are qualified to bold a certificate they will be well known by part of the County Committee. — Snow- A USEFUL SUGGESTION. [15J0.] Your correspondent ' H. J. B.' (1495) has hit on the thing wanted to promote the sale of honey in my opinion, that is, better advertising, as there are thousands who only know honey by name, if they have heard of it at all ; and if they do know more about it, where are they to get the pure British honey from which can be depended on at a market's price ? What we want is a more uniform price, quality, and get-up for sale, and thoroughly bringing before the public. One of the objects set forth by Count)' B.K. A. is to encourage the sale of honey, which I am afraid is little heard of, but still hon. sees, have plenty to do without selling for members their honey. A thought struck me several weeks ago that a honey club might be worked in connexion with the County B.K.A. something on the following lines : To appoint one hon. sec. for each thickly-populated district, with a small committee to arrange prices, rules, &c. Each member who joins this club must take one or more shares in the year's turnover, according to the amount of honey he wishes to sell, each share to represent 25 lbs. of honey at from Is. to 2s. each. By this plan all members would be on the same footing, for if one has 200 lbs. to sell, he would have to pay eight times as much as one with only 25 lbs. The small subscriptions would go towards printing, postage, carriage of samples, &c. I think if the above could be put in working order, it might be tried for one year to see how it answers. I should like to hear the opinion of other bee-keepers through your valuable Journal. — Snowdrop. SUGGESTIONS. [1510.J The B. B. J. so ably and wisely conducted by you, is a weekly source of pleasure to me in studying the marvellous works of God. The Journal supplies me with comb upon comb of beautiful honey in the shape of help and advice. I should therefore be pleased if I could contribute one single cell, or even a bee-load of hone)', to the hive of knowledge, in gratitude for the knowledge I have extracted. I will jot down a few remarks for you to glance over, and should you deem any of them of interest to amateur bee-keepers, please make use of them as food for the Journal. My apiary consists of twenty-four stocks ; fifteen are the produce of hist autumn's condemned bees. I endeavour to make everything required about the apiary, for to my mind half the charm of bee-keeping is the construction of the appliances. By rising in summer three or four mornings a-week before the bees, say from 3 to 5 a.m. a good amount of work may be accomplished, and personal health greatly benefited. A Britannia Company's patent circular saw, which is perfection, adds eighty per cent to the pleasure of a bee-keeper's life. This is only my second season of bee-keeping on the most approved lines. But when a lad of thirteen I had fourteen hives and made all the houses, &c, for them. Most of my present hives consist of an inner hive, 1 1| x 16, and an outer case 20 x 20 inside measure. I think double-walled hives are by far the best. Suggestion 1. — I find the most satisfactory way of keeping the water from getting in at the junction of outer March 1, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 119 cases is by nailing strips of tin the length of the side by- one inch width on each side. The tin should project f inch beyond the side of the case, and as it is free at each corner, it fits nicely over any slight variation in the thickness of the case below. The strips of tin can be cut and nailed on very quickly if the proper mode be adopted. The bottom case of all needs no tin strip, since it projects one inch over floor-board, and strips of wood nailed round inside keep it renting on the floor-board. Suggestion 2. — The best entrance slides I find to be made thus : — Nail a strip of tin the length of entrance, say fourteen inches, and one inch wide, just above the f inch entrance. Then cut two strips of tin 7^ x § to slide between the tin and the case side. Turn up one end half inch of each tin slide at right angles to work the slide by. Then screw apiece of wood the length of the outside case (mine is twenty-one inches), § x |, just under the f inch entrance and flush with it, and then the slides run nicely on the wood. The flight-board, bevelled at the edge, rests up against the §■ inch strip of wood and is hooked on to the case side. Perforated zinc slides can be worked with- out the tin ones being entirely removed. Wooden slides for narrowing the entrance are too much acted upon by the weather to be perfect. The tin slides are practically unaffected by weather, and are more quickly made. Porches I have discarded as not necessary. Suggestion .'5. — I have found the following frame-lifter of great service. Bend a piece of j\ inch wire into a semicircle of fourteen to sixteen inches diameter, to suit hive and frame and bend the ends up J inch at right angles. Then you can slip the right angles under the top of the frame and lift it with one hand and turn the frame about as desired. The cost of this lifter is about a penny, or less. I have not seen so simple and cheap a frame-lifter mentioned in Journal, so 1 draw attention to it as it might be of use to amateurs. It was of great service to me last summer, enabling me to mani- pulate without smoke, &c. I should like to hear some suggestion on a quick, cheap, and effectual mode of shading hives from the glare of the snow. I unhook my flight-boards, which are 21 x 18, and slant them against the hives. This is effectual, but it takes some time to do this for even twenty-four hives. 1 should also like to know if roofs without any inclina- tion for the rain to run off have been much tried in this country, and with what results. I am thinking of making all future houses with level roofs. I have about six now and they have been tried for over six months and not a particle of moisture gets through them. I cover the joints with strips of tin. It is quickly done, and if well nailed and painted no wet can possibly get through. The slight drip there may be in front does not trouble the bees, and half-inch inclination to the back avoids even this. The advantages I find are, (1 ) the roof dries quicker, as the sun strikes it more directly than when inclined away from the sun. (2) More quickly made and easier for an amateur to make. An eleven- inch plank, ripped up the centre, just gives the sides of the roof a nice depth of five and a half inches. (•'!) They make good tables for placing things on. They are light to lift if bare half be used for the top, five-eighths for front and back, and half inch for the sides. I make my roof come down over the case one half inch ; strips of wood being nailed round the inside to allow of that amount. 1 use nothing but good pine in making hives and cases, &c. In the above remarks there may be nothing of profit, even to amateurs. But as 1 have profited for two years by hints on various subjects given in the Journal, I am wishful to contribute, if possible, honey to the hive, and so far I have been an unprofitable bee for two years. Wishing you, Mr. Editor, continued success in your arduous duties, — I am, yours faithfully, It. T. Shea, Little Wakering Vicarage, Rochford, Essex, February •32nd, 1888. NOTES ON BEE-HIVES.— SECTIONS. [1511.] In reading Gleanings of the issue of the 15th January, 1888, to-day, I notice some questions and answers that bear directly upon the important subject now being considered or mentioned in the British Bee Journal, and of which I make a few extracts for the benefit of some of your readers, hoping you can kindly allow the space. Question. ' Is it best to fill section- boxes full of foundation, or use starters only one inch in width?' ' Favourable opinions. Full.— C. C. Miller. Fill full.— Dr. A. B. Mason. Fill full. — Geo. Grimm. Fill them full.— W. Z. Hutchinson. I prefer a full sheet. — Paul L. Viallon. I prefer to till the section. — G. M. Doolittle. So far as my experience has gone I prefer to use full sheets of foundation in my surplus boxes. — James Heddon. I have found it best to use full sheets, though I often use triangular starters. — A. J. Cook. Full-sized sheets have a chance to pay for themselves whenever the bees cannot keep up with their income. — E. E. H»siy. It is much more profitable to fill them full. If quality only is considered, starters are better. If foundation is made then, and used fresh, there is practically no objection to its use in full sheets. — James A. Green. The office of starter one inch wide is only to serve as guide-combs. They would not increase the crop of honey much. But to fill the section with foundation increases the crop materially. It does almost as much good as to fill them with newly-built comb. — Chas. F. Moth. Friend Root states that Mr. Muth seems to have over looked the fact that recent decisions place full sheets o" foundation even ahead of newly-built comb; that is, wheref the cells are drawn up to anything like fall length. Question, ' Is a triangular starter, with the point reaching nearly to the bottom of the section, as good as a full sheet of thin foundation ? ' No. — Geo. Gbimm. No.— Dr. A. B. Mason. No. — W. Z. Hutchinson. I think not. — C. C. Miller. I use full sheets. — G. M. Doolittle. Not in our opinion. — Dadant and Sons. No, not in my experience. — James Heddon. I prefer a full sheet. — Paul L. Viallon. It answers very well, but I prefer full sheets. — A. J. Cook. A triangular starter is not as good as a full sheet of foundation. The section will not be filled in the same time as when full sheet are given. — Chas. F. Muth. If it pays to use foundation, use it. Why stop half way ? Partly filled sections give the bees a chance to build two sizes of comb in the same section, and make a botch of things, — E. E. Hasty. No. Firstly, because it will not be finished quite as soon. Second, because it will not be as well finished. The found- ation should be cut as large as possible, without having it kick from the lower corners touching the sides, when put in with ordinary care. This gives a square, solid comb of honey, firmly attached all around that is easier to shake bees from, looks much better, and is much less liable to break out in shipment. — James A. Green. T. Bonner Chambers, F.L.S., Tref Eghtys, Caersus, Montgomeryshire, Feb. 16, 1888. [To be continued.) THIRD-CLASS EXAMINATION. [1512.] A candidate that enters for the third-class examination ought to know the time that is allowed him to drive his bees and find the queen. Under these circumstances he should repeatedly practise driving and picking out the queen, previous to the date of his exami- nation, timing himself on each occasion. 120 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 1, 1888. If a little more pains were taken by candidates to make themselves proficient, we should hear of less complaints after the examinations were over. It is not a matter whether the judge can find the queen in so many minutes ; he is not present to do the work, but to see that it is done. So if the candidate fails to find the queen in the time that is allowed him it would be much better taste on his part to hold his peace than to try and bring dis- credit upon the judge when the whole fault lies at his own door. — Queen. [We have perused the instructions given for third- class examinations, and we find that no specified time is laid down for driving the bees from skeps. The candi- date is no doubt credited in accordance with his expedi- tion, care, and general efficiency in his work. We think the advice of our corrrspondent is very much to the point. — Ed.] WEATHER IN AMERICA. [1513.] You have no idea what storms of snow we have had. You, perhaps, remember the little town of Red Hook, about two miles east of here. About two weeks ago I sent my boy Joe with horse and cutter (single-seated sleigh) over to Red Hook. Our waitress Addie accompanied him, and they left here at 12.30 p.m. It snowed some fourteen inches the night before, and at 12.45 p.m., fifteen minutes after they left, the wind started up from the north with considerable vigour, and in twenty minutes was blowing half a gale. Shut up in our house and placed, as we are, on a hill or ridge- top, we did not appreciate the drifting of the snow. Hour after hour went by and no tidings of the two. About four o'clock one of the men working on my mother's place came to the house and reported that about one hour before, with infinite labour, my sister's coachman had reached home in a sleigh and that he declared it impossible for Joe to reach home that night; but to our astonishment, not many minutes later, in walks Joe, looking quite exhausted. He reported having left the horse at a livery stable, and that Addie had stepped into a store to make some purchases, and when hererrand was over was astonished to find that to get anywhere she had to wade in soft snow up to her waist ! Joe had beat his way through snow up to his neck, as he ex- pressed it, and when I saw the roads and paths subse- quently I did not doubt his word. We have never seen anything to compare with this storm since 1857. Of course it was useless to send out men that after- noon (January 2Gth) or evening, as the gale was still blowing. About 10 a.m. next day the wind subsided, and I at once ordered all the men on the place out with shovels and our snow-plough with heaviest team. Of course all our neighbours turned in and helped, and by night the roads were opened part way to Red Hook. From a point about half-way over the team9 were com- pelled to leave the road and strike into the fields. A detour of about a mile was made before they could get into the town. Gangs of men were out working our way, so that the road, or I had better say ' trail,' was passable by 5 p.m., and Joe managed to bring home Addie and the horse. Some of the drifts were ten feet high. The temperature has been toying with zero altogether too freely : several mornings at ten o'clock the thermo- meter has stood at 15° Fahr. They are harvesting ice seventeen to eighteen inches thick, as clear as crystal. I filled my ice-house in four days. We had a thaw yester- day for the first time in six weeks. We are all tired enough of this wintry weather, and shall greet with joy the first signs of spring. — J. A., February bth, 1888. [The above is an extract from a private letter received 20th February, and will give some idea of the weather our friends in America are having. — Ed.] PAINTING THE INSIDE OF HIVES. [1514.] Having had hives with all the woodwork (except the frames) of the interior painted, and wintering most satisfactorily for ten years, I differ with your correspondent Mr. Adcock (p. 105) in the advice he gives. In the volume of the B.B.J, for 1887, p. 119, I gave my reasons for adopting the practice, which had been previously recommended in ' Useful Hints,' and which was subsequently advocated by another writer at p. 143. Since I wrote that letter, now ju3t a year ago, I have had very fair success with my bees. My honey yield has been good, and there is nothing to be dissatisfied with the way the bees have passed through the varying changes of this past winter. My hives, all of which have the insides well painted, are tenanted by strong stocks, and I find no pools of water in them such as Mr. Adcock found in his. Might I suggest that Mr. A.'s hives have not sufficient width of flight-hole for the winter? Mine always have the full width of nine inches, which I consider has a great deal to do with keeping the interiors dry. As to his hives with floor-boards so made or so placed that one ' con- tained more than a pint of water,' and the others were ' more or less covered with water, and a great number of dead bees floating in it,' I cannot understand it. There must be something astray, or the hives are not set level, or with the least possible inclination from back to front — I give mine a bare quarter of an inch fall — or is there not another possible cause for the extraordinary watery condition of Mr. A.'s hives ? Could there be any cracks or chinks in the roof through which the rain penetrated? I hope some other bee-keepers who have given the subject a fair trial, such as I have done, will write to you. Many mistakes are often made by beginners, who attribute results to wrong causes from want of thought and careful observation of all the circumstance of the case. If I possessed five hundred hives I should paint the insides of every one in order to have no damp, water- soaked wooden walls about my bees. — H. VV. Lett, M.A., Ayhadery Oleic, Louffhbrickland, Co. Down. INSERTING FOUNDATION IN SECTIONS. [1515.] Under the above heading {British Bee Journal, page 5, January 5th, 1888) an article is quoted from the American Bee Journal, written by E. S. Eden, of Canada, and the article commented upon in the B. B. J., and a statement made that a Mr. James Lee has invented a superior method of putting in foundation, and we in Canada and the United States are to take a note of the fact that he (Mr. Lee) is about to patent this and a brood-frame similarly constructed in America. It might be interesting to know that Mr. Eden was simply working in an advertisement for his own in- genuity, and to draw attention to the subject, so that it would pave the way for the fruit of his thoughts. Mr. Eden has invented a machine which also does away with all the difficulties he mentions, and can be worked very rapidly. I am not in favour of a writer ' blowing his own horn ' for selfish ends under the guise of giving the public informal ion. Nevertheless, I doubt very much if Mr. Eden's machine, or that of Jacob Alpaugh, St. Thomas, who has also invented a machine for putting foundation in sections, will be very much improved upon for some time. Mr. Eden has his machine patented. I know of no man who has made any money out of a patent upon bee-keeping appliances in Canada. How- ever, should Mr. Lee see fit to patent his invention in Canada, I trust he will not regret his decision. Of course, I am not in a position to say anything about the invention, but unless very inexpensive the demand for such will be very limited ; bee-keepers prefer a little March 1, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 121 extra trouble to extra expense. An important feature in the machines here is an iron plate heated by a lamp ; upon this plate the edge of the wax is melted. It works well and rapidly. — R. F. HoLTERMANN, Bran/ford, Canada, YELLOW RACES. [1516.1 Will you kindly inform me in an early issue as to why all authors on works on bee-keeping, English and American, as well as bee-keepers when referring to the colour of certain varieties of bees, make use of the terms yellow-banded, yellow-striped, &c, when the colour alluded to is not at all yellow, but a dusky orange ? I may mention that I possess stocks of Cyprian, Italian, Carniolan home-raised from Mr. Simmins, and also pure bred from Mr. Benton, Syrian, and Palestine varieties, together with the common English kind, and no yellow whatever occurs on any of these bees, but only bands of a warm grey tint and a dusky orange shade in connexion with the dark brown colour commonly found on most races. It would be very interesting and valuable if you could prepare, in connexion with the B. B. Journal, a sheet in chromolithography for framing, giving the various races of bees with their respective forms and colours. Queens, workers, and drones, of each rae»> might be represented, and perhaps some of the hybrid kinds. I feel certain that the cost of such a sheet of illustrations would be gladly met by your subscribers, and I should have much pleasure in preparing gratis the necessary drawings for the stones. — W. G. Mucklb. Loivesivater, Cumberland. [Although not generally of a bright yellow those races have been called the yellow races because of the yellowish tinge of their bodies. The Italians are described by some German writers as having orange- yellow belts, others say yellowish ; and we believe thry have been generally called yellow races because of this yellowish hue, and in contradiction to the brown or what are also called black bees. We are not inclined to quarrel with the term, for, after all, orange is only a reddish sbade of yellow resembling gold, and the word itself is derived from the Latin aurum, signifying gold. Yellow is also defined by Dr. Ogilvie as the colour of gold, a golden hue, and is also derived from gold, in Danish quid. These bees have also been called golden bees ; Virgil says : — 1 Two different kinds of regal bees behold, The better bears a coat that glows with gold.' And again, — ' The better race refulgent hues unfold Bcdropt with equal spots of glistening gold.' Dr. Follmann, a leading German authority, in his book on the value of the different races of bee, describes Italians very minutely and says the workers have orange bands instead of brown. Some queens, he says, have the forepart of the abdomen golden yellow, or orange-coloured, and others have the whole of the abdomen golden-yellow as though cut out of ducat gold. Some bees are much brighter than others, and this brightness is still more apparent when we look through them, especially if the sun be shining, then we think golden-yellow would not be a very inappropriate name. The name of ' yellow races ' is so established that we do not think it would be easy to change it. We are much obliged to our correspondent for his kind offer, and we should be happy to carry out his suggestion and publish a lithographic sheet of various races of bees if we could get them lithographed to our satisfaction. We have seen a great many attempts made in this direction, but none hitherto that have proved entirety satisfactory. —Ed.] BEES NATIVES OF ENGLAND. Bees are mentioned in some of our earliest national records, aud the mention of them is such as demon- strates how highly they were valued. Nor is this a cause for surprise, inasmuch as that mead or inetheglin was the choicest drink of the Britons' feasts ; and al- though the household of the Prince of Wales one thousand years ago comprised but twenty-four officials, the eleventh of them was the mead-maker, and he ranked next before the royal physician. So highly was superior mead prized in those days that one of the royal privileges was to have the first offer of every cask that was intended to be sold. We are accustomed to consider our forefathers of those days as rude and barbarous, and they were so if measured by our present standards of habits and educa- tion, but compared with contemporary nations they appear to advantage, for their laws and customs were fully equal in good sense to those of their neighbours on the Continent. As an illustration we will quote from the laws relative to bees enforced by Ilowel Uha, who was chief ruler of Wales about a.d. 'J40. 'Of tiie Price of Bbbb. ' An old hive is valued at 24 pence. ' A spring swarm at 10 pence. ' A second swarm at 12 pence. ' A swarm from a first sw. inn at 12 pence. ' A Bwarm from a second swarm at 8 pence. ' A swarm after the Calends of August at 4 pence, and that shall be the price until the Calends of November. ' After the Calends of November an old hive is valued at 24 pence, and the swarm which came off after the Calends of August shall not be considered as an old swarm before the Calends of -May, and then it shall be valued at 24 pence. ' Three huntings are free (that is, you may follow them upon another man's ground), of a swarm of bees settled upon a branch, and of a Fox, and of an Otter, because they have no certain abode. ' Bees were first born in Paradise, and were driven thence on account of man's sin, but God blessed them: therefore mass ought not to be sung without their wax being present. ' lie who finds a swarm resting on a branch in another man's land shall receive 4 pence from the possessor of the land, if the latter wishes to retain the swarm. ' No swarm shall be valued at more than 4 pence until it has remained quietly for three days and three nights in the same place, and that in fine weather. Of those days the first is required to ascertain whether it will settle; another in examining whether it will cluster, and the third whether it will continue here.' — Tfotton't Ltges Walliccttpage 254. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS^ Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturer 8 or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good oj bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for 'is to go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt oj Cneir communication. All queries forwanUd » '.-ill be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. John Main. — 1. Sections, — The sections mentioned are not, generally speaking taken to by the bees. We do not advise sections narrower than If inch. 2. Heddon Hives. — These may be obtained from several of the dealers in appliances. North Devon Rustic, — 1. Hoya carnosa is a tender exotic and requires the protection of a warm green- house in this country. It is a pity it is not hardy, for we know of no plant, native or foreign, that secretes more honey than does this species of hoya. The 122 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 1, 1888. honey, however, does not hang on every petal as our correspondent remarks, hut collects in pearly drops in the centre of each flower, which are deliciously sweet- sceuted and pretty. Each generation of these wax- like flowers proceed from the same flower-stalk, hence it is advisable to cut them as little as possible. 2. Closing Entrances to Hives. — We never close the entrances to our hives; they are now at summer width, but have a board resting against the porch of each to prevent the snow reflecting the light into the hive. C. Marks. — Bees in Roof. — The bees, as you say, are no doubt between the roof and the ceiling ; this could easily be ascertained by listening on a warm day, and their exact location found out. If the farmer thinks of removing a portion of the roof they could be easily removed, but if not the 'game is not worth the candle.' At the end of the honey-harvest would be the best time if they are to be taken for their stores, but if for the bees early spring. Use plenty of smoke, as the slates or tiles are being removed, and when the bees are thoroughly intimidated cut the combs out one b}' one, brushing the bees off into an empty skep. (See answer to 'A Novice in Mudern Bee-keeping,' in issue of 23rd nit.). Horace. — Replacing old Combs. — Towards the end of March, on a warm day, remove any surplus combs ; insert new sheet-foundation about the centre of the brood-nest. Should the weather continue favourable give a fresh iheet of foundation about once a-week in the same manner, removing the outside comb. Feed gently but regularly, and take care you do not spread the brood-nest faster than the bees can with their increasing number cover all brood. There is nothing whatever to prevent you getting a full return from this hive during the coming season. Wired founda- tion is suitable. Novice. — New Hive. — We are sorry to do so, but must condemn your plan. Just fancy trying it with Cyprians or pugnacious hybrids ! Who could live to tell the tale ? R. M'Whirter. — Queen Excluder. — We always depre- cate the use of excluder between rack and body of hive. It is rarely that the queen ascends ; even if she does the portion of section in which she lays her eggs can be cut out. When upon being given back to the bees they will repair and make good any damage. K. Sandall. — 1. Transferring. — The advice we give is intended for the benefit of novices, and is the best plan for such ; an adept can transfer at any time. 2. Using Queen-cells for Re-queening. — Yes, if they are inserted twenty-four hours after removal of queen, or they could be placed, if in queen-cell cages, in the hive immediately upon such removal. A queen-cell cage is a cone of wire cloth into which the cell is put ; the apex is open. Through this opening the queen emerges, the sides of the cell being- protected from the attacks of workers by the wire cloth. K. E. T. — 1. Neglected Honey. — Remove all the combs having uncapped honey in them and place them in a basin in the oven. When the wax is all melted allow it to cool. The wax can then be removed in a sheet ; feed the honey back to the bees in the spring. The few frames can be given the bees to clear out, but not until they commence working before the honey-flow sets in. 2. Hives. — You will find a bee-house just as expensive and not half as handy. To hold eleven or twelve frames is the best, as such a size is easily ' tiered up.' 3. Foundation in Frames. — Whole sheets. We prefer ' Pelham.' It is very much a matter of individual opinion, though we strongly object to flat-bottom in the brood-nest. C. Whiting. — The bees forwarded are hybrids. A Grateful Reader. — Glossary of Apicultural Terms. — Your suggestion meets our views, and it will in an early number be carried out. W. P. Meadows. — 1. Bee Flora. — We have in previous volumes given this subject our best attention ; but. as we are continually receiving fresh subscribers we shall not lose sight of your suggestion. 2. Railtvay Com- panies and Rates to Bee Appliance Manufacturers. — In the year 1883 the British Bee-keepers' Association took a considerable amount of trouble, and incurred some expense, in placing the claims of the bee-keeping industry before the several RailwayCompanies. Printed memorials were prepared and signed by the executive of each County Association, and these were sub- sequently considered at a Conference of railway managers. A reply was in due course given by the Secretary of the Conference to the Secretary of the B.B. K.A. to the following effect: — 'I beg to inform you that this subject has been fully laid before the different Railway Companies, and I regret to say that they do not see their way to make any reduction in the rates.' It will be found from the report of the Committee of the B. B. K. A. for the past year that this subject has not been lost sight of. We would suggest that our correspondent and others should communicate their views on the subject to the Secre- tary of the B.B. K.A. D. K. Dai.y. — Feeding. — If you desire to get the full advantage of stimulating brood-rearing early in the season, as soon as the bees fly freely it will be well to supply them with liquid food (the receipt for which you will find in Cowan's Guide Book) and regulate the feeder so that only a small amount can be taken at a time. If the bees are not, through the weather being cold or other reasons, inclined to take the liquid food, flour candy can be placed under the quilt above the frames. 2. Transferring from Sleeps. — Let the bees swarm, and twenty-one days after transfer to frame- hives. Whether it be better to transfer or unite should be determined by the strength of the stocks. E. II. Turner. — The most exhaustive work is Apidce Europtete, by Dr. II. L. O. Schmiedeknecht. As a book of reference it is invaluable, and the numerous excellent illustrations are a great help in determining species. Professor Siebold on Parthenogenesis would be of great service in your special study. We shall be pleased to receive results of your investigations. C. Wade. — You will get the information you desire by looking at. advertisement of Messrs. Abbott in this week's issue. Normacot. — Mouldy Ccmb. — There is no necessity for your destroying the combs. The pollen-filled cells are mildewed through being kept in a damp place. When dried rub them with a soft brush, and spray with salicylic acid ; when required they may then be re- turned to the bees. J. M'Gowan. — We are informed that Lee's sections will be in the market in the course of a fortnight. Some difficulty has been experienced in providing the requisite machinery. Pike. — Enamelled Cloth. — The sample of cloth will be found serviceable. The shiny side is placed on the tops of the frames. Received from Mr. T. B. Blow, of Welwyn, Herts, his Illustrated Catalogue of Bee-keepers' Appliances, 64 pages. We note that it has a small piece of scarlet cord, which makes it convenient for hanging up in the bee-keeper's room. It contains a number of new illustrations. Received from Messrs. W. P. Meadows, of Syston, near Leicester, and J. H. Howard, of Holme, near Peterborough, their joint catalogue of Bee-hives and other Appliances, 48 pages. This catalogue embraces every article both of wood and of metal that is of service in the apiary, March 1, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 123 ^Business directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Koad, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Bkitish Bee-keepers' Stokes, 6 George Yard, Fenchureh St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M-, Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchureh St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. it 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour * Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchureh St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchureh St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. 2>T OT I CE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent A; Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER. W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley. Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire. JOHNSTON, A. B., Brickhall, Ballywoolen, Killy- leagh, Co. Down. McNALLY, R., Gleuluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON, C. T„ Crawley, Susses. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHLNSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. Apiaries at Rottingdean, near Brighton; and Crawley, Sussex; are open for inspection during Working Hours. Very advantageous Terms to intending THE BRITISH EMPORIUM. BEE0-T STUDENTS QUEENS, NUCLEI, HIYES, & APPLIANCES. SIMMINS' BEE COMPANY, Limited. Send to Sec, W. M. GEAHAM, Lowfield, Crawley, for our ANNUAL CIRCULAR. Goods DELIVERED, CARRIAGE PAID, to all parts of the Country, as per Terms in Circular. HIYE and IMPLEMENT FACTORY, LOWFIELD, near CRAWLEY STATION, SUSSEX. ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 1, 1888. Special prepaid ^advertisements. > « I Exchange Column.— Sales of Honey and Second-hand Goods. — Intended to aid Bee-keepers in the disposal of Bee- produce and Appliances for which they have no further use. Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad- ditional Three words, One Penny extra. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, d-c. — Tiventy words and under, One Shilling ; for every additional Three words, One Penny. No reduction made for continuous insertion. Now Beady. SIMMINS' NEW BOOK.— 'A MODEEN BEE-FARM, AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.' Popular Edition, limp cloth cover, 3s. 9- ■ - - f , ^ The cut, taken from a photograph, represents our bee-hive factory where we annually turn out about 20,000 hives and 8,000,000 sections, besides enormous quantities of bee-supplies of every description. Dealers before ordering elsewhere should correspond directly with us. We are prepared to quote better prices on sections in quantities than we have ever quoted before. We are also publishers of Gleanings in Bee Culture, with a circulation of 7074 subscribers. A sample copy Of our journal and our 40-page price list sent on application to ^V. X. ROOT, Medina, Ohio, XT. S. A. Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stkanqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 298. Vol. XVI.] MARCH 8, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (Atonal, itotias, &t. PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIAKY. Feeding. There is, perhaps, no branch of work in an apiary lesa understood than feeding. Many think bees ought to find sufficient food for their own requirements ; but they forget that we take away their honey, the very stores they have liid up for their sustenance. Besides, do we not feed our cows and other domesticated animals ? Should we not be considered bad farmers if we expected our cows to give us a good supply of butter and milk without providing them with good food ? It is not. dif- ferent with our bees. And both cows and bees, when pasturage is abundant, good, and rich, do well without our attention ; but at other times we must furnish them with food, otherwise they suffer much, and the loss is to our own detriment. Langstroth says: 'Few things in practical bee-keeping are more important than the feeding of bees; yet none have been more grossly mis- managed or neglected.' This author treats the subject of feeding very f ullj-, and, although his book was written nearly thirty years ago, the above remarks would apply with equal force at the present time. How to feed and when to feed will depend upon the different purposes for which we have to feed. We will briefly consider the different reasons for which bees have to be fed. These are — for stimulation, for preserv- ation, and for comb-building. The time and method of feeding, as also the description of food to be used, will vary according to the object the bee-keeper may have in view. For instance, in the spring and summer, when there is a great scarcity of pasturage and brood- raising is proceeding rapidly, bees must be fed, both for the purpose of stimulation and preservation. Stocks, which in early spring are so light as to seem to be of no value whatever, may be so stimulated into activity by regular and gentle feeding as to very shortly surpass in strength those left to themselves, and which appeared strong enough. Early feeding promotes early breeding, and strong colonies are the result. The bees may have sufficient stores in their hives, and some bee-keepers think it unnecessary to feed them at such a time ; and we often hear nature appealed to, and the statement made that bees would help themselves to their store.- as nature prompts them to do. This is true enough ; but nature only prompts bees to take what food they actu- ally require at such times for self-preservation only, and will not induce breeding until honey is coming in regu- larly. When the honey-flow is abundant, brood-rearing proceeds rapidly. Bees left to their own devices will develop themselves fast enough for their own preserva- tion, and will be strong enough to lay up sufficient, store for their own use. Is the bee-keeper, however, satisfied with this, or does he not aim at having a large surplus, which he can appropriate to his own profit ? To insifre this he takes advantage of the natural instinct of the bee; and without waiting until honey is coming in plenti- fully, in order to procure the increase of workers he will feed his bees gently and regularly, in order to have them ready to go out in large numbers when the honey-flow arrives. In order to understand the advantages we may derive from feeding, we must bear in mind that the queens lay eggs rapidly only when the workers are bringing in stores regularly, and by stores we mean, not only honey, but also pollen, which they require for themselves as well as for preparing the food for the brood. We must also not forget another fact, and that is, when a colony is rapidly rearing brood, and it finds honey is scarce, the bees stop feeding and destroy the larva; and eggs. In such a case they are thrown back in their development in a few days much more than they can regain in several weeks. In the spring, when breeding goes on rapidly, as the brood increases so also increases the consumption of stores. Strong colonies are sometimes induced, by genial weather and abundance of blossoms which furnish honey, to consume the whole of their supplies in their endeavours to increase their numbers ; and if at such times we have a few days of wet or cold weather they may be reduced lu starvation. The early flowers also furnish honey to encourage development, but when this fails there is probably little honey and much maturing brood. A little judicious feeding would keep such colonies pro- gressing, and make us independent of natural circum- stances. The great secret of successful bee-keeping is in having strong colonies ready to gather surplus whenever a good honey-flow sets in. Now, it generally happens that before such a flow circumstances are not the best suited for the development of the colony to its full strength, so that the full advantage of the honey-flow is lost. Of course, the colony will develop during the flow, and be ready for the next, but the bee-keeper has irretrievably lost one source of surplus. Then, again, it often happens after the first flow there is a long spell, when the bees gather very little, and hardly enough to 126 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 8, 1888. sustain them ; this will cause a relaxation of the breed- ing, and sometimes even put a stop to it altogether, so that the colony must build up again before it can lay in supplies. Gentle feeding at such times is beneficial, as it keeps the colonies up to their proper strength. After the honey-flows are over and the honey taken away, late feeding becomes a necessity in order to pre- serve the bees through the winter. Then there are times when bees can be induced by feeding to employ their time profitably in building combs, which will come in useful for extracting purposes. In giving directions how to feed at different times and under different circum- stances, we must bear in mind that bees require, in addition to honey, pollen and water. Another thing we must not forget, and that is, that the taste and smell of honey are likely to induce robbing ; therefore, we must guard against this by giving food in such a way and at such times as to have little tendency to attract other bees. We would here strongly deprecate the plan of outdoor feeding as being both dangerous and wasteful. It induces robbing, and the bee-keeper not only feeds his own bees, but also those of his neighbours. The best method of feeding is undoubtedly inside the hive, on the top, or at the hive entrance; but this last plan should only be resorted to at night. Of course, these remarks only apply to syrup or honey feeding ; it is different for pollen, which can be given outside the hive without danger. 1 here are two methods of feeding — gentle and con- tinuous feeding and rapid feeding. Gentle and con- tinuous feeding is so called from the fact that only as much food is supplied the bees as they need for daily consumption, and is stimulative in its effect, inducing a production of brood. Rapid feeding, on the other hand, is giving food in such large quantities as to enable the bees to store it in their combs for future use, and has the effect of checking the production of brood, owing to the cells in the brood-chamber being occupied with stores. 'THE "WILEY LIE.' Under this heading our contemporary, the American Bee Journal, in the issue of January 25th, page 52, takes our article ' Facts ' in the British Bee Journal of December 23th, page 668, to task. The greater part of the article has been quoted by the American Bee Journal, but we wish the remainder had also been reprinted, as from that it reads: ' We know too well the practice of mixing glucose with honey, and the methods of detecting it, and how a London firm has been manu- facturing another substance, palming it off as honey; but we feel confident that the bee fraternity, located in whatever part of the world, will, as the Cornish motto has it, " one aud all " endeavour to stop such practices, prejudicial not only to the bee-industry, but injurious to the health of the community at large.' From this it will be seen that in our midst other sub- stances are tried to be floated on to the market as honey, and we call on bee-keepers all over the world to try and stop such practices. Bee-masters, whether in the British Isles, Australia, Canada, or the United States, cannot by any means take offence at our article, as persons carrying out the prac- tices referred to cannot be called bee-keepers. Glucose has, without doubt, been palmed off on the public as honey. Bee-keepers all over the world have a common cause to see to, — the production of pure honey ; and when- ever we hear of anything injurious to the industry, it devolves on all periodicals devoted to the subject to bring such things to the notice of their readers. On page 08 we reprinted the reproof of the editor as it appeared in the American Bee Journal, without com- ment on our part, and have made inquiries, and find that, so far as we can gather, all said in the article headed ' Facts ' is true. The clergyman who supplied the in- formation, and whose name for obvious reasons we withhold, is a well-known dignitary of the Church, whose word we cannot for a moment doubt. Whether he was a victim to a fraud we cannot say, but he fur- ther informs us: — 'The farm I was on was fifteen miles from Kansas City. I do not remember the name, but there are plenty of them in the Western States.' Per- haps, this will give American bee-keepers a clue to the detection of those unprincipled adulterators who are doing so much harm to bee-keeping. Our article was based on the above information, and we also gave an extract from a magazine, The Monthly Magazine of Pharmacy, Chemistry, and Medicine for December last, part of which — ' So much like the genuine article that only experts can detect the difference ' — the American Bee Journal considers the British Bee Journal to have said, but which was only a portion of the quotation from the Monthly Magazine. The American Bee Journal says, ' Its [the article's] only possible excuse is the infamous " scientific pleasantry," written, " for the fun of the thing," by Professor Wiley, who is so unprincipled as to let it " fly " on electric wires " to the uttermost parts of the earth " without a word of regret or denial.' Naturally, subjects coming from a Professor would be considered facts, and we hope that our informant was deceived, although we must point out that there is a difference between ' artificial combs ' as descrihed by Professor Wiley, and which no bee-keeper for one moment would believe it possible to produce, aud the productions of combs by feeding, which is not at all impossible, as every bee-keeper will know. As it has called forth attention in America, our object in stating what we did has been gained, and we hope that apiarians will not have such dangers to contend with. ^clcctctr ^iicrjr. [3.] — Will drones reared in one colony be admitted into a wither in the same apiary? Nearly always, until the general slaughter commences. While the massacre is going on drones shift their quarters constantly. — Sam. Sim mink. Yes ; without a shadow of a doubt in queenless hives. — C. N. Abbott. Yes, if the colony be queenless ; otherwise, no, in my experience. — Geo nun Kaynor. Drones, from their perfect vision, are well certain of their own home. We have seen them alight at other hives on the return of a virgin queen, but they are not always accepted. "When no stores are coming in, and the drones are driven forth by their own bees, the case is different; any queenless colony will then accept the wanderers if they seek admission. — John II. Howard, Holme, Peterborough, I think they will, especially in hives that are queenless. — John Walton. I should presume not. — J. Garbatt. When the honey-flow is abundant, drones appear to be unnoticed by the bees of another colony when they by accident or design (?) enter the wrong hive. I have noticed when making swarms, &c, that some of the drones have entered adjoining hives, and have not been unkindly treated. I have also put strange drones into hives, giving them admission under the back dummy, and these have been unmolested, but this amicableness on the part of the workers towards strange drones is variable.— S. J. Baldwin. March 8, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 127 Queenless colonies will occasionally allow drones from other hives to enter, especially late iu the season when drones are turned out of hives that have fertile queens. — M. L. Gayton, Much Hadham. At times, not always. — John M. Hooker. Yes ; and at the time when they are being destroyed a queenless stock will form a refuge for all the drones in the neighbourhood. — J. A. Abboit. [4.] — Is it advisable to allow a queen to become more than two years old before replacing her with a young queen ? Not as a rule.— Sam. Simmins. Yes, if sufficiently productive, otherwise kill her at any age. — C. N. Abbott. Yes, if she continue prolific, but, as a rule, queens decline in fecundity on reaching their third year, although there are numerous exceptions. Queens of good and prolific strain, bred in full colonies under the natural swarming impulse, enjoy greater longevity and retain fecundity, in my experience, longer than those raised on any other system. This remark applies to all races, but more especially is it true of the old English black bee. — George Raynor. No ; for no bees with us have given such results as colonies headed with a queen in her second year. We have, so far as time would permit, reared queens directly after the honey-flow each year, which here is all over by the second week in July. Our young queens are laying during August in time, with judicious rapid feeding, to enable us to get quickly into quarters well prepared for winter and the following season's work. Therefore we recommend, when working by storifying for comb or extracted honey, to have none but queens in their second year heading a colony. — John II. Howard, Holme, Peterborough. I do not think it is advisable, though I sometimes keep some of iny queens three or four years, except the bees replace them themselves. — John Walton. Yes; for the same reason that I would permit a good laying hen to live longer than ordinary. — j. Garratt. Although it is very generally agreed that a queen should not be depended upon after the second or third year, I have known queens to do remarkably well, even in the fourth year of their age. This is, how- ever, I think, exceptional, as many queens in a well- conducted apiary, are thoroughly and completely ex- hausted by the end of their second year, so that the age of a queen should not alone be considered. It certainly will not pay to allow a queen to go on to the natural period of decay, or she may die at a time when she cannot be replaced, and the loss of the colony would follow. A queen is, of course, able to lay a certain number of eggs during her lifetime, but the bee-keeper may, by his management, determine how long it shall take to exhaust her powers, and therefore the amount of work accomplished by her, together with the possession of certain desirable qualities, both in the queen and her progeny, must guide one as to the advisability or other- wise of allowing a queen to become more than two years old before replacing her with a young one. — S. J. Baldwin. Not as a ride. A queen is considered of most value in her second year, and, generally speaking, her powers begin to decline after that time, but I have had some most valuable queens three years old. — M. L. Gayton, Much Hadham. Yes, if she shows no signs of failing powers. I would never supersede a queen, no matter how old, all the time she keeps the colony strong in bees and fills the frames with brood. Dealers in queens and queen-breeden will no doubt differ from me. ' Prolificness, not age, should be the test.' The bees will make fewer mistakes in this delicate matter of ' replacing ' than we are likely to do. On referring to my letter in the D.B.J., [399], June 24th, 188G, you will see that Professor Cook, Dadant, Demaree, Doolittle, Heddon, Hutchinson, Pond, and Boardman, hold these views in the American Bee Journal in answer to a precisely similar question. — John M. Hooker. I would not destroy her till three years old, unless she showed signs of weakness. — J. A. Abbott. A CHAT ABOUT NAILS. The ' X-tractor ' has told you about his attempt to 'smoke me out.' On the occasion of his visit we talked of ' nature,' as you have heard ; we also talked of ' nail- makers ' and nails. Poor Elihu Burritt and his fond dream of a universal brotherhood ! who reads his book or heeds his pleadings for poor downtrodden humanity ? But I remember how it fascinated me when it was first published. I am of all men most unfortunate in the way of ink- slingiug. In a moment of wild impulse I once wrote: — ' Birmingham is the place to sell hardware.' A humorous old friend replied : — ' Dear " A. E.," —You hit the right nail on the head when you wrote that.' Being a dull hand at punning the incident had passed from my memory until recalled after the visit of the ' X ' in a way that I now wish to explain. I have often told you I delight in malting my own appliances, consequently I use nails. When first i took to making section crates 1 used what are known as French wire nails (shown at Fig. 1). These are excel- Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. 3. lent for driving, as they do not split the wood, and require no bradawl to prepare the way for them ; but I found they have the serious fault of not holding the wood together firmly. My next resource was to return back to the old ' cut-brads,' shown at Fig. 2, but how slow was the process, and what a trial of patience ! First to make a hole with an awl, then drive the nail, and finish off by driving it well down into the wood by the aid of a ' brad-punch.' Bit the work holds together firmly, as a reward for one's pains and patience ; so I plodded on, patiently considering strength of work a sufficient reward for the tediousness of the operation. Presently I knocked a packing-case to pieces, and found it was held together by nails that were most provokingly obstinate (Fig. 3). They were oval in form, with a peculiar head, and remarkably tough, and, moreover, can be driven home without the aid of a bradawl, and borders. In London, of course, I soon found them; I also found an enterprising appliance-manufacturer used them, but he did not name them as 'oval' as distinct from ' round ' in his catalogue. At last, as I have told you, came the ' X-tractor ' and the talk about ' nature and nailmakers,' and in answer to my inquiry he told me oval wire nails were made in England, and were not imported from ' over the pond.' Here the matter, as far as we were concerned, seemed to 128 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 8, 1888. come to an end, but not so ; a fortnight later I received a parcel by post that looked rather mysterious. I removed the twine and brown paper. Inside I dis- covered a stout bag labelled most ostentatiously thus : — Silver £10. FROM Tiie Checkem & Cashem Banking Company, Ld. Zounds ! here is a joke ! ' I see their knavery, this is to make an ass of me ; To catch me if they can.' But no, it -was a bag of 'oval wire brads' with ' X-tractor's ' compliments. But I did not miss the chance. Not ten minutes previous Mrs. ' A. E.' had asked for the ' needful ' to go shopping. So I neatly closed the bag, and turned it over to her. ' Ugh, I might have known you would not become so suddenly generous.' Well, gentle readers, if you ever wish to use nails with comfort and expedition, I can recommend you these oval wire brads. Being slender there are a large number to a pound, and were they double the price, on the score of strength of work combined with pleasure in their use, they would be cheap. — Amateur Expert.* LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Committee met on the 2oth ult., and made arrangements for some lectures and a conversatione. At the latter the Mayor of Leiscester will preside. Jfnmp. SOUTH AMERICA. A Bee Hunter in trouble. Being naturally very fond of bees, and having had my curiosity excited by what the natives told me regarding their indigenous races I made up my mind to bring together a collection of those to be found in Brazil. With this object in view, I let several of the people living near the forests know that I would repay them for their trouble if they would send me word whenever they came across a swarm in their neighbourhood. I was not long in reaping the fruit of the offer I made them, for 1 was soon put in the way of making the acquaintance of these famous insects and of their abodes which in the generality of instances are the hollows of forest trees. Early one morning while following my guide across woods through paths only partially trodden, I was so busy thinking of the approaching pleasure of adding other specimens of races to my collection, that I hardly paid any attention to what my guide was trying to explain of the sundry dodges they had to adopt in order to find their way through those parts of the country. I noticed, however, that from time to time he cut down branches of trees so that when returning he might recognise tho groumd we had gone over. Having at last arrived before the hollow tree, and not wishing to let anyone interfere with my operation, I set to work, sawing and cutting the tree, while my com- panion left me in order to go about foraging for some- thing to eat in the shape of game and so forth. Having got my bees and comb safely secured in large jars with which I was provided, and seeing nothing of my guide I took up my load and made, as I thought, my * Siuce the above was written Messrs. Abbott have advertised the nails alluded to in the Journal. You will kindly under- stand this is not ' grinding an axe ' for our versatile friend ; he does not sell nails, so kindly do not apply, but it was refreshing to me to learn that such a good thing did not come lroin ' over the pond. ' — A. E. way back. I was not long, however, in discovering that I had undertaken a more difficult task than I had antici- pated, for in about ten minutes all traces of the path I was following had vanished, nor could I see any of the many branches which my guide had cut. My best course would no doubt have been that of returning the same way I had come, but somehow I thought I should do it quicker by taking a short cut. Unfortunately, whenever I thought I had a good path to guide me it always disappeared, and I could see nothing but cacti and other plants pointing thousands of their prickles towards me. There were nothing but obstacles in the way; sometimes it would be a cluster of shrubs into which it would have been dangerous to enter or else an impassable thickness of trees. One thing was, however, evident, viz., that the more I travelled the farther 1 was getting from my starting-point. At the end of an hour or so of running about loaded with my bees, saw, axe, and other impedimenta, I began to feel not only fatigued, but also experienced great in- convenience through the strong smells which certain trees threw off during the hot part of the day. In fact I began to feel very anxious about the result of my excur- sion, and began to think seiioushy of the consequences which might follow from such a position as I was in. I tried not to think of these dangers, but rather how best I could overcome the difficulties with which I considered myself surrounded, when all at once 1 found myself in front of — what would you imagine ? The very tree I had cut down an hour or so before in order to extract from it my bees. Never was I more surprised, and it was witli difficulty that I could believe my eyes. How is this ? said I to myself. I have been travelling fast for the last hour, and now I find myself where I started from. Again I began to reflect on the situation I was in. The prospect of having to wait, perhaps indefinitely, for my guide in the midst of such surroundings was certainly anything but encouraging. However, when I was on the point of making a fresh start this time in another direction, I had the agreeable surprise at hearing at a distance my guide's voice. Vou can easily imagine how pleased I was to see once more my companion, particu- larly in view of the fact that a few minutes longer and I would have set out in some other wrong direction. Be this as it may, we were not long in finding ourselves out of the wood, and where we found that the breakfast the guide had prepared was ready for us. As for the bees, every possible care was taken of them, and before the day was over I had them safely placed in a glass case in which they appeared to feel quite at horn", and I trust that they will repay me for all the trouble I have taken of them by imparting to me some of their secrets. — E. Blondet, Barra {Brazil), December 28 1887. (Apiculteur of Paris.) Ancient Bee-Keepers. — The following reference to Westbury, Wiltshire, is translated from Domesday Book (10813): — 'The king holds Westberie ; Queen Edith a held it, and it piid geld for forty hides. The land is forty-seven caruc.ites. In demesne are seventeen hides, and there are seven carucates, twenty-eight serfs, an I sixteen coliberts. There are thirty-eight villaus, twenty- three borderers, and nine bee-keepers.' Hoge's Honey Company. — I note in answer to cor- respondence in Bee Journal of the 16th inst., that allusion is made to the above Company, the question arising as to what has become of them. A short time since (three weeks) I saw tho following paragraph in a trade journal, ' A curiosity in bankruptcy is a first and final dividend of '65 of a penny, which has just been announced by circular to the creditors of Hoge's Honey Company. Final divi- dends of a fractional amount have been frequently known, but a first and final amount equal to only '21. lis. 2d. in 1000/.. is decidedly wonderful.' The above speaks for itself.— VV. B. Webster. March 8, 1888.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 129 ferrespotTaenre. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn, on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Bocks for Review, jfrc, must be addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," cfo Messrs, Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C All business communications relating to Advertisements, Ac, must be addressed to Mr. J. Uuckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). %• fn order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige oy mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. ADULTERATED HONEY. [1517.] In the Report of the New York Bee-keepers' Convention, held at Utica, ' Anextraet from the American Grocer was read, in which it was stated that in New Jersey forty-two samples of bottled honey were analysed, and it was ascertained that out of thirty-one samples put up by packing houses, only six were pure. The samples purchased of farmers, however, were all pure. ' Mr. Root said, " I fear there is a mistake about some of those samples examined. The State Chemist of ( >hio says that it is a difficult matter to tell where honey is adulterated. Bees gather every variety of honey." ' Mr. Aspinwall said, " With the polariscope you can detect the presence of five per cent of glucose. A point in the article just read is, that the honey procured of dealers was nearly all found to be adulterated, while that purchased of bee-keepers was all pure. There is a law against adulterating honey, and can we not induce the State chemist to analyse honey sold on the market ? " ' It is only right that it should be well known by all in England that American dealers continue to put up adulterated honey for market, and that the only way to obtain pure honey is by importing direct from the pro- ducer, and save the profits of the dealers and middle-men, or to purchase such only, whether English or not, that bears a warranty of purity on the label. I am afraid Mr. Iloge's experiences have not deterred others. — Joun M. Hookeii, 7(3 Tyrwliitt Itoad, St. John's, S.E., March'ith. THE NEW MONTHLY JOURNAL, [1518.1 The first number of the British Bee-keepert' Adoiser has come to hand, and although it contains nothing that is not to be found in the weekly B. B. J. yet I hail it with feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. I have been wanting to see a journal that the cottager could afford to buy and keep in his own possession, so that he could con over its contents evening by evening by his own fireside, and read and re-read its pages over and over again, until he had mastered the facts that so many pages of printed matter have to speak about. The circulation of the B. B. J. amongst members of County Associations was a good thing in its way, but it was, and is often, very aggravating to people of limited acquaintance with literary learning. The hackneyed expression of ' limited education ' I purposely avoid, because it is erroneous. Put clerks to care for sheep, and how about their education ? or take book-worms, and set them to plough land, and ' Hodge ' would soon get the laugh of them ; and so on all round society. That assembly of ' the first gentlemen in Europe ' would fare rather badly if transported to a desert island and left to their own resources. We have all some kind of ' educa- tion,' even if we cannot distinguish a great A from a duck's track. This is digression. Two evenings after supper is not sufficient time for a cottager to master the contents of the Journal, especially if he has to be in bed in time to give his body sufficient rest to enable him to be out again at 5 a.m., consequently I have always advocated a cheap journal that all could buy and keep by them. I have a letter I value greatly, written only a few days before the lamented death of Mr. Peel, wherein he expressed a hope ' to be able to arrange it very soon.' The good time has come at last, but it has been the work of others to bring it about. Many would have wished to see the B. B. J. reduced to a penny per week, but that would entail a serious loss, and after due reflection I feel certain of the wisdom of the present arrangement. Wo sometimes complain about our Journal when full of reports of Associations, &c., but remembering its position as the organ of the B. B. K. A., as well as an exponent of practical and scientific bee-keeping, I fail to see where an alteration could be made that would be an improvement. Unlike bee-keeping in other countries, in this kingdom it stands on a philanthropic and scientific, as well as a commercial basis. Hundreds of subscribers to our Asso- ciation and its affiliated branches only do so on the two first of the three considerations enumerated above. While that is so the B. B. J. must cater for these two aspects of apiculture equally as much as for honey- getters. Having no knowledge of foreign languages, I can only speak personally of those published in the English language ; and after seeing most, if not all, of the trans-Atlantic bee-papers, I am sure we may all be proud of our Journal as standing second to none. Across the Atlantic tlie complaint is that the 'honey-growers' get too much attention ; with us it frequently is the reverse, but our new Journal will obviate this. The cottager has now an ' At/riser ' that is all ' advice.' My only fear is that he does not find it too dry reading. Cannot arrangements be made that county Secretaries may get local matter printed on one of the fly-sheets at a little cost on the model of the various parish magazines ? In a private communication to myself, Mr. Cowan, the esteemed editor and proprietor, told me of his de- cuion to publish the Adoiser on March 1st, adding it was his wish that the cottager should make it purely his own journal, writing his thoughts in his own language, and never fearing if the ideas were put in language not grammatical or badly spelt — the sub-editor would correct all that. But if the working bee-keepers of England, Scotland, and Ireland, did not get well served, it should be no fault of his, as he (Mr. Cowan) was prepared to make it whatever they chose (except a bear-garden of course, although he did not say so). I have been induced to make these remarks that all may feel perfect freedom in getting as much benefit as possible from the new Journal; as well as in fairness to Mr. Cowan, whose otdy desire in this new venture is to advance bee-keeping as a healthy and profitable pursuit, which he, equally with myself, feels is calculated, especially amongst the rural population, to be a counter influence to the beer-shop. May he not be disappointed is the earnest desire of — Amateuh Expbbt, IN THE HUT. ' About his shelves, A beggarly account of empty boxes.' Romeo and Juliet. [1510.] Empty feeders, sections, and hives on all sides, waiting for spring. This is just, the time to prepare for the season which will soon be on us at a bound. Nailing frames together, painting spare hives, and fitting foundation into sections, should be no longer delayed now the evenings are long, for, in another fortnight or so, all our leisure time will be filled up by spring examinations should the thermometer give us 50" to 60° in the shade at noon. An opportunity like this, a fortnight ago, enabled a Huttite to examine a dozen hives. In all but one there was plenty of sealed brood, and young b«es were seen 130 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 8, 1888. emerging from their cells. (These young bees, I fear, will come badly off in the present ' blizzard.' To parody Mark Twain, I don"t know exactly what a 'blizzard' is, but that's what this storm is.) Where the bees seemed to need it, a frame of food was removed from the back, quite to the side of the brood-nest. This was done with little or no disturbance, and, of course, without smoke. Had the warm weather continued, empty combs would have been removed, and the hives contracted by the dummy. Here, in the garden of the Hut, I am on principle leaving hives severely alone, until, say, the middle of March. At times I am sorety tempted to examine the contents of a thin-walled hive, which loses a hundred or so bees, dropped off the combs every time we have a cold snap. They are wintered under American cloth, shiny side down, plenty of quilts, doorway left full width and shaded from sun when snow is on the ground. Live or die, I shall not disturb them yet, for bitter experience has taught me that more harm results from early meddling than from a policy of ' lames alley,' in spite of the forenamed successful examination. 'Malta' (l-ti'4) fancies orange-blossom and karob- bloom make his less vicious. This is fact. If he will experiment with a piece of orange or lemon peel, or go (or, worse still, allow the children to play) near hives after eating oranges, he will be confirmed iu his opinion. The stigma of orange-blossom (part of the future fruit) smells exactly like the essential flavour secreted in the cells of the ripe fruit rind. "With us, the smell and taste of heather nectar make docile bees veritable demons; they positively hiss at us; and a fox-terrier puppy, brought one Sabbath morn to look at our hives on the moors, knows tliis now. His owner put a veil on himself, but in a few minutes a disconsolate man, with a much bee-stung dog under his arm, was seen wending his way homewards, for the dog was well-bred, and much prized withal. The karob (carob, karoub) is only known in this country by its fruit, the locust-bean, or St. John's bread, erroneously supposed to have been, along with wild honey, the food of St. John Baptist in the wilderness. The seed of the carob (Ceratonia Silitjua) is said to have originated the jeweller's carat weight. I can well imagine the peculiar smell of carob, a sickly sweet, being irritating to bees. The Coming Bee. When the specialist requires to impart the qualities of any particular variety to what we may call his stock strain, a short way to do this would be by working a virgin queen for his drones. The following is a good linctus for cough, sore throat, &c. : — Add to the juice of a lemon the same quantity of honey. A sip occasionally. Some would prefer equal quantities of whisky, or rum, and honey; whilst others, oh, shade of Sir Wilfrid ! might prefer a wine-glassful of Athol bmse, the recipe for which I got near Blair Athol: — Equal parts of Scotch whisky, honey, and cream, The scarcity of cream may act as a check upon the consumption of this ' awf u' guid' mixture. Speaking of consumption, I can fancy nothing better for the early (aye, and later) stages of this disease than a tablespoonful of Athol brose first thing in the morning. Ask your doctor about it, for the profession are recommending again the old-fashioned dose of rum and honey. — X-Tbactoii. VIRGIN QUEENS.— CONSANGUINITY. [1520.] It has given me a considerable amount of gratification to find that the above subject, which was in- troduced into these columns simultaneously by the writer of ' Useful Hints ' and myself, has elicited some amount of discussion from one or two readers of this Journal, who, as a rule, I think, hide their knowledge just a little too much under a bushel. I must also thank those bee- keepers who have written me privately, in each case falling into my views. In my last communication, I observed that the above subject was well worthy the consideration of every apiarist, and I think there are but few advanced bee- keepers who would gainsay this assertion ; but those who differ from any of the arguments or theories would do well to exercise just a little charity. No new theory cau be advanced but that there are some who impute motives to the advancers. Perhaps, it would be as well if such writers would hang in a conspicuous position over their desks that salutary proverb, ' Those who in amicable controversy impute ulterior motives to their adversaries neglect the first laws of friendly discussion.' I find that a knowledge of this often tones down what otherwise might be a alight slip over the boundary which separates the kindly spirit from that of un- charitableness. I have to thank Mr. Sharpe for bis kindly remarks upon these articles, and with him agree that the intro- duction of virgin queens promiscuously into an apiary is not the right way of producing the 'coming bee.' But where is it ? ILis it come ? When is it coming ? The production of this rara avis (apis) is yet to be accom- plished. It has puzzled fur some years the queen- rearers of America, where queen-rearing has become a business of a magnitude hardly credible to the un- initiated. What are we to do iu the interim before the advent of this phenomenon ? The production of fhis will have to be left to the specialist, and while lie is busily engaged in producing this prodigy, let us obtain the best results from the materials now laid before us. . Let us study how to obtain the best results at a minimum of cost. Even if we increase the yield of one colony by half a pound of honey we have attained a success; we have succeeded in producing that which otherwise would have been lost to us. In reply to Mr. Sharpe's query. It is absolutely im- perative in order to be quite certain of the true fertili- sation of every queen, no drones of another variety must be allowed to fly from a hive even more than two miles away ; at this distance cross-fertilisation will frequently take place. The Kohler method is the only one where, iu an apiary surrounded by other hives, true fertilisation can be accomplished with anything like a certainty, Of course if you have queens and drones before any one else in the neighbourhood has reared drones you will obtain the desired result. I will now proceed to answer the letter of Mr. W. Woodley. In the first paragraph he calls attention to the qualities of the English nation as eaters of boot- uppers when pressed with hunger, of their prowess, of their endurance, and, I may add, of their indomitable perseverance and pluck ! Yes, all this 1 own, but did it never strike Mr. Woodley that the Englishman of the present day is not a true descendant of the Ancient Britons but a mongrel P (Patriots, spare the simile.) To form the Englishman, Saxons, Norsemen, Normans, Romans, Ac, have been called into requisition, and so have produced the Englishman with his superlative gifts. (Excuse this patriotism.) I say most emphatically that bees when crossed with some selected foreign variety (Italian) are considerably improved in their honey- gathering qualities, and I challenge any reader after examining the numbers of tabulated records of honey yields in this Journal to prove the contrary. I exclude all apiaries above o4° north latitude. Is Mr. Woodley's experience of crossing his bees with Ligurians so exten- sive that makes him so positive ? Methinks I have heard him say that his bees should never be crossed with other varieties if he could help it; this occurred some few years ago, and I know he very recently expressed the same opinion. By Mr. W.'s arguments he would wish one to assume that there is no such condition of things as consanguinity, and that if so it has no perceptible effect upon the offspring. I am glad that its effects have never been presented to March 8, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 131 his eyesight. I can look around ami see its effects in all directions where living things have been brought within its influence. We do not live in a state of nature. Our cultivated beasts and birds do not live in a state of nature. Our plants are the same, and so are our bees. Man has moulded them to his wishes, or gathered them together in abnormal quantities, thus bringing them to a condition that they may be of greater use and service to him. I ask the questions, Would they have been of such utility to him if he had allowed them to take their own course and live in a state of nature? Would our cows, our sheep, our fowls, our bees, our trees, bushes, and plants produce what they do if they had been allowed to revel in a state of nature? How have they been improved? Has no foreign variety been imported to improve their condition? Has no foreign variety of tree or plant been imported to improve and has improved our own? How have our hue- wooled .sheep been produced? How our fleet horses ? How our large egg-pr.iducing fowls ? How our luscious fruit ? Should we be satisfied now with the crab-apple, the wild pear, the wild cherry, or wild strawberry and raspberry? In improvements pleasing to the eye, How have our fancy pigeons been produced ? How our useful or pretty dogs, cats, rabbits? Why, each and all of these have been produced by a judicious crossing of varieties — in every ca-e of foreign varieties. Why, then, should not we do the same with our bees? Are we to remain in statu quo, and thus lest satisfied with what they hare produced, or are we to advance as other stock-keepers have advanced before us, and endeavour to improve the present stocks? Nature is sufficiently plastic that it can be moulded into almost any form. An all-wise Providence has planted reasoning power in man's brain giving him the faculty to mould His gifts to any shape better suited to man's purposes. In the third paragraph of Mr. Woodley's letter, he writes, ' May I ask whence Mr. Webster gets his deduc- tions that man begins to succumb to the baleful effects of consanguinity in the second generation? ' I have so asserted it, and will go further by telling him that such commences to take place directly the influence is brought to bear upon the subject, though perhaps not apparent to a superficial observer. I cannot find time to limit up all authorities, but from Aristotle to the last work on physiology may be citi '1 as authorities in support of this fact — quod semper, quod ubique, quod ab omnibus, ipse dixit. I observed in my article that total annihilation of a colony of bees by consanguinity could not possibly take place in England; quoting my first article, ' Iu what county in England can we go at the present time where it can be guaranteed that there are not colonies of bees within two or three miles of any position we like to take in that county ? I venture to say there is not one.' Did Mr. Woodley examine the roofs, chimneys, and walls, of all houses, cottages, barns, and other outhouses, or all hollow trees within six miles each way of the cottagers' houses where the bees were kept, in order to satisfy himself of a definite case of consanguinity ? Because if he did not the example is of no use, it collapses and falls to the ground. At this time of the year such an ex- amination for vagrant stocks would be impossible, so that it, must collapse. Will he assert that no absconding swarm has come nearer than six miles of these cottages during the last three g nerations, which, computing at thirty years for each, would make ninety years? By what means does a cottager not conversant with the physiology of the bee deduce bis theory (it must be very much of a theory) that it is the same strain quite un- tainted with any other that he has possession of now ? Can he follow the mating of all his queens for ninety years? Impossible. In point of fact, the average cottager knows nothing at all about it, and even the majority of enlightened bee-keepers have only become somewhat educated upon this subject during the last decade. In my example the stocks had gradually lost their prolificness ; there was no disease; no other cause discoverable; therefore, as most of us know what con- sanguinity will produce, I, as any reasonable, person would do under a similar circumstance, laid the damage at the door of it, especially as the surrounding country favoured such an idea. If the stocks had been in a flouiishing condition I should have known that succes- sive cases of consangunity had not taken place. Deterioration of colonies will be the result of in-and-in breeding; therefore let us remove all chances of such taking place, bearing in mind the fact that cross-bred stock, be it animal or vegetable, is in all cases constitu- tionally stronger than pedigree stock where the latter, as is usually the case, has been in-bred. 'A Cottage Amateur' has never tried keeping a frame of eggs away from a stock for forty-eight hours, even in a July temperature, or he would know that it would be equivalent to keeping a hen off her egg< for forty-eight hours aud then expect them to hatch. — \V. B. Webstbe. MALAGASY IK HSEY-BEE. [ 1621.] I do not know if it will interest any of your readers to have a few notes taken by me on the Malagasy honey-bee ( Apis unicolof). I have now kept this bee for a .short time. My first two swarms proved queenless, and as 1 had no means of supplying them with a new queen, or young brood, it is needless to say 1 lost them. They, however, taught me that fertile workers are not uncommon in this bee, and that they behave in the same way as queenless hives of Apis communis, building drone-comb, keeping their drones, &c. They at last were found out by the wild bees in a wood at least three miles distant, and robbed mercilessly. This shows that they wander a long way in search of food; in fact, when one looks at the country round about, so bleak and bare, only one or two small woods and absolute desert in between, one cannot help wondering from where the honey comes. Even in the, forest, their natural abode, flowers are very scarce indeed ; but I suppose the tropical flowers yield more honey. Some people have an idea that a tropical forest is a mass of strong-scented fl iweis, but one may go miles and miles without seeing even one flower ; what there are, however, are most beautiful. The bees when robbed fought well, and although daily growing weaker defended themselves to the end, fighting manfully, but of course to no purpose ; the wax-moth finished off what the robbers left, and that was the end of my first two attempts. The next swarm I managed to obtain was in an earthen pot, it had to be brought a long day's journey slung on a pole between two men, hut I would not have it moved till there was young brood, and so being sure of a queen, and, if she were killed in the moving, of means of replacing h t. They arrived in a wretched condition, very many killed and some of the combs fallen in, but they set to work at once and soon put all right, and in a day or two I had proof of the queen's survival. This en- couraged me to move a second and stronger lot, also in an earthen pot. I was not so successful, however, for the men sent to fetch it carried it upside down, and when it arrived the pot, too, was broken, the dead bees lying in masses, and the combs all fallen but two. I placed the hive and mended the holes with clay. For the first week they did nothing, or little, but put it straight, carrying out the dead, and building new combs from the spilt hone}'. A week afterwards I removed the remnants of broken comb ; and in another week they had built five new combs, varying from a foot to six inches in length. How the queen survived I can- not imagine. The queen must be a very prolific one, as I moved three of the largest brood-combs that were not 132 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 8, 1888. much injured into another weak hive, but notwithstand- ing they picked up their numbers very quickly. I have not yet moved them into bar-frame hives, but left them in the pots until next spring, when I shall move them. These pots are of rough earthenware of about one foot and a half in diameter, and nearly spherical, with wide lips turned back. Over the mouth they place a clay cooking -pot with holes bored in the bottom and the edges plastered with cow-dung. This is not the most common hive, which is a hollow tree trunk with a block at each end. These latter are more easily manipulated, as by blowing smoke in at one end you can drive the bees to the other and cut the combs. The natives near the forest have a fair knowledge of bees, but how much they understand of the habits of the queen I do not yet know, but as I shall soon be visiting the forest I mean to find out their waj- of bee-keeping. I should have done this sooner only I am some way from any bee-keeping village, and on my last visit I could not speak the language sufficiently well for the purpose. They smoke their b<"es when they take the combs, but only slightly, and never kill any if they can help it ; and as they always take the nearest combs to each end of the trunk they seldom destroy much brood. Their time for taking the honey is in early spring, so that the bees may have sufficient in winter, and they know how to make an artificial swarm, and being great cheats they usually sell such queenless, so as not to spoil trade. Natives away from the forest know nothing about them, and are con- sequently taken in. I think I mentioned in my last letter that the wild bee often builds its combs exposed. I have seen one like that, but I believe if they can find a cover they invariably prefer it. ltocks are a favourite resort. On the coast, where the natives bury their dead in wooden coffins exposed to the air, the bees often take possession. On one occasion a part of the coffin had fallen in, and the combs might easily be seen tilling the ribs; and, by the way, the bees were entering the skull ; I expect it was used as a ' super.' Nothing could be better than ribs for a ready-made foundation. These, of course, were the wild bees, and the natives, I have been told, do not like the honey, but sell it at a distance. It is a curious fact that my bees refuse all the flowers in my garden. Most are European flowers, and almost all uuindigenous, but one would suppose such flowers as beans, verbena, maurandia, different kinds of jasmine, when growing close to the hive, would be at least once visited, but they go straight away a long way off; where I do not know, unless it is to the wood mentioned above. However, wherever it is, there is a great deal of honey, as the flow never seems to lessen. I have often counted the bees leaving the hive, and the average in the middle of the day is eighty per minute leaving, and, of course, as many entering ; and, as far as I at present know, they are away from quarter of an hour to five-and-twenty minutes, but I cannot state this for certain until I have made further observations. How the Malagasy bee would succeed in England I cannot say, but as far as I at present know it is prolific, hardy, hold, and very quiet, allowing itself to be freely handled even by strangers, and seldom stings. — C. P. Cory, St. Paul's College, Ambaloharanana, Madagascar, Januarg 23rd. GRANULATED HONEY: IS IT SUITABLE FOOD FOK BEES ? [1522.] I beg to say I keep a few stocks of bees, and am fond of them, and try to study their welfare. I am a reader about bees, and get your Journal for my guide to their management, and generally I find what I want in the way of advice. Now I have some comb honey which has become candied, and I had thought of feeding my bees with it, to save trouble and expense of making food specially ; but I was a bit bothered and felt sorry when I read in ' Useful Hints' on page 60 in February 2 Journal: ' Then comes the question, Is granulated honey suitable food for bees ? The answer must be, No.' Now in Journal for February 23, page 10'J, in answer to ' D. M.' I read, ' You are not of opinion that candied or granu- lated honey is injurious to bees;' with these two such opposite statements before me I am more bothered than before, not knowing which to take as the safest and best. I should be glad if you will give space for this in your next issue, it might be the means of bringing out the opinions of other leading bee-keepers who may have had experience in the use of candied or granulated honey for feeding bees, and so assist those in doubt, as also yours, — Inquires. [The paragraph to which you refer in ' Useful Hints ' has reference to ' cold slabs ' of hard granulated honey in the outside combs of a hive, of which the bees can make no use and which we advised should be removed. On such combs, as we stated, we have often known bees to perish, from inability to assimilate such food. Moreover, we have often known bees to take dysentery from feeding on partially granulated comb honey, the liquid portion having become acid, as often is the case. When honey is extracted, and granulates a few days afterwards in the jars, from the air introduced in the process of ex- traction, there can be no doubt that such honey, when reduced to fluidity, is the bjst of food for bees. Hut it is very different from the granulated honey of which we spoke in the passage to which you refer. We shall be glad if our readers will give their views on this point. — Editor of ' Useful Hints.'] PAINTING THE INSIDE OF IHVES. [1523. J Last year I painted the inside of one of my hives, after reading Mr. Lett's letter. The first differ- ence I noticed was in scraping the floor-board in the autumn ; it was so dry and clean, and was so easy to scrape. I wintered the hive with en imelled quilt, leaving no ante-room between the front dummy and front of hive, but putting between them a frame tilled with cork- dust. I did this because I feared the very thing that happened to Mr. Adcock's hives, viz., that the ante-room would become cold, as the bees could not keep it warm, and consequently, on a sudden lise of temperature the moisture would condense in it. My hive kept perfectly dry through the winter until about the 12th ultimo, when I noticed a pool of water under the front dummies, at the east side of the entrance — i.e., at the side at which the warm air escapes from the hive. The weather was then frosty, with N.E. wind. 1 think it was owing to breeding going on in the hive, and the entrance having been left the full width of about eight inches, instead of being reduced in February, as advised by Mr. Simmins. I took out the water with blotting-paper, raised the hive a little more at the back, and closed the entrance to two and a half inches. The reduced entrance has since been only slightly damp though, but there is still a little wet behind the door slides. When I reduced the entrance I put in a stick to rake out dead bees, but only found one. I also did this several times during the winter, but alto- gether I have not found more than six dead bees, which 1 attribute principally to having packed the floor-board with cork-dust. Surely bees must get chilled on a thin floor-hoard mounted on legs from the cold striking through it. If the hive is without legs, the ground, of course, keeps the floor-board warm. I was very much interested in Mr. Adcock's letter, as it is strictly in accordance with what I said in writing on ' Upward Ventilation ' in the Journal of 18S6, p. 179. I gave the bees a sugar-cake to-day over the feed- hole, and I saw no signs of damp. — T. F. L., March 4tA. March 8, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 133 RAILWAY KATES. [1524.] "Who amongst bee-keepers but is aware how heavily the railway rates for honey have told somewhat to the detriment of the industry ? Under most circum- stances honey, whether extracted or in comb, has been charged by the various railways under Class IV., as the wording of their classification was somewhat as follows : Honey in tins packed in wooden cases to be charged under Class III. Honey in jars or otherwise packed, Class IV. I have for some time past been trying to get the rates lowered, and have explained to the different officials that extracted honey packed in strong cans should invariably come under Class III. Bee-keepers will, I doubt not, be glad to hear the result of my endeavours. The G. W. R. last month issued a memorandum to all their stations, that, in future, honey in bottles packed in boxes and sections sent in spring crates to be charged by goods train under Class III. And further, they have under consideration the idea of allowing extracted honey in cans to come under Class II. (the rate charged for milk in cans) ; and I have every hope of this being ac- ceded to ere the honey season commences. They pro- pose to bring the subject under the notice of the goods managers of other lines in connexion with the G. W. R. But in order to be successful, I must have the assistance of others applying to their respective lines ; and I feel confident, with a little perseverance, we shall obtain our wish. Bee-keepers, who have been sending away large quan- tities of honey, I ask to keep the ball rolling in their various districts, and in a short time apiarians through- out the British Isles will be able to reap the same benefits. — Wit N. Griffin. REMINISCENCES OF AN UNCERTIFICATED BEE-KEEPER. [1526.] In the year 1870 I first had my attention called to bee-keeping, and I have not forgotten that time and the many muddles I got into. My employer had a few bar-frame hives, also a few skeps, given him by his brother witli other bee-furniture. Now neither he nor I understood bees, but after reading a little and asking a few questions we commenced to do our best. We thought it would be desirable to get a straw skeppist to give us a lesson on hiving. We had not to wait long before out came a swarm, which settled on the end of a high tree. Of course, as in duty bound, I rang them with door-key and shovel. When the bees settled I went for my friend to hive them for us, but he being from home 1 had to return without him. I just arrived in time to see the swarm take wing across a red-clover field. We followed them all the time sounding the timbrel, but I found, charm I never so wisely, that they would not settle, and they were soon lost to my sight. After this I determined to try to hive the next swarm myself. I had not long to wait before out came another lot, which settled up in a yew-tree. I donned the bee- dress, a thing like a sack with sleeves in a piece of gauze that covered the eyes. I now, armed in my coat of mail, hailed a man in a field close by, of whom I was told that either his mother or grandmother did keep or had kept bees. So, of course, I expected him to know some- thing about the process. Well, he pronounced me all right. So I mounted the ladder, skep in hand. I commenced to shake the tree and the bees all over myself and the skep; and didn't I shake too, expecting every minute to be stung ! But by some means I undoubtedly got the queen, for in a very short time all were safe. This lot I did not ring, as I could not see the reason of it, but a friend of mine took me to task over this. He main- tained the bees had a certain music of their own, and the ringing; caused certain vibrations in the air and confused the bees and made them settle. He said he had a gong made for the purpose of ringing down his bees. Well, the time came to take/ the honey, so my employer and I held a council of war as to how we were to proceed. We had read about smoke, but how it was to be applied we knew not. However, we rolled up some brown paper like a huge cigar, lighted it, and attempted to blow in the smoke between the hive and the super, after raising the super with a screw-driver ; but I don't think we got a whiff into the hive. Then and there they commenced a fierce battle. One bee landed a sting on the bridge of my nose. I retired, and on looking up saw my employer in full retreat with the enemy furi- ously pursuing with fixed bayonets. He pulled off his coat and cut some curious capers ; he was soon lost to my sight. I made my way round to the kitchen. I was told that salad-oil, vinegar and soda, also the blue- bag, were ail good things. 1 tried the lot, but my poor face enlarged so that I looked as though I had neuralgia ; and what with blue and oil I had a very comical appear- ance, but in the morning my appearance was that of a fat pig. Oh, if that cook had let things alone we might have b^en saved a deal of trouble, as it appears that amongst the gifts of my employer's brother was a smoker, one of those 3'ou blow with your mouth, until your lips are very much swollen, and eyes the appearance of your having ophthalmia. This article the cook claimed as having ioine connexion with a sausage-machine. Five or six years after when lighting my new smoker she told inn she had a thing like that in the kitchen, but she could never make it do its work properly, so she had to put it aside. This I examined, and found the name of ' George Neighbour & Sons' on it. After this I read everything I could about bees, Lattg- stroth amongst the rest. Thinking I knew something about bees more than I did previously, 1 volunteered to drive some for a friend, He thought very highly of my abilities. 1, armed with my smoker and veil, went to work. After I h .d given a few whiffs to the bees I turned them up, carried them on to a gravel path (my friend the meantime standing behind a bush). After pinning on my top hive (for open driving) 1 commenced to drum and the bees to sting. Now 1 had on a very thin pair of trousers, and, stooping down, gave the bees a line chance to sting my legs, and sting they did, but I didn't t > -11 my friend, or he might have thought less of my abilities. After this 1 thought over the matter to see where I was wrong, and soon succeeded beyond my expectation. About this time a certain County Association held its show. This nearly sent some of my neighbours off their heads. What with '2$. Gd. a lb. for honey, and one hive yielding IK) to 10 J lbs., as the man in the bee lent told them, set everyone on fire, and I, too, caught the fever. Every night after a hard day's work I went to some meetiug, to the loss and neglect of my own bees. One of my new pupils, seeing how much my time was occu- pied, thought he would try and manipulate himself. lie had seen me use my pipe to smoke his bees, and he thought he could do the same. He had been a non- smoker, and his system not being charged with the narcotic, told on his brain. He had to leave the hive as it was, but before he could get far he reeled, and the ground met him before he thought of it. He again tried to walk, and managed to get into the greenhouse and lay on the stuge. A friend just dropped in, and with a great deal of telling believed his story at last. (This was rather a curious predicament, for being a total abstainer his friend seemed to doubt his word.) I now gave lessons to a clergyman. He, of course, took to it quickly, and thought he knew all about it, so he found amongst hisftockan old straw-skeppist, a regular brimstoner, whom he persuaded to let him drive his bees. The night being fixed, we went. He was boiling 134 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 8, 1888. over with enthusiasm. The old man said he knew he could not do it. It was no use me trying to tell his reverence anything, so to work he went, and before he was ready first his veil was badly fitted, then honey all sealed over bees had not time to gorge before he turned up the hive, and the bees went at him left and right. Now see his reverence cut some capers, first under this bush, now under that ; at last he made across the old man's potatoes, over the carrot-bed, through the pea- row,' over the gooseberry-bushes, round the house, the old man chuckling, 'They've got ye, they've got ye! I told you he could not do it.' And I still remain — Uncebtificated. NOTES ON BEE-HIVES.— SECTIONS. [1526.] I was very much surprised to read the letter to Mr. Chambers (1468), f c r I, too, have been experi- menting with a grooved section, but not with the same object ; my object being to gain time. I found it rather awkward at first to slide the foundation in while folding the section, but having made a wooden block for this purpose I found it the most expeditious way of pre- paring sections for the crate. The sections are always true, the foundation always firm, and the process "is simplicity itself. I have enclosed a sketch showing how the section is pushed into the grooves, and how (both hands bein<* free) the foundation is placed in the grooves of the section. The plan of the block (which is screwed to the bench or table) is thus — Half full size plau. I use 4}" x A\" x 2" sections, and cut the foundation exactly £" larger than the inside measurement, having a zinc template for this purpose. I hope there are no patent rights here involved. I have no recollection of seeing anything of the kind before, but as I get many ideas from the Journal I venture to give this in the hope that it may lead to im- provements in the system. — Thos. F. Ward. CROSS BEARINGS FOR SKEP HIVES. [1527.] As supports for the comb in skep hives I would suggest that smooth round rods of some strong durable timber, such as oak, teak, or ebony, might be used ;_ one end being allowed to project a little outside the hive, the interior portion to pass through as many short uniform lengths of hollow cane or elder as will cover the entire length from one side of the hive to the other. The object of the loose covering being to prevent any attachment by the bees, so that when any one wishes to remove the combs they would be able to withdraw the rods from the out.-ide and take out the combs one at a time unbroken ; and a skilful operator would probably be able to leave the brood-combs in the hive uninjured, and replace the rods and ferrules and return the bees to the hive. And if no objection could be found against steel skewers on account of loose specks of rust soiling the combs during the process of removal, or on account of their injuriously affecting the temperature of the hive, they would be more convenient for the purpose than wood, the interior portion being, of course, covered with loose ferrules as stated. This is a recent idea that I have not yet myself tried, and simply offer it for the consideration of bee-keepers, with the hope that they will be able to work it out to their mutual advantage. — S. C. K. ON THE FIRST FLIGHT OF BEES IN SPRING. {From the German of Adalbert Beaun.] Hark ! what is so gaily humming In the little garden there ? Hark ! what is so briskly whizzing Through the still and silent air r Friend, it is our bees — the darlings — Now enliven'd by the spring : Yes, the winter is departed, And once more they're on the wing. Happy he, who winter's perils All his stocks brings safely through ; Thank Him, of all good the Giver — Faithful \\'atchman He, and true. Of my own are none departed, All as yet unhurt remain ; Though no longer rich in honey, Yet is spring returned again ! Come, and let us view them nearer — Enter by the garden gate ; — So — stand still and watch their doings Light your pipe, and patient wait. See how busily they traverse To their pasturage and back, That they may by toil unwearied Save the commonwealth from wreck. Look, oh look, what loads of pollen, Bring they in with heedful care. Nurslings, fear not; for your cravings Here's sufficient and to spare. How they dart and how they hurtle Through the genial balmy air ! To the mountains — to the meadows — 'Tis the scent attracts them there ! There they dexterously rifle Nectar from each flower in bloom. Toil they for our honey harvest, For us fill the hone3-room. Yes, our bees, our darling darlings, We salute you all to-day; For your life is our enjoyment — Winter's sleep has passed away. Grant prosperity, O Heaven ! To the new-born honey-year — Give Thy favour — give Thy blessing — To these objects of our care. Now let each attentive guardian In devoted service strive For the proud, the matron-monarch — Sovereign of the honey-bee. So that we may learn by watching Who that in the noon-tide glance ; Or in midnight's darkest moments, Summon her to Hymen's dance.* Ev'ry bee-hive calls for patience, Whilst great Hali.ee's lessons teach Without patience Nature's secrets None successfully can reach. — T, W. Woodbtjby, Mount. Radford, Exeter. (1862.) (£rjj0*s from % jjitas. Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, February 27th, — Well we have had winter this last fortnight and no mistake. Drifting, blinding snow nearly every day, and very severe frosts at night ; hives all had to be shaded, * This point cannot now be considered doubtful, but it muat be remembered that Herr Braun's verses were written many years ago March 8, 1888/ THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 135 so as to keep the bees in as far as possible, as when there was a bit of sunshine the glare was so great as to fetch many out to their destruction. I am glad I qualified my last Echo with passing the winter ' so far.' Some of our roads had to be cut through six feet of snow for passage-ways ; it is not yet over. — John Walton. Stoke, Devonport, February 2Sth. — A beautiful, sum- mer-like day, after a fortnight's frosts. Bees thoroughly enjoying it. My three stocks have each been carrying in pollen — viz., two with right-angled frames were fanning from noon until 3 p.m. ; one with parallel frames (last year's artificial swarm ) very active, but not fanning. Each was fed up to October 25th, and has now a first candy cake over the feed-hole. My small garden is only seven yards square, surrounded by a seven- foot wall ; hives on south side of north wall. — J. F. R. A. North Leicestershire, March 3rd. — Snow, snow, snow, and nothing else but snow; wreaths three to four feet deep in front of hives. Bees flying out during gleams of sunshine, to fall and perish in the snow. All stocks alive, and ' choke full ' of bees from corner to corner. Oh, for a mild day, to give them a ' slush ' of syrup. — E. B. Limerick, February 20//j. — Perhaps, your English bee- keepers might like to hear a little more of their afflicted brothers over here, though I cannot complain, as I averaged 74 lbs. per hive last season, about 10 lbs. of that being extracted, and increased my stocks to twenty- six. Early in August I divided my twelve hives, and gave a young queen to each half hive, fed up, and got them to work out frames. In the end of same month I gave each a driven swarm, and made up two hives out of five swarms, put them on stored comb, and fed up well with about 4 cwt. of sugar, which gave me late brood. All the hives were closed up at the end of Septi'inber. On looking at them last week, I found all in good con- dition and plenty of food. Some of the straw hives I bought weighed up to 66 lbs. of maiden honey, the combs being up to three inches thick. I worked on non- swarming system, and used lf-in. sections, unless about fifty 2-in. I could dispose freely of the former at a good price, whereas the latter did not find a ready market. The lj-in. have such a complete appearance, especially the open-sided, when well worked out. I find they travel just as well, but require careful handling in removal from crate. I send mine about one hundred miles to market, and have no breakdown. I use spring crates, home-made. The position of the bar-frame is a subject bee-keepers seem not to agree on. Why not use a hive such as ' The Cowan,' with moveable lift for frames? Have the outside case 19 in. square inside; it leaves plenty of room for packing, and you have a cool hive in summer. The frames can be put either parallel or at right angles to the entrance, which is a great advantage over any other make. Some of my neigh- bours feed their bees on roast sparrows. They certainly pick the bones clean, and owners say they get a gloss. I trust I have not trespassed too much on your valuable space. — Alba. Belmont, Ontario, Canada, February 14th. — The weather is very steady, too much so for outdoor winter- ing. In most places bees have not had a fly since November, but so far they appear to be in good con- dition. If stores are good, and bees have one good fly in midwinter, and other conditions are properly attended to, their safety is assured, though they should not have another until April.— S. T. Pettit. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- S. J. O. — 1. Moving Bees into Clean Hives should not be done except on a mild, genial day when bees are freely on the wing ; say, quite the end of March or during April. In this matter hurry slouiy. 2. Use of Excluder on top of Brood-nest— -There is a divergence of practice in this matter. The advice referred to relates to two entirely different sets of circumstances. If the queen has plenty of room below, there is little fear of her ascending, but to prevent mishap most of the Americans who produce sections largely use some kind of honey-board as a deterrent. F. G — 1. See reply to ' S. J. G.' We would spray slightly. 2. Combs too Wide.— Pare them down with a sharp knife dipped in warm water. 3. Sketch of Drone Trap. — We have no block just at present. 4. Working for Extracted Honey.— Wired foundation is not es- sential. We have done well with ordinary foundation. Scotsman. — 1. Spring Dwindling: to prevent. — Have no weak colonies. In the autumn weed out all weak colonies, supersede all poor queens, give each colony a good supply of wholesome food. In the spring, unite all weak colonies, contract brood-nest according to t he size of the cluster, keep them p.icked up cosy and warm. Do not retain any old queens. Shade entrances when there is snow laying. 2. Correct Quantity of Syrup for Stimulating.— This varies according to the quantity of brood being raised by each colony. It is easy to commence gently and increase slowly as the brood increases, always watching that the bees do not store it. Thoughtful observation must be your guide. 3. (Jetting Foundation drawn out in Spring. — Feed gentlv and very regularly. After, say, 10th April, you can, if the weather is genial, insert a sheet of foundation in centre of brood-nest, which should be drawn out in twenty-four hours. Remove it, inserting another; remove that, but leave the third for bees to rear brood in. You can repeat this operation once a-week, at the same time removing any combs at the outsides of the brood-nest which may become empty. Do not let them be short of food. 4. To get Straight Cumbs. — In spring pare down any inequalities. Notice that the most even side of an old comb is next to any fresh sheet of foundation you may insert. Have your hive level. Some bee-keepers give less space to a sheet of foundation than 1^ in. until partly drawn out. We sympathise with you as to your climate, but envy you your delicious heather honey. II. J. A. — Wire for Cage of Extractor.-— Turned wire is the best when it is to be got. You need not fear to use galvanised netting. Carefully wash when done with. Ddbotbxx. — Wire for Foundation. — Nothing will do except tinned wire : No. 30 size. Vertically, about four or five wires to a frame. It. E. Thomas. — 1. Foundation. — Give full sheets of natural-based. 2. Unsealed Honey. — We should like to see an ounce sample. 3. Bee House. — If properly built, it will cost you more than a separate weather- tight roof for each hive. Have you tried very thin zinc painted with two coats of white paint on both sides over A-in. boarding ? 4. Capacitg of Hive. — Twelve frames are very useful. Ignoramus. — Suspected Comb. — The comb sent is free from foul brood, and may be safely used as required. 2. Secretarg of Lancashire and Cheshire B.K.A. — Mr. W. L. McClure, The Lathams, Prescot, Lancashire. W. M.— Dead Bees. — Without a critical microscopical examination we should say the bees sent died from natural causes. Perhaps they have not been able to reach sufficient food. Malta. — 1. Do Bees Sleep? — We are inclined to reply to this in the affirmative. When the quilt is gently removed, they are often seen in their cells perfectly motionless, lying with their heads against the bottom of their cells and their abdomens slightly protruding. 2. Sugar for Syrup-making. — In feeding bees that sugar is best which is as far as possible free from any chemicals or other results, as well as from those dyes 136 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 8, 1888. which are freely used to make sugar bright-yellow or snow-white. The primitive uncrystallised sugars are therefore the best — Porto Kico, Barbadoes, &c. — then refined, Pearl sugar (Duncan's), small white crystals, &c. Unless, however, the Porto Kico or other soft raw sugars offered in the shops can be relied on as true to their names, and also as such sugars leave a sedimentary matter clogging up the holes of the feeder, we advise the use of the Pearl (similar to the granulated sugar so much in use in America) or refiners' small white crystals. 3. Pollen. — This, the fertilising dust of flowers, is moulded to the shape of a small ball, and is carried by the bees on their hind- legs to the hive. The pollen seen by you on the heads of bees has not been placed there by their voluntary action, but has adhered to them : this is frequently seen when the pollen-masses of orchids are visited by the bees. 4. Wasps and Hornets. — Wasps belong to communities similar to those of bees. These commu- nities consist of a queen, males, and neuters or workers. The hornet ( J respa crabro) is a large kind of wasp. The community (which is supposed to contain about 200 individuals) is governed by the same laws as wasps. On the approach of winter, the males and neuters perish, some of the females alone surviving. H. Sharp. — Gorse. — Bees visit this plant in numbers, but they are not very partial to it. They gather from it pollen of a light-brown or dirty-yellow colour. Enquirer. — Standard Frame. — The standard frame of the B. B. K. A. is 14 inches long by 8^ deep, the top bar being 17 inches long, {Jths of an inch thick, the bottom bar J-th, the side bar £th, the width being gths of an inch. Ihere is much diversity of opinion among bee-keepers respecting distance-keepers, broad- shouldered frames, &c, each different kind having its supporters. But we are of opinion that frames can be manipulated with greater ease and rapidity by not having any distance-guides at all. K. \V. — Bacillus Minor. Hives, §c. — 1 . Examine the hive on the first warm day, when bees are flying, and if you find a fair number of bees — say sufficient to cover three or fourframes — confine them to these framesby division- boards, and feed with phenolated syrup according to Cheshire's recipe (about jjjj part phenol) from a bottle- feeder. 2. Remove from the hive all spare frames of comb, and clear them of dead larva:. Then spray these combs with carbolic solution (two ounces of carbolic No. 5 to a pint of water). Expose them to the sun and air for a few days until dry, and keep them for enlarging the hive space as required. 3. Directions as to quantity are given on the bottles of phenol, sold as Cheshire's by all dealers. 4. Tier- ing-up hives having ten standard frames are large enough. *„* Several Replies to Queries are postponed till our next. We should be obliged by any trouble taken by Bee-keepers in forwarding to us the names of Cottagers to whom the ' lice- keepers' Adviser' may be sent. Mr. J. Huckle, Secretary to the British Bee-keepers' Association, desires us to state that he has received an order for various pamphlets, with an inquiry respecting loan of diagrams. No enclosui'e was made with the order, nor the name of the writer given. business directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour * Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keeflrs' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howakd, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mabon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW. T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C.| Bewdley, Worcestershire. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire. JOHNSTON. A. B., Brickhall, Ballywoolen, Killy- leagh, Co. Down. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON, C. T., Crawley, Sussex. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J„ Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHLNSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 13g High Street, Lowestoft. Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stbanoewats' Pbintino Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 299. Vol. XVI.] MARCH 15, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (Atonal, Sottas, #r. 'THE BEE-KEEPERS' ADVISER.' AVe desire to express our thanks to all who hare kindly assisted us in the distribution of the Bee-keepers? Adviser, and in forwarding us the names of surrounding bee-keepers. We are sure it will give all pleasure to hear that we have every reason to be satisfied with the manner in which it has been received and the measure of support which has been accorded to it. AVe shall still be pleased to send copies for distribution on receipt of names and addresses from any who may be interested in the development of bee-keeping ; and we shall feel grateful to all who will kindly second our en- deavours to circulate our publication amongst that class which we have so earnest a desire to reach. A CO-OPERATIVE FESTIVAL. The National Co-operative Flower Show, which created so much interest at South Kensington last year, will assume much larger proportions this year, and will be held at the Crystal Palace on Saturday, August 18th. The prize schedule shows that upwards of 3200. have been subscribed in prizes, as against 00/. last year, and every kind of vegetable, fruit, flower, and honey in season, is included in the 200 different classes. If the entries are at all in proportion to what they were at the last Show, it will be one of the largest collections of bond fide cottagers' productions ever held. There is also to be an exhibition of home industries, which should be very instructive, and an exhibition of produce from co-operative workshops, both English and foreign. Cheap excursions will be arranged in connexion with almost every Co-operative Society in the kingdom, so that their members — there are now upwards of a mil- lion— will he able to attend the first holiday festival for Co-operators which has been held. The Secretary of the Show, Air. W. Broomhall, of 1 Norfolk Street, Strand, will send particulars to all interested inquirers. PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY. Spring Ff.kdixg. In our last article we alluded to feeding generally, but we will now treat more especially of feeding in spring, what sort of food should be given, and how it is to be given. If the bee-keeper wishes to derive full advantage in stimulating brood— rearing early in the season — he must commence to feed his bees as soon as they begin to fly freely in the spring. Before the bees are examined and the hives are overhauled we make it a rule never to give liquid food, but supply them with candy pushed in under the quilts on to the tops of the frames. The way to make candy has been described on page hi of this year's Journal. But after an examination has been made, and the hives have all been overhauled, we can safely give liquid food. We, however, make the bees first use up what stores they may have in their combs, and this is done by either uncapping some of the sealed cells with a knife, or scratching them with some sort of pointed instrument, such as a fork, nail, or anything that will break the sealing and allow the honey to flow. This will stimulate the bees to activity, and in a few days some more may be uncapped, and when the bee-keeper sees the store nearly exhausted he may resort to syrup. This must not, however, be given in large quantities, about one quarter of a pint is usually sufficient, although a little more can be given if the colony is very strong and there is much brood. The chief thing is to give bees just about as much as they can consume, and not to exceed this amount, or they will store it in their cells, and this is not our object. As the colony grows and brood increases the quantity of food will likewise have to be increased. Above all things the bee-keeper must hear iu mind that when feeding is once commenced it must be continued regularly without intermission, for if stopped, and the bees are not able to collect any out-of-doors, the consequences may be fatal. The bees have learned to depend upon the food, and consequently have reared large numbers of young; and the most critical time, just before the honey flow, is at hand, during which it is more important than ever that they should not run short of food. Spring flowers will yield some pasturage, but frequently not enough to keep the bees going, so that the deficiency must be made up by the bee-keeper, although unfortu- nately some stop feeding just when the bees most want it. Far better not feed at all than having once commenced stop too soon. When bees commence to collect abundantly out-of-doors, they will disregard the food given to them. There is no necessity to give bees food every day, for feeders may be so arranged that they can take the food as they need it in small quantities, so that when once filled there will be enough syrup in the feeder to last several days. AVe prefer feeding on the top of the hive, 138 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 15, 1888. and if the bee-keeper does not wish to go to the expense of a special feeder he can make one himself at a trifling cost. He will require a piece of board with a hole in it, 1J inches in diameter, and on this he can place a piece of tin pierced with a few small holes in such a way that the bees can have access to one, two, or more at the will of the bee-keeper. A better material than tin would be vulcanite, and holes are easily made ■> this with a small knitting- needle made red-hot at the point. To hold the syrup an ordinary low wide mouth pickle - bottle will do, if there is nothing better available. The quilt must have a hole cut in it, and the board, as in Fig. 1, placed over it, taking care that this is level; otherwise when the bottle is inverted the syrup is likely to leak out. The bottle is then filled with syrup, and on the mouth we place a piece of tin or a tin shovel, invert it, as shown in Fig. 2, place the shovel on the vulcanite stage, and with one hand draw it away, holding the bottle steady with the other hand. If carefully done, not a drop of sj-rup will escape. Adjust the vulcanite so that the bees have access through only one or two holes at a time, and cover the bottle. Any rough bos may be made to go over the bottle, as this will prevent it being knocked over, and is better than flannel or other bags, which only soak up any spilled syrup, and are always messy and sticky. Bottle-feeders with regulating stages may be purchased of manufacturers at from Is. Gd. upwards, their number is legion, but they all work upon the same principle. The illustration, Fig. 8, of one of the most convenient, the ' Baynor,' will show the principle upon which they are constructed. The bottle, which holds about a pint and a half, is fitted inside with a screw metal cap, coated inside with cork, so that when screwed on tight no leakage can by any possibility take place. The cap has a semicircular piercing of twelve small punctures, corresponding with a slit in the stand or stage, one eighth of an inch wide, and an index finger for regulating the suppby, rendering the feeder available for gentle stimulation or copious feeding, when all the holes are turned on. The principal difference from other feeders of the same type is that the feeding- stage, instead of being of the ordinary form, is dome-shaped, and the under side is lined with cloth, which renders it impervious to moisture and non-conductive of heat. The section of stand in the figure represents the interior of the dome, with a pro- jection in the centre, to which the bees extend the cluster from the combs beneath. The stand is entirely of wood, and the bees do not come in contact with any metal. The liquid food should consist of sugar syrup. Some years ago we carried out a number of experiments, and found that the best food, and one that suited bees better than any other, was made by boiling 10 lbs. of white lump sugar in 7 pints of water for a few minutes after all the sugar has dissolved. When taken off the fire, we put in 1 oz. of vinegar, 1 oz. of salt, and 1 oz. of salicylic acid solution, as a precaution against foul brood. This solution is made by dissolving 5 oz. of salicylic acid and Fig. 2. A oz. of soda borax in 1 quart of warm water. The syrup is then put into a can with a spout and is ready for use. A caution is here necessary, and that is, on no account use zinc cans or shovels for the syrup, for the acid in the syrup acts upon the zinc just as we have re- peatedly pointed out does that of the acid in the honev. By far the best form is the ' toilet can ' shape, like that introduced by Mr. Abbott many years ago. It has an FEED1NC Bottle Section of Stand. Fig. 3. ordinary spout and a brass nozzle with three tubes in it, which can be screwed on or taken off, and the tubes enable the bee-keeper to pour out a fine stream of syrup if he wishes to fill combs. The spout should not be covered with perforated metal, as this is constantly being stopped up by the solid impurities in the syrup, and is a constant nuisance, as we have found to our cost. A general caution is necessary in feeding : Never spill or leave any liquid sweets about, and cover the food Dottlo to prevent the bees getting a scent or taste of the syrup, which would invariably induce robbing. Filling the bottles is better done at night. ONE SIDE CELL COMB FOUNDATION. Under the heading 'A New Artificial Comb,' we gave, on page 7 of the B. B. J. for this year, a letter from M. Koerbs, respecting a new comb which lie had discovered, and which he stated could not be used for brood-rearing, and also the remarks of M. Gravenhorst respecting it taken from the Deutsche Illustrierte Bienenzeitung. This announcement has, naturally enough, caused a great deal of talk, and many speculations and 'guesses' as to what this artificial comb could be have, been the result. The article was inserted after some correspondence with M. Gravenhorst about it, and a promise from M. Koerbs to send us a sample comb for inspection if we would keep the secret. This we consented to do ; but, at the same time, pointed out that we did not consider the means adopted for making the invention public would be one that would commend itself to British bee-keepers, and that they would regard with suspicion a promise to send out a pamphlet only when a few thousand subscribers at March 15, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL, 139 Is. Gd. each were obtained. How many thousands it was not stated. We also suggested that M. Koerbs would do better by selling the invention to some foundation- maker, or take out a patent. Our suggestion has been acted upon, and now the invention is in the hands of M. Otto Schulz, of Buckow, one of the largest manufacturers of foundation on the Continent of Europe. In the mean- time, the ball being set going, ingenious minds went to work, and not having any secret to keep, we, as well as others, had our own ideas of how a comb should be constructed to fulfil all the requirements set forth. We were led to the ideas from our recollection of the behaviour of our bees with the flat-bottom wooden base foundation, introduced many years ago by Mr. Abbott, and his proposal at the meeting on the 7th of April, 1881, to use these combs with wooden bases as dummies. In that year we had several such combs, and on some of them, strangely enough, the bees built regular cells only on one side, nibbling the wax on the other side and using it for making struts or braces at right angles to the board. This we found was because the board was not sufficiently covered with wax, there being more on one side than on the other. Bearing this experiment in mind, the thought occurred to us that if bees were induced to build combs only on one side and to lengthen the cells so that the queen could not lay in them, the desired result might be attained. We therefore prepared a drawing, and asked a manufacturer to make us some foundation on calico with cells on one side only. The illustration is a reduced copy of drawing sent, and shows our plan of fixing the foundation to the side of the frame. Since then there have appeared the ideas of some of our own bee-keepers on pages 22 and Si of B. B. J. However, it now appears that the same idea of having cells built on one side of founda- tion only and fixing this to the side of the frame instead of the centre occurred to others besides ourselves, for about a week after this our friend M. Bertrand sent us a circular describing the identical thing. A few days later, in the second number of the Xvrdlinr/en Bienemeitung for this year, appeared from the pen of W. Vogel, the editor, a description of the very same thing, and it has since trans- pired that the invention of M. Koerbs is the same. With the CentraMatt for 1st March we receive a circular from Otto Schulz, in which he states that the same idea occurred to him, and he corresponded with Koerbs about it, but as the latter asked so hi„'h a price for his invention, ho could not come to terms. He, however, made application for a patent, and subsequently visited Koerbs and submitted his own ideas to him, with the result that they have come to terms, and by amalga- mating their ideas the article will be manufactured and sold by the name of ' Schulz-Koerbs ' foundation. The new foundation is made on glass, wood, tin, card-board, or other material, with the impression of the cells in wax on one side, the other being left smooth. Of those who wrote to us, it will be seen that only one is any- where near the mark, namely, Mr. J. Hall, who ' guessed ' that Koerbs did away with the midrib, although he did not ' guess ' that the rib was placed on one side. Although we do not for one moment wish to claim any priority in the invention, and should have thought nothing about it had not our attention been directed to the matter; still, while giving M. Koerbs the credit of the invention, it shows that when a number of minds are directed upon one subject, the same idea may occur to several at the same time, as it has to Vogel, Schulz, and ourselves; and we might even include Mr. Hall, as his idea is very near the mark. The idea of having one-sided foundation is certainly novel, but it remains to be proved by experiment whether it will be of so great a value to us as it would be to German bee-keepers, whose hive? have a brood- space so much smaller than ours. Embedding various materials in wax for foundation is not new, and has been tried from time to time during the last twenty years or more; we ourselves used foundation on paper fifteen or sixteen years ago, and it has been repeatedly described, as well as embedding thread, silk, and other substances, both in the English and American journals, so that there is no novelty in this. We take the present opportunity of mentioning this because a correspondent on page 38 has evidently fallen into error by supposing that ' the idea of embedding other material than wire ' originated with him. A search in the back volumes of the B. B. J. would have shown him he was mistaken. USEFUL HINTS. With a change of wind from north to south we have a higher temperature, and a few hours' sunshine has afforded the bees the opportunity of flight so long desired. High winds and threatening showers have for- bidden manipulation even where desired ; but the depar- ture of frost and snow, with the advent of milder weather, is a decided gain. Artificial Pollen is now more necessary since the late severe cold has enVctually prevented a natural supply for some time to come, save, perhaps, in the Southern counties and the 'Emerald Isle.' Of this island the Venerable Brde, in his Ecclesiastical History — written circa 800 A.D. — tells us that : ' For wholesomeness and serenity of climate, Ireland far surpasses Britain ; for the snow scarcely ever lies there above three days ; no man makes hay in the summer for winter's provision, nor builds stables for his beasts of burden. The island abounds in milk and honey.' An El-dorado, truly, for members of our craft ! No wonder that our Irish brethren should so far surpass their English compeers in obtaining large yields of honey. By those who prefer the plan, pea or lentil meal — which can be procured in small packets at almost any grocers — may be presented to the bees thus : take clean dry empty frames of comb, and dredge the meal from an ordinary flour dredger into the cells, while the combs are held or placed at an angle of 46°. When the cells on both sides of the combs are nearly full, place the combs in an ordinary frame-hive and set it in a sheltered, sunny position near the hives and beside the water-trough. If a comb containing a little unsealed honey or syrup be placed amongst the pollen-combs, the bees will speedily find the spot and proceed forthwith to utilise the pollen ; if placed on a stand, and sheltered by a roof raised a few inches above the hive, the latter may bo considered a fixture for the spring months, the combs being replenished with meal as often as requisite. At a time like the present, when little or no natural pollen is to be obtained, an artificial supply is of great value in encouraging breeding, and in eventually raising the population of the hives to the highest point by the time of plenty arrives. Manipulation, or examination of colonies, may be made in fine weather towards the end of the month if done judiciously. Bees even now are much inclined to rob their neighbours, therefore the greatest care must be exercised when opening hives. The bjst time is from four to six p.m. on a calm, mild evening, when there will bo little danger of incitement to robbing. The carbolised cloth is preferable to smoke, causing less excitement and subduing the bees more effectually. The quilts should be quickly stript off, and the car- 140 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 15, 1888. b jlised cloth as quickly spread over the frames. Manipu- lation should proceed from each side to centre alternately. But if the bees show themselves in force, and display a vindictive temper, do not insist on gaining a sight of the queen ; but when the frames have been examined from the sides to the brood-nest, i.e., as far as the cluster of bees, forbear to disturb the nest further, especially as soon as evidence of breeding is afforded. There is no surer guide to the prosperity of a colony than the dash of its individual members, severalty, or simultaneously. 'Aye, buy the wicked skep,' is sound advice, but in these days of ' Bee-keeping made easy,' by the application of ' Apifuges ' to the exposed portions of the human frame, and of ' Carniolanising ' our colonies, such advice will be of no further use ; and the exclamation of our highly esteemed Scottish brethren — ' Eh, mon, bit they stang deevilitch ! ' will never again be heard in a Northern apiary when an attack by hybrids is delivered upon the person of an unsuspecting inquirer into the mysteries of apiculture. But we cannot forget the ' good old times,' and so, despising 'Apifuges' (save the mark !), and 'Car- niolanising,' we continue to prefer ' the wicked skep ' and the ' fiendish ' hybrid colonj^ domiciled in the frame-hive. Quilts. — -Enamel cloth, glazed side downwards, may now be placed upon the frames, and covered with felt, carpet, or chaff cushions. The more warmth the better for our bees. Over all, a crown -board of wood, or preferably of straw, slightly weighted to keep all quilts firmly in place, will be an advantage. Combs left by defunct colonies should be thoroughly cleared of dead bees, and sprayed with carbolic acid, or salicylic acid, solution, then dried in the open air, and afterwards stored in a dry place, secure from moths, until required for further use. We keep an old extractor with powerful gearing solely for suspicious combs, and through which we pass all old combs, after well soaking them in warm water. Greater part of the dead bees and useless pollen is thus extracted with little loss of time and less trouble. But this machine is never used for normal extraction. Olla-podrida. — Eygs by Pod. — We have no doubt that a frame of eggs, if despatched immediately after deposition, by mail, on a warm summer's day, will answer perfectly for queen-raising, and we do not speak without experience. Fresh Blood. — Some thirty years ago, before the introduction of the Italian Alp bee into this country, and before the extraordinary strides in the improved methods of bee-keeping commenced and carried on chiefly through the instrumentality of the B.B. K.A., and spread to every corner of the land, we may well supposs that remote districts existed in which in-and-in breeding of bees prevailed to a great extent. But that the case cited by Mr. Woodley in his letter (148G) as a case of perfect isolation — ' seven miles from everywhere ' — where bees had existed for a century without any infusion of fresh blood, is ' proven,' we cannot for a moment grant. And from his second case, cited in his letter (14U8) of sixty years' isolation, we must withhold our imprimatur. In Mr. Woodley's argument, the instinctive preference of queens to mate with drones of fresh blood, or with those of new varieties, is kept entirely out of sight, as also is the chance of the existence of colonies ferm naturd, domiciled in hollow trees, roofs, or walls of buildings, &c. This propensity of queens to mate with drones of fresh blood has been repeatedly referred to for years past in this and other many Journals. In the B. B. J. (vol. v. p. 11), ' Renfrewshire Bee-keeper ' writes on this point and on in-and-in breeding thus : — ' In the first volume of the Journal of Horticulture I referred to cases of parties keeping bees in good localities, far isolated from others, doing well at first, and gradually and unaccountably dwindling away until they became extinct. A fresh stock procured again flourish remark- ably, and in the course of a few years again dwindle away ; and always point out to stock-owning and poultry-keeping friends how nature guards against the evils attendant on breeding from near affinities in the honey-bee. Did the young queen mate within the hive, she must inevitably pair with full brothers ; did she indulge in but a short flight over her own apiary, probably with cousins nearer or more distantly removed. But, to avoid all this, she is impelled to a far flight through ether for that indispensable change of blood. Confirmatory of all this — with a well-stocked apiary of strong colonies, with pure-bred Italian queens by the mother's side, and, consequently, clouds of equally pure drones — through all these years I only once managed to secure pure impregnation, and that was in the case of a queen hatched early in spring — presumably, fertilised by Italian drones, the progeny of a drone-breeding queen — long before any black drones appeared in our district. Although the agile Italian princesses seem to outstrip in flight their lazier drones, and seek alliance with the dark sons of the land, the Italian is equally the favoured swain with the native brunettes. In a radius of from one to close on five miles from my apiary, crosses from the re- versed parentage abound, and the humble cottager points with honest pride to his "striped bees," and the value of such crosses on that side are so much appreciated for pro- lificness and industry that in their disposal the extent and distinctness of the banding are carefully appraised. 1 am decidedly of opinion that even the poorest cottager would be handsomely repaid for purchasing an Italian queen, and placing her daughters at the head of every stock in his apiary.' So superior to the old black race had this experienced Scotch apiarist proved the Italian black cross to be both in fecundity and honey-collecting powers. And his experience is exactly our own. Every word he has uttered we can fully endorse. Nearly twenty years ago we were the first to introduce the Italian bee into our own neighbourhood, and in a few years afterwards there were few colonies within several miles of our apiary in which the ' yellow stripe' was not present ; while in our own apiary, except by practising the Kohler method, it was impossible to obtain pure fertilisation. Surely, then, if nature has implanted this instinct in the queen and drone bees, we are going con- trary to nature in arguing, as Mr. Woodley does, that the same rule which applies in the cases of cattle, sheep, horses, birds, and all other creatures, does not apply in that of insects, notably in that of our bees. All ex- perienced apiarists — so far as we know — hold the same views on this subject. Mr. C. N. Abbott, if we rightly remember, has stated somewhere in the earlier volumes of the Journal, that nine out of ten of his young Italian queens persisted in mating with black drones. Why this longing for change if in-and-in breeding succeeds so admirably as Mr. Woodley supposes ? Inside Paint and Enamel Cloth gave precisely the results we should have expected when applied under the circumstances described by Mr. Adcoek in his letter (1504). Had his hives been on the right-angled system, and full ventilation below allowed, with a forward pitch, he would have found neither internal dampness nor dead bees to any extent; at least, this is our experience. It is very important that hives should have a southern aspect, and that the bees should be able to cluster on the front side. ASSOCIATIONS. BERKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. In your issue of February 0th a letter appears (1472) from Mr. W. B. Webster, respecting the publica- tion of a monthly paper by our Association as its own organ. The letter contains an account of the action of the Association, which we cannot (in the interests of the Association) allow to pass uncorrected. The facts of the case are, briefly, as follows : — After consultation with various members of the Com- March 15, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 14i mittee, a definite proposal to originate such a paper was submitted to the quarterly meeting, in the draft annual report. On the suggestion of Mr. Webster this proposal was modified to the following terms : — ' Your Committee consider that the time has now arrived when they should adopt some more convenient and effective means of inter- communication among the members, and have decided at an early date to consider the advisability of publishing a monthly paper for free distribution to all members of the Association.' At the annual meeting of the members, which was fairly attended from most parts of the county, this pro- posal was supported by all who spoke on the subject, except Mr. Webster, whose speech failed to elicit any response, while those in favour of the scheme were heartily endorsed. The general meeting of members having so emphatically approved of the proposal, the only matter really to be decided by the Committee was its practicability. A special meeting was called for the purpose, at which there was more than an average attendance : and it was then announced that one of the members had offered to take all financial and editorial responsibility in the matter, so that the Association would incur only a small expense beyond that incurred by the circulation of the Bee Journal. The question was therefore decided in the affirmative, Mr. Webster being the one dissentient voter. With reference to the prospective character of the ' Berks Bee-keeper,' of which Mr. Webster writes at some length, we will only say that had he waited until the publication of its first (or February) number, we think he would not have written as he did, and we are con- firmed in this belief by the fact that the March number contains a voluntary contribution from his pen. It will, we think, be now seen that the action of the Committee was perfectly bond Jide, and that by their action they were carrying out the wishes of the members as expressed at the annual meeting. Arthur L. Cooper, Honorary Secretary, A. D. Woodley, Assistant Secretary, Berkshire Bee-keepers' Association. [We are very pleased to present the ' account of the action of the Association ' from the point of view of the secretaries. We think, however, the proposal of a local paper was inopportune, and scarcely necessary, as with the Bee-keepers' Adviser the Association could have done all they contemplated without it. — Ed.] WORCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEi'ERS' ASSOCIATION. The Annual General Meeting of the Members of this Association was held at the Guildhall, Worcester, on Saturday last, March .*!. The Rev. W. M. Kingsmill, of Tibberton Rectory, Broitwich, presided, and there were also present : — Mr. A. C. Bowdeswell (Ripple Hall), Rev. R. T. W. Brayne (Broomhall), Mrs. Swinden (Defford), Mr. C. II. Haynes (Ilanley Castle), Mr. A. W. Martin, Hon. Sec. (Evesham), Mr. H. II. Griffin (Cleobury, Mortimer), Messrs. Herbert Goldingham, G. II. Latty, W. E. Williams, J. Neale (Worcester), Mr. H. II. Beakbane, Messrs. J. II. Landon and P. Glover (Stourport), Mr. A. Thorpe (Hallow), Mr. John Clearby (Offenham), Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Footman (Martley), Mr. J. W. W. Boughton (Lower Wick), Mr. J. Powell (Lulsley), and Mr. E. Davenport, Expert (Stourport). The Hon. Sec. read the Treasurer's statement and the Report of the Committee for the past year, which were ordered to be printed and circulated amongst the members. The Report stated that the committee had not felt themselves justified in holding any annual show during the past year, owing to insufficiency of funds to defray the expenses of the same, and the bee-tent had not been sent to any horticultural show, as the festivities connected with the Jubilee had thrown other arrangements on one side. The number of members at the close of the year is 161, many withdrawals having taken place through non- payment of subscriptions. The total receipts from members amounted to 39/. 10s., and it is satisfactory to report that there is a balance of 14/. 18s. Id. in the hands of the Treasurer. The past honey season had, on the whole, been a good one, and though short owing to the hot and dry weather the quality and quantity gathered was above the average. The circulation of the Bee Journal had been carried out fortnightly during the year, but it had been sent on so irregularly that the committee do not recommend its continuance, unless some plan can be devised under which members will forward it at stated times. In conclusion, the hope was expressed that members would display more energy and enthusiasm during the coming year, and use their best endeavours to promote the good objects the Association has in view. The election of officers then took place. Earl Beau- champ was re-elected President, and the following as Vice-preside, .ts: — The Bishopof Worcester, The Dowager Lady Ilindlip, Lady Geoigina Vernon, Lord Edward S. Churchill, the Hon. G. H. Allsopp, M.P., Sir Richard Temple, Part., M.P., Sir E. A. II. Lechmere, Bart., M.P., Mr. John Corbett, M.P., and the Mayor of Worcester. The committee were re-elected, Messrs. J. II. Gunn and W. E. Williams taking the place of two retiring members. Mr. T. J. Slater was re-elected Hon. Treasurer, and Mr. A. W. Martin Hon. Sec. Messrs. A. W. Martin and C. H. Haynes were appointed representatives to the Quarterly Conferences of the B. B. K. A. The annual ballot for hives resulted in Mr. Thomas Moseley, Bishampton, Pershore, and Mrs. E. E. Bavis of Welland, Malvern Wells, being the winners. Mr. E. Bavenport (expert) read his report, of whicli thefo'lowing is an extract : — Although in many respects he wished he could give a brighter report, yet com- pared with some other associations the members are- more numerous, the funds in a better state, and the vitality of both members and the executive strikingly greater. The income is in excess of the expenditure, and the zeal and energy of the hon. sec. cannot be surpassed. He started on his tour of inspection on April 1-'!, which was continued at intervals till the end of July. In- clemency of weather at times compelled him to desist. Many strong stocks perished during the cold spring weather from lack of judicious feeding. In three instances the bees had actually died in the i ct of clustering in the central brood-nest, the combs surrounding being empty and dry, while in the outside combs there were stores in abundance. During the season 160 members were visited, and 544 stocks inspected, viz., 384 bar-frames, 241 skeps, and nineteen nondescripts. On comparing these numbers with those given by his predecessor, Mr. C. Brown, he found that the Association was on the ' downward grade.' In 1885 there were 523 skeps examined, and 520 bar- frame hives, making a total of 104.'!. This difference is accounted for by the diminution in the number of members, many of whom have become apathetic and withdrawn their membership. The stocks as a rule were very healthy, there was plenty of evidences of the vigorous condition of many of the apiaries, whicli was shown by the large quantities of honey gathered when the weather became warmer. No case of foul brood was met with during the tour; its existence was sus- pected at one place, but on minute examination it proved to be a bad case of chilled brood. Several incidents of varied character were met with : in one case crates of full sections which had been left on all the winter, as the owner in attempting to remove them was stung, and, beating a hasty retreat, had not courage to renew the attempt. In another instance two stocks were actually suffocated, and several others just on the verge, for in 142 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 15, 1888. another day or two they would have been dead ; these were in straw skeps, with barely half an inch entrance, ro when they became heavy with brood, the straw was pressed down, and egress and ventilation became im- possible. There are many large apiaries in the county. At Welland, near Upton-on-Severn, there is one con- taining fifty stocks, belonging to Mr. J. II. Gunn, another at Evesham, owned by Messrs. Bailey and Gardiner, and another at Seaford Grange, Pershore, belonging to Mr. W. F. Gibbon, with this peculiarity that the owner is not anxious about the production of honey, but keeps his bees for the fertilisation of the fruit-blossoms, and sells his swarms at the low price of Is. each to his work-people, on condition that they are kept in the neighbourhood. Other smaller but well-conducted apiaries exist at Hanley Castle, Martley, and Defford. In conclusion, Mr. Davenport wished to acknowledge the assistance he had received from so many of the members, and especially that of the hon. sec. On the motion of the Chairman, secondel by Mr. Haynes, it was resolved that in order to free Mr. Martin from the considerable labour entailed in the discharge of the clerical duties connected with the Association, he be authorised to pay out of its fund at his own discretion, for the performance of such labour by a competent person, ai.d he wished it to be understood tin t if Mr. Martin withdrew from the hon.-secretar) ship it would probably mean the collapse of the Association, fur it was by his energy and enthusiasm that it had grown, and he felt sure that there was no one else who could be found to do the work that he had done in its behalf. Mr. Martin, in returning thanks for the vote, said that Ilia professional duties were constantly increasing, but at the same time he should not like it to be said that the Association would fall to the ground in consequence of his being compelled to resign his office, which on his part had been a labour of love. He would be glad to see a little more energy displayed by the members generally and wished that his voice could reach to the extreme limits of th> county and persuade some of those bee-keepers who were foremost in their ranks when the Association was started] but who, from apathy or selfish- ness, had since deserted them, to come back and give him and them all practical help. He would ask them to bear in mind that one of the fundamental objects of -he Asso- ciation was not so much to benefit themselves as others by promoting an industry, which, in spite of even adverse conditions, or some disappointment, was, he felt, surely spreading through the county and the country at large. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, which Mr. Kings- mill acknowledged, concluded a very successful meeting. UNITED STATES. 3n Jflflcmoviam. A. G. N. Todd, F.G.S. Mr. Arthur George Nicholson Todd, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and Associate of King's College, London, England, was born at Sandymount, Dublin, Ireland, on the 2oth of February, 184:3. He died on February 11th, 1838, at his home, 2122 North Front Street, Philadelphia, after a short illness from typhoid pneumonia. He was buried, with masonic rites, at Mount Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia, February lGth. In early life Mr. Todd was engaged in the dry-goods business, afterwards representing the large firm of Pirn Brothers, & Co. as the manager of their branch house in London ; in 1873 he made a flying visit to the United States in their interest. He first became interested in apiculture in 1870, and from that time he pursued the study of the bee and its products with ardour, upon both scientific and p actical lines. During his travels in France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Algeria, he became acquainted with most of the prominent bee- masters of those countries, especially with M. George de Layens, the famous French apiculturist and author, between whom and himself a warm friendship existed, and they were correspondents till quite lately. He commenced bee-keeping for a livelihood at Blidah, in Algeria, in 1877, and about that time he first imported comb - foundation and foundation- machines from Mr. A. I. Boot, into France and Algeria. At the Paris Ex- hibition in 1878 he took the large diploma for bees, hives, and honey. He kept bees in Bambouillet, a small village near Paris, in 1878-9. At the Ville de Beauvais Exhibition, in 1870, he gained a gold medal, and at the Amiens Exhibition, same year, twosilver medals. Mr. Todd returned to America in 1880, and joined the Philadelphia Bee-keepers' Association in 1882, of which he was elected Vice-President in 1884, and re- elected in 1385, many of the meetings were made intensely interesting by his original papers and the active part he took in discussions. He was also a member of the New York State Bee-keepers' Association and Vice-President for Pennsylvania of the North Eastern Bee-keepers' Association. Ho made extensive displays of bees, hives, and honey, at the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society's fairs in Philadelphia in 1884-5-0-7, taking eleven silver and bronze medals, and numerous cash prizes and diplomas. At the Burlington County Agricultural Fan-, at Mount Holly, New Jersey, 1886, lie was awarded a medal for honey manufactures. In 1880 Mr. Todd established an exhibition apiary in the Zoological Garden, Philadelphia, which has proved highly successful, thousands of visitors observing the bees at work in glass hives and the general manipulations in practical bee-keeping. This is the only exhibition apiary in a public garden in the United States. At bee-keepers' conventions and all assemblages of beemen, when the subject of honey has been discussed from a financial point of view, the cry has been, ' Create new markets and cultivate the public taste to a greater consumption of honey for domostic purposes.' It is safe to say that no one man has done more to popularise its use than Mr. Todd, and for this ho should be gratefully remembered by bee people generally. If we had a few more workers of his stamp and energy we should soon see honey in daily use ill most households. Lecture on Wasps. —On Saturday, March 10th, a paper on ' Queen-wasps and Worker-wasps in the years 1886 and 1887,' was read before the Microscopical and Natural History Society of Ealing, by Mr. George Henderson, of Ealing. The interest of the paper was much enhanced by the exhibition of wasps and hornets' nests, &c, kindly lent by Mr. J. Hiam, of Astwood Bank, Redditch. After the reading of the paper, the lantern slides of Mr. Watkins, Hereford, were exhibited. The paper and its accompaniments were much appreciated. Explanation hequiued. — In the close of January last the wife of a neighbouring bee-keeper was removed by death. Two days before the funeral, on a warm afternoon, the husband and a son walking in the garden were surprised to see all their four stocks of bees out en masse, so that the air was tilled with them as if with swarming. That same afternoon only a few of one of my seven stocks came out at all, about half a mile distant. Recalling to mind an old superstition, the father bade the lad tap the hives. And as he tapped them, at once the stocks respectively returned, not one stayed out. My friend was more astonished at their dis- appearance than at finding them flying out. I write to ask if there is any known clue to such conduct from a natural cause. I can vouch for the veracity of my friend, who sent me word the samo evening, asking an explanation, — E. C, P., Harroie. March 15, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOUKNAL. 143 CnrasptwaciKC. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com.' munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should he drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, Jo., must be addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c/o Messrs. Strang eways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.* All business communications relating to Advertisements, &c., must be addressed to Mr. J. Hockle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). *m* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. 'OUR HONEY IMPORTS.' The value of honey imported into the United King- dom during the month of February, 1 888, amounted to 528/. [From a Return furnished by the Statistical Department to Mr. Bellairs.] A NEW HUT. ■No plot so narrow — be but Nature there- No waste so vacant, but may well employ Each faculty of sense.' — Coleridoe. [1528.] On the approach of winter we left the old hut to the earwigs, centipedes, and other creeping things. It was all right, the old spot, in the height of summer, but woodlice and all sorts of strange crawling forms abhorrent to most people are not agreeable co-inmates of such a conversational, cosy den as wo desired. There- fore I set to work, with the help cf a Iluttite, to build a new one. A few particulars may be useful should any of your readers feel inclined to go and do likewise. A sketch was drawn to scale giving seven feet by six feet inside measure. An estimated quantity of 4j x 1 boards (tongued and grooved) were brought together with 3x2 wood for the framework. These latter were rabbeted together and fastened each with three strong screws. The framework was levelled by spirit- level and rested on four large stones, one at each corner. The boards were then nailed to the framework, roofed with the same kind of boards and covered with roofing felt, the projecting ends of this roof being ornamented with a stamped zinc border. A lightning-conductor- looking finial was next fixed at each end of the peak of the roof, wooden flooring laid down, and so on. The whole labour was performed on three Saturday after- noons and evenings, and a jolly time it was. Cost of timber and nails, 1/. Gs. As it stands at present the hut is painted inside and out, and is bee-proof. Shelves are fixed round the inside, and under a revolving window is a table hinged to the side of the hut in front of two long settees (moveable). At one end (outside) a bee porch and alighting-board are fixed, whilst inside is a shelf on which is placed one of Abbott's ' Special ' Observation hives, so that one can sit with the hive between and the light and watch the bees at work. An Aurora paraffin lamp on a bracket near the table gives both light and heat. The floor is covered with thick kamptulicon, the table with a tapestry cover, the seats with bright-coloured rugs; a fibre mat completes the hut. In two hours we have got the temperature up from 2G° to 55°, so we have at last a very comfortable meeting, smoking, and cbat- ting-box. In summer time thirty seconds will give time enough to drop the table and carry out the seats, when extracting may be proceeded with. To make all bee- tight, an escutcheon covers the keyhole, perforated zinc the ventilators, whilst such bees as are carried inside can be set at liberty by giving the window a half turn. — X-Tbactob. PAINTING THE INSIDE OF HIVES. [1529.] I can thoroughly endorse the Rev. H.W. Lett's (1511) advice to paint the inside of all hives with good oil paint. I have painted all my hives inside for thirty- five years, with the best results, as I found the wood in unpainted hives so wet in spring, that it is summer before the bees could get them perfectly dry : and in spring it is most important to have the hives thoroughly dry, to encourage breeding and health. I have my hive-stands to slant to the front one inch in ten ; the entrance is cut out of the floor- board and grooved to the back, so that all moisture immediately runs out of the hive ; and I have had icicles two to three inches long from the water run out of the hive in twenty-four hours. No water ever lies on my floor- boards, which is most important in successful bee- keeping.— William Caiui, Newton Heath Apiary, near Manchester, March 6th. PAINTING HIVES. [1530.] May I say that I have made most of my hives, and have always painted the boards before putting to- gether, those for the inside box with two coats on the air- space side; those for the outside box with two coats on both sides. Dovetails and ends were also painted. Floor- boards I generally paint on the ground side, and on the other side where the hive rests with a broad ribbon. The only hive that has been damp this winter was one which had the floor-board painted all over. I found combs of sealed honey to keep better in all the hives ex- cept the last mentioned, than in the very damp house I live in. As to painting, it should be understood that painting as usually practised is more likely to make wood rot than not. Suppose you get a new gate. The carpenter brings it, beautifully made and fitted, and hangs it. Then he proceeds to paint. If the wood is not perfectly dry, as soon as the sun shines on the paint it will raise blisters. Then the sun and rain will loosen the joints and wet will get in, and the tenons and mortises will rot. Then the ground damp acting on the unprotected ends will rot them. If all the joints and the ends where the grain is cut across were well saturated with creosote before fitting together, the parts usually painted might be left in their natural state. I am doubtful as to the good of painting both sides of boards, but if one side is to be left bare I certainly think it should be the inside, except the flat boards of the roof. I tliink that wax -cloth causes, perhaps, an excess of moisture.— W. M. PAINTING THE INSIDE OF HIVES. [1531.] The Rev. II. W. Lett appears to object to my advising bee-keepers not to paint the inside of their hives, and criticises in a doubting mannir the description I gave (in the B.B.J., No. 1504) of the condition of the hives I had so painted. My winter dummies are about an inch and a half thick, filled with cork -dust, and have india-rubber tubing, such as is used to prevent draughts in ill-fitting doors, tacked to the sides and bottom, so there is no possibility of either heat or moisture escaping, except from the flight-hole, which varies in size from two to four inches by three-eighths of an inch. Perhaps Mr. L.'s dummies do not fit closely, so the heat escaping above draws a current of air in at the large flight-hole, and by that means gets rid of the moisture. Concerning the hive which contained more than a pint of water, the floor-board is made so as to form a rapid feeder for condemned bees, the sides are raised all round flush with the inner walls of hive, forming a space sixteen inches by fourteen and a half by three quarters of an inch deep. Into this space a board or float half an 144 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 15, 1888. inch thick, and perforated with a number of holes, i8 fitted, upon which the bees rest while taking the syrupi which is poured through a tube in the side of the hive- This board or float was removed when putting up the bees for the winter, leaving an enlarged space beneath the frames, and which I trust Mr. L. will now under- stand would easily hold more than a pint of water. Mr. L. has erroneously used the reasoning power of which he seems to think I am lacking. The wet standing in pools upon the floor was not due to the hives being not set level, but to the fact that they were exactly level, as Mr. L. can prove for himself by placing a hive with its painted floor-board perfectly level, and then gently pouring water upon it, he will find that it will hold considerably more than he at present appears to think possible, and quite sufficient for bees to float upon. His hives being tilted forward, the wet perhaps ran off unobserved by him. The wet certainly never came through the roof of the hive ; had it done so, the quilts would have been wet, which was not the case. I make my own hives, and am most careful that all the parts are water-tight. The imputation that, as a beginner, my statement as to the condition of my hives is not worthy of credence, 1 consider of but slight importance, for Sir. L. cannot possibly have any knowledge of the length of time I have been a bee-keeper, or of my experience in matters concerning their culture. I confess I am puzzled by the concluding paragraph in Mr. L.'s letter (1514). If the walls are soaking with moisture (as he admits) when unpainted, what becomes of the wet when the walls are impervious to it by reason of the paint ? In the winter the bees are at rest, and cannot fan it out (as I have seen them doing in the spring). It cannot surely all disappear in vapour at the flight-hole. I still more strongly say, ' Do not paint the inside of your hives,' for yesterday 1 found dead what was one of my strongest stocks and with young queen (on nine frames) that was in such a painted hive; plenty of honey in combs, which were in a dreadfully mouldy condition, as are all the combs that are in the other painted hives, the other thirteen stocks appearing very dry and strong. Other combs quite clean as far as perceptible from the slight examination made. I also should be glad if others would give their ex- perience, two winters' trial of the system being quite sufficient to satisfy me that it is better to leave the inside of hives unpainted. — Harold Adcock, Middleton, Northampton. BEES IN NEW ZEALAND. [1532.] I have just received the following account from my brother, an old member of the Worcester 1>. K.A., who i3 settled in Waimata Valley, Gisborne, N.Z., and think it may prove interesting to some of the readers of the B. B. J. : — ' I have not brought my bees up to where I am now living, but left them down in the flat country, but when I am quite settled I shall do so. There are plenty of wild hives about. I took 12 lbs. of honey out of a tree the other day from a swarm that had only been there about ten days, and did not hurt the bees at all, and did not get stung. They were in the hollow at the bottom of a large tree, about seven feet in diameter, and I managed to creep into the hole with a piece of lighted corduroy and smoke them a little, then cut out the honey and put it in a bucket. I intend to fell the tree, as there are two more colonies of bees in it, and I shall transfer the bees into two hives. The bush is full of bees, which seem just like ordinary " Britishers." I have not seen any "natives" except mason bees, who plaster up everything, from sun - barrels to mackintoshes; they catch spiders and stupify them, and then seal them up for the grubs to eat. There was a row of cells in an old coat-sleeve in the wharre here, and I counted seventy odd spiders in it and none of them dead. The spiders here are most wonderful ; there are some flat silvery ones that never spin webs, but pounce on the flies, and it is great fun to watch them as they walk backwards and forwards and sideways; you can almost hear them swear when they miss a fly. I am glad your bees have done well ; you seem to have had a very good season.' — A. H. Martin, Hon. Secretary, Worcester B. K. A. Eeersham. CONSANGUINITY. (1454.) [1533.] I cannot let the opportunity go by of saying a word or two on this subject, more especially as it seems to me the object of Mr. AVebster's article is likely to delude bee-keepers into the belief that, our native bees are degenerating. This theory, which has not a shadow of foundation in fact, is so often put forth by writers in the Journal that one suspects there must be some other object than that ostensibly stated to warrant its so oft repetition ; nor is the reason far to seek — but I will not go into that now, but will endeavour to show that in- and-in breeding is not accompanied by such disastrous results as stated, and that bee-keepers need not be alarmed at any such bogey as that ; because it is im- possible, by reason of their almost universal distribution, for our native bees to be affected thereby, except in a very few instances in tho most isolated and remote situations. Now what are the facts regarding consanguinity, and where indeed would have been our breeds of horses, of cattle, of sheep, of dogs, of fowls, of pigeons, &c, had there been no in-and-in breeding for generations ? They would never have had an existence. Did not Mr. Bates produce his famous shorthorns by breeding them in and in for generations ? and were not the Bakewell long- horns produced in the same way ? and so on throughout the whole chapter with our breeds of dogs, fowls, ducks, &c. But it is amongst pigeons where the results have been so marvellous, since it is generally conceded by naturalists that all our domestic varieties, or breeds, be they Pouters, Fantails, Tumblers, or what, aro all descended from the wild Kockdove of our coasts (Columba livia). What in-and-in breeding all this re- presents ! And what grand results have been achieved by man's selection amongst all our domesticated animals — all such, at. least, whose reproduction is under his direct influence, for where this is not the case no modifi- cation of structure has taken place. Cats, for instance, though they are said to be domesticated, being nocturnal animals, their amatory gatherings are outside man's in- fluence ; indeed, so far as their mating is concerned, they may be said to be still feirc natures, and this circum- stance is so exactly analogous to the case of our hived bees that any fact or argument, in the one case may be taken as illustrative of the other ; what lesson then have cats to teach us? This, that while all other domesti- cated animals have yielded ( more or less in accordance with their plasticity) to man's influence, and have given us almost endless varieties, cats have retained their original character, and have not produced a single variety or breed — which they most assuredly would have done had their mating been directly under man's control. In like manner our hive bees, whose mating is also not controlled by man, retain their normal character throughout the whole of our island; and notwithstanding all the care, and skill, and energy, bestowed upon them for centuries, not a single well-marked variety is to be found. I need scarcely point out how significant these facte are as bearing upon the subject under discussion, nor how unlikely it is, under the circumstances, that our native bees are degenerating through consanguinity. Where, within the whole realm of zoology, is there to March 15, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 145 be found a single species in a naturally wild state, be it vertebrate or invertebrate, suffering from too close inter- breeding? I can answer the question itself — there is not one. It may therefore be taken for granted that whenever an animal has sufficient freedom to mate naturally, there is no fear of its degenerating from too close interbreeding; least likely is it that bees, which are known to travel long distances at mating time, and it is stated on good authority that drones have been found in hives eight miles from where they were bred, will ever be likely to need the introduction of any foreign blood. Where is there a district so isolated that the bees are not within the reach of fresh blood either from vagrant colonies or from other hives? The answer to this question has been eagerly looked for by qneen-raisers, for I believe that none of tliem have yet found such a place where they could keep their foreign bees pure. If, then, what I have stated are facts, and I challenge contradiction, it follows that our native bees, being the survival of the fittest, i.e. naturally selected, through long centuries of climatic influence, are not likely to be benefited by any cross of foreign blood, more especially if such blood be from a country whose climate differs much from our own. Mind, I am not against a cross if such can be got from a bee in all points better than ours, but those who would deteriorate our native bees by crossing them with any degenerate race the foreigners choose to send us I regard as enemies to bee-keepers and bee-keeping. Some, whose ignorance of climatology is truly appalling, have advocated the introduction of bees even from tropical countries. To all such I say, Go to our greenhouses and our hothouses, and see if you cannot learn a lesson there. — F. Boyes, Beverley. CONSANGUINITY. [1534.] First allow me to thank those who have privately commended my views on above subject in a previous letter, including, I am proud to say, some of the first bee-keepers in England to-day. Secondly, that I have no wish to engage in a wordy warfare with such a knight-errant of the quill as Mr. Webster, feeling sure the pages of our Journal should not be crowded with verbiage, interesting only to the parties immediately concerned in the quibble, therefore I shall not follow his letter (1020) seriatim, Regarding pro- verbs, I would also commend to his memory that sensible old proverb which says, 'An ounce of practice is worth a pound of theory,' as also an excerpt from Montaigne's JEssays, ' I would have every one write what he knows, and as much as knows, and no more.' Notwithstanding the assurance in which Mr. Webster wrote his previous article, he is.no w doubtful of success in unearthing or discovering that rara apis, the accomplish- ment of the task he will leave to future generations of bee-keepers, though he went so far as to say that the honey-producing qualities were enhanced in a first cross; one would be led by that to think that the ' coming bee ' was at least within measurable distance, that some, with the faculty of hearing inordinately developed, may possibly catch the hum of its wings ; but no, the longing hopes are doomed to be blighted, or, at any rate, deferred in- definitely, and we are told to make the best of the bee we now have. Good advice, friend ! and we will endeavour to do in the future as we have in the past, tot up a ' decent little lump of their produce for our next annual ', show, hoping to have the pleasure (?) of dividing honours with the produce of the Binfield apiary. It is refreshing among so much theorising to come across a .fact. Mr. Webster says emphatically, that a cross between English and Italian bees considerably improves their honey-gathering qualities. Is that where the extra half pound of honey per colony comes in ? In lieu, I suppose, for the 7s. Gd. queen. And in support of his emphatic assertion, he appeals, not to practical ex- perience, but to the tabulated accounts in B. B. J. Has it never occurred to Mr. W. that a new strain of bees in an apiary would of necessity receive far greater attention than the colonies there before ? And this would account in a great measure for any extra in- gathering of honey by that carefully attended colony. I have never hinted in the B. B. J. that I know, by experience, anything about foreign races of bees, except the painful one (to some) of feeling their stings ; and if my memory serves me right, Mr. W. has not had a very long experience in the matter, neither on an extensive scale. Mr. Webster mentions among a host of things, ' large eggs.' We in West Berks fail to get them larger than they were a quarter of a century ago, and, unfortunately, only two-thirds of the number for the same sum ; but perhaps it takes icons to increase the size of eggs, and our friend is prospecting. Now, does ilr. Webster seriously contend that the Blenheim orange- apple was produced from a crab by the ingenuity of man ? That is somewhat on a par with the evolution theory and the jelly-fish — it requires a large faith. Then, as to fancy pigeons, no doubt, each breed has some dis- tinct characteristics of its own, and by crossing the breed may produce a prodigy in shape and colour. But, after all the admixture, the wild pigeon of the forest, left to the instincts of nature, will outweigh it in the scale. And I question if our horses are fleeter now than they were over a century ago, when Matchem and Trajan ran at Newmarket. Mr. Webster, by his reasoning in pars. 4 and 9, shows the preposterousness of his theory of dire effects, in fact, cuts the ground from under his own feet in asking if I examined every hollow tree, hovel, barn, and cottage, during the three generations quoted in my first example, to be sure that no colony of bees existed within six miles of the apiary. Six miles, friend W. ? Where was the old lady s declining apiary in the valley? Was that so isolated that no stray colony was located within a radius of six miles? Where was the pinewood's apiary ? Was that in the centre of a forest of fir-trees six miles from an outside? Really, friend, you are arguing against yourself iu trying to demolish my simple facts. As I stated in my previous letter it was solely in the interests of bee-keepers I investigated the above, trusting to allay their fears, raised, no doubt, by Mr. W.'s bogey of in-and-in breeding as likely to produce the almost instant extinction of their strain of bees if their apiary should happen to be at a distance from other bee-keepers ; and apparently my arguments and examples have had some effect, for we have got the long distance of six miles now as a bar to close consanguinity. I hope those foul-broody drones or queens (which sex is it that flies six miles pour amour/) will not have the staying powers requisite to cover the distance hitherwards. I don't think there is anything in my letter even hinting that I was adverse to the introduction of fresh blood into my apiary ; iu fact, for several years I have introduced the same by driven bees in the autumn, and often by purchaso of stocks in the spring. What I stated, and by examples proved, was the folly of Mr. Webster's examples at the end of his letter (14o4), re the valley and pinewood apiaries becoming' extinct solely from in-and-in breeding. I am afraid the old lady was not a very apt scholar, as Mr. W. says he coached her up re ages of queens. Neither did I positively state there was no chance intro- duction of fresh blood. Still there was none by purchaso or design in my first case ; but why is my second example (perhaps it is conveniently) ignored ? Probably because it is incontrovertible (vide par. 4, lo20), from the fact of the early swarming of the bees 3*ear after year preventing the chance mating with amorous drones from other distant apiaries, from the simple reason they were not on the wing. As the plasticity of nature or its products, either animal or vegetable, is entirely beside the question, and us THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 15, 1888. is no more relevant to it than the recent revelations of minute forms of life brought within range of our vision by improvements in the microscope, those forms of life, and probably other and smaller forms, have been existent for ages, though unknown to us ; and so in centuries to come bees will exist in same form, shape, and colour, and with same instincts fulfilling their mission in the economy of nature; and I think Friend Webster will bear me out when I assert that neither the wild cherry nor the crab-apple would ever by ages of cultivation produce a ' pippin ' in one case, or the ' amber-heart ' in the other, except by grafting or budding. — W. Woodley. BIRDS AND FRUIT BUDS. [1535.] Last autumn I sent a warning note to many publications for fruit-growers to be on the alert for bullfinches, as they were here in unusual numbers. I advised catching them for many reasons in preference to shooting them, and thereby damaging fruit trees, as I know from experience that plum-trees ' bleed ' or lose their sap from the shot wounds all the following summer : I have seen the ground quite wet under trees from this cause. These birds are very easy to catch with properly con- structed trap-cages during September, October, Novem- ber, and December, but after Christmas their nature seems to change, and they will not heed a call-bird during the time they devastate fruit trees. Although I caught no less than sixty of these birds in my garden and orchard, some escaped, and my plum-trees never suffered more, some being almost cleared of every bloom-bud, which, in addition to the more serious prospect of a food crop of fruit being lost, is a great loss to my bees. 'hese birds nip off the buds at the rate of twenty-five in a minute, and as they only eat, or rather swallow, just the tiny bloom, it takes an enormous quantity of buds to make a meal : thousands are lying under my trees ; and as each bud would produce several blossoms the loss to bees is apparent. Sparrows are almost as bad as bullfinches on plums, gooseberries, and currants, but these are easier to check with soot, and lime, and cotton, on trees. In catching bullfinches, tom-tits (Parus major) frequently shut them- selves in prison, but I generally release them. I have taken three in ten minutes from one trap-cage this winter. My great objection to these birds is on account of their pea-destroying — not bee-killing — propensity. — J. IIiam, Astwood Bank, Redditch, March 6th. MORE ABOUT THE CO-OPERATORS. [1536.1 In the B. B. J. for Sept. 1st of last year I gave a sketch of my adventures ' Amongst the Co-opera- tors,' remarking, in closing, that what I saw was only a an earnest of greater things to come. This year the show is to be at the Crystal Palace on August 18th, on a scale that piomises to assume colossal proportions. The title is, ' The National Co-operative Flower Show,' and the motto (the old Cornish one), ' One and All,' must bo taken to mean one and all co-operators, so those of us who are not co-operators had better become so at once if we wish to compete, or by-and-by our only- fate will be to 'look and weep." The prize list in money and kind is some 3201. The portion offered in the 'honey ' classes represents about 10/. 10*., besides the silver and bronze medals of the B. B. K. A. Co-operators are exclusive and conservative, as well as ' fair traders.' You must sow only ' co-operative ' seeds, grow only 'co-operative' flowers, fruit, vegetables, and honey — I had nearly forgotten the latter — and be a ' co-operator ' yourself, or you may not compete for these prizes. Of course the bees were always 'co-operators,' and profit greatly by the arrangement, Co-operators are 'cute, 'cute enough to he a company of Celts. Here is a wrinkle for secretaries who are getting up a prize list. Of the general section I will say nothing, as that does not concern us so much as the honey classes. Amongst the ' special ' prizes I find the following : — One silver and oue bronze medal, presented by the B. B. K. A., and two vols. B. B. J., presented by the Editor ; the veteran firm at Southall gives a ' Gayton ' hive ; Mr. Howard, one of his new patent ' feeders ; ' Mr. Meadows, an extractor and a dozen section show-cases ; Mr. Baker, of Muskham, two hives ; Messrs. Breffet & Co. and the Aire it Calder Bottle Company give 12 doz. honey bottles each ; Mr. Parker gives 3 doz. honey tins ; Mr. Pearson, 1 doz. 1-lb. sections of honey ; Mr. Simmins, six copies of his new book, Modem Bee-farm ; Mr. Jenkins, one of his section crates ; Mr. Hutchings, a feeder, a fumigator, and a section-rack ; the B. B. K. Stores, 1 doz. 'Woodley' section - cases ; and ' Expert -in- Chief Baldwin, a smoker, feeder, and 2 lbs. foundation. Now this list means either that these various manu- facturers of bee-gear who have contributed so liberally are co-operators, or the energetic Secretary of the show is good at carrying ' round the hat.' Live and learn ! 1 wish them all a good show, a fine day, plenty of competition, crowds of visitors, no speech-making, and a bee-tent. I hope the latter will not be omitted as I shall like to be amongst the bees if I go, as I hope to. But I am running on too fast, there will of necessity be — ' Co-operative bees, in a co-operative hive, With a co-operative expert to show 'em alive To a co-operative crowd, at a co-operative fete, Where only co-operatives are allowed to compete ; ' and I am not a co-operator, and as a matter of fact only an — Amateur Expert. RESCUING DROWNING BEES. [1 •">•'!?.] In windy weather in spring many bees are blown down in crossing a pool in my garden, and as I feel sorry for them I rescue them from an untimely end by procuring some hot water in a bucket over which I place a cooking colander, into which I put the bees to drain and warm. I find a slate lath six or eight feet long best to place under them, as the hooked feet of the bees cling to the rough wood, and half-a-dozen may be lifted at one turn, a smart tap of the wood shakes them off. After draining they soon recover if placed on some- thing warm in the sun, and fly off to their hives. I rescued at least fifty to-day at one time. — J. IIiam, Astwood Bank, Redditch, March Oth. FINDING THE QUEEN. [1538.] I can fully endorse what ' Snowdrop ' (1508, page 118) says in respect to time test. I have kept bees nine years, both in skeps and frame -hives, and have driven a large number at various times, both for myself and others, and have tried to find the queen in open driving, but have never fouud her yet, not that I don't know a queen when I see one ; perhaps, my eyesight is not so quick as some people's, and having to wear a veil will impede my sight as well. So if finding the queen is one of the conditions to gain a third-class certificate, I have faint hopes of ever gaining one. I have taken the B. B. J. since 1885, and read them all through every week, and have learnt a great deal by the suggestions and practical experience of correspondents. No. 1512, page 119, advises candidates to repeatedly practise driving aud picking out the queen previous to his examination, which suggestion is very good for those who have time to do it; but a working man that is away from home from morning until night all the week through has not the time to spare, morning and evening not being always fit for driving. — J, B., Sheffield, March 15, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 147 NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- C. N. Parkin. — Simmiiis1 Large frames. — I think of adopting Mr. Simmins' large frames, but would like to know, if Mr. Simmins would kindly inform me, 1. What equivalent is there for tiering up so as to obtain the same results as are obtained with the forty-frame colonies ? In other words, can one's stock of Standard frames be used in any way for extracting whilst using the large frames for brood-nest, single-walled tiering hives being ill use. 2. How are the large frames extracted from ? The ordinary extractors would not be large enough. 3. "Would empty body-box be required below frames in summer, or would the large size (perpendicularly) of brood nest suffice to prevent swarming ? Reply. — 1. The shallow extracting chamber of eight frames is used for extracting, tiering up as high as needed. The same with usual Standard frames, using an extra rim to bring the sides of your hive up to level of large frames; then pile up the standard hives of comb. 2. If the above is properly carried out there will be no honey in the large frames to extract. 3. Use several large frames in front or at one side (nearest entrance) with starters only. — Samuel Simmins. C. A. J. — Bees Dead. — Your stock, since dead, having worked forwards, and a spell of cold weather inter- vening, were unable to shift the cluster to the back of the hive so as to get to the stores there. Had you cut winter-passages through the combs, it is quite probable your bees would have been saved. Six frames well stored would have been ample. An enamelled quilt would have been preferable to boiler felt for placing next the frames. Of course any necessary candy can be placed on the frames as desired. We believe stocks generally are very short of food this spring. Ours got their first pollen on the 10th ; the crocuses were filled with them. Geo. Murrall. — Dry Sugar Feeding. — Castor sugar is quite useless for dry feeding. If l'orto Hico cannot be got, we should certainly prefer syrup, though the former is better for stimulating in spring. Jackdaw. — 1. Si/ke-Corkhill Hive. — We see no reason why this hive should not be a success. We have knowledge of a very similar design having been tried successfully. Your alteration of entrance would possibly be an advantage. 2. Malt-wort for Feeding. — We consider this most improper food for bees. Sugar is cheap enough. Our advice is, never try doubtful substitutes, it may mean death to good colonies. 3. Kindly repeat your other question. W. M. — 1. Colour for Hives. — Try plinths white, red, green, brown, blue, alternating the various colours in different groups. These colours will give you suffi- cient diversity for a large number of hives. 2. Honey Flow. — There is said to be a honey flow when large quantities of bloom are freely distilling nectar and stocks are gathering considerably more than they con- sume. 3. D. B. K. A. Library. — The annual subscrip- tion to B. B. K. A. of os. includes free use of Library. Mr. John Huckle, Kings Langley, will receive subscrip- tion and forward you catalogue. Any of the books named therein can be borrowed by members. Borrowers to pay cost of postage both ways. S. B. Fox. — Floor-boards. — For the purposes of cleaning floor-boards, it is better to have them moveable in the ordinary Woodbury hives ; but for larger hives fixed boards are preferable : in this latter case, when re- quired to clean the boards, the frames can be moved from one end to the other. W. A. Tuvssler. — You should get pollen from elms, chestnuts, &c, and honey from hawthorn, and limes, also trifolium. But success lays quite as much in the management as the surroundings. Get your colonies as strong as possible by May 10th. W. L. Bird. — Drone-brood. — We should consider the queen useless, as you mention there being no worker brood. We should remove the queen and unite them to one of your weak stocks, then you could divide them again early in May, as soon as you can obtain a qi\een to introduce. They will die off if left alone. John Stuart. — We are of opinion that there is no law by which your neighbour can compel you to remove your hives ; but if your neighbour is disturbed and disquieted by the presence of your bees, we think it would be but courtesy to place them where the annoy- ance would cease. If ' A. E.'s ' motto, Mel sapit omnia, be correct, perhaps a present of a section or so of honey might heal the strife. Try it. Jo Rodo. — 1. Hieing Swarm. — Six frames are enough, and feed gently if honey is not coming in freely. If there is a good honey -flow, and the hive holds ten or twelve frames only, then put in all the frames with 5-inch starters only, and place the supers on at once, giving full sheets in the section boxes. The bees will store above, and gradually build out comb in the frames, whicli the queen will keep filled. It would be safer to put excluder-zinc on the frames. Set the swarm on the stand of the old stock. 2. Box Hive. — The time of the first honey-flow varies in different places. If you have plenty of hawthorn or clover in your neighbourhood, super as soon as either of these is opening freely. We should prefer to put a frame- hive underneath, with full sheets of foundation in the frames. Then, as soon as the queen is laying freely below, put excluder-zinc between tho two hives, so making the old brood-box a super for extracting at the end of the season. For the future you will then then be able to examine as may be advisable. F. Goodrich. — Transferring Bees. — Under the circum- stances, yes, on first suitable day. You might, how- ever, replace coverings with clean, dry ones in a very few minutes. Do not use smoke if you can possibly avoid it when changing the quilts. As you turn up those now on, let the new warmed ones gently take their place. You can slide them correctly into position at the last. We will inquire about the trap. Blanche, Vaueluse. — 1. Keeping Hive-sides Faclctd. — We keep ours packed with cork-dust (that in which grapes are packed) all the year round, and find it answer admirably. Keduce the number of the quilts, give free ventilation and wide entrances. A penny placed under each corner of a hive having a loose floor-board gives good ventilation. Your hives should be shaded from the middajr sun. 2. Li-regular Combs. — Combs with brood must not be pared down. As soon as the double comb has the brood sealed, place it at the outside of those which contain brood, putting a good, straight built-out comb in its place ; when the brood hatches, remove it altogether. Gradually work the other irregular ones out in the same manner. As soon as you get two good, straight combs in the centre of the brood-nest, you can about once a-week insert a frame with sheet of new foundation instead of a built-out comb. This is called spreading the brood- nest. 3. Unsealed Food. — Considering your bees are so strong, and are bringing in pollen freely, the frame you refer to is most likely food they have liquefied for feeding the brood. 4. Propolised Frames. — If your bees are not vicious, you had better scrape them at your first opportunity. 5. Moving Bees into Clean Hives. — Unless the hives are really dirty the spring shift is sufficient, but another shift in end of Septem- ber would keep them nice. 0. Weak, Queenless Stock. — Unite them to your other stock, and divide, say, in about four weeks' time. The other subjects of your letter will be treated next week. Robin Hood. — Disinfecting Hives and Combs. — There is no utility in disinfecting the hives and combs unless 148 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 15, 1888. disease has appeared in them, or they have become a fertile source of the growth of disease by becoming dirty, damp, and mouldy. A hot disinfectant in the case of hives is more effective than if applied cold, as it enters more freely into the grain of the wood and crevices ; carbolic acid is the best for this purpose. Dipping the combs into the disinfectant would have the desired effect, but they must be drained and allowed to dry before placing them in hive. Spraying would be equally as effective if done properly. A. II. — Trapping Drones. — Where a hive is abnormally- populated with drones we should trap them, but such a condition of things cannot take place in a frame-hive if same has been properly attended to. Drones do not act the part of nurse-bees ; this is principally performed by the young bees before taking their place among the army of honey-gatherers. 2. Queen's Cage. — We did not make the offer, but one of our contributors. This offer, we believe, has been withdrawn. 3. Removing colony from makeshift hive. — This can be done on any fine, warm day by simply removing the frames and placing them in the fresh hive, which must occupy the position vacated by the makeshift. 4. Removing stock from box. — You must drive them, or at least a portion of them, with the queen. The vacated hive is then .- placed upon the tops of the frames of the fresh hive, a sheet of excluder zinc being placed between them. The queen with bees are then turned into the lower hive, which must be fitted with sheets of foundation in about four or five frames, the dummy board being shifted right close up to them. All means of communication between the upper hive and the outside excepting through the excluder zinc, must be stopped up. The bees with queen will draw out the" foundation in the lower while those in the upper hive will hatch out the brood contained therein. In three weeks the upper hive must be removed and driven, the bees being turned into the lower one. 5. Ventilation of hive. — This is only necessary where a colony is very populous if you have an entrance all along the front. You must raise outer case as well and stop up space between the inner and outer case, or the bees will most likely build comb between them. J. 0. Waltham, — Dividing Colony. — On" no account must you raise a queen in a nucleus colony as pro- posed by you. By dividing a colony you materially reduce the chance of a good honey crop. Yrou cannot expect a large increase of stocks and a heavy return of honey at the same time, but if you require two colonies act according to the directions of the book you have or purchase another. Received from Mr. F. C. Anclreu, of Port Mahon, Minorca, the Catalogue of Hives and Bee-appliances. Received from Abbott Bros, their Catalogue of Hives and Bee-furniture, 72 pages, illustrated with numerous wood engravings. In this catalogue the bee-keeper will find every appurtenance he can possibly require, and at very moderate prices. Sending Queen-cells. — I beg to thank Mr. Pringle for his generous offer (1507), which I shall be very pleased to accept. — A. Sharp, The Apiary, Huntingdon. Ereatdsi.— In ' Echoes,' from ' J. F. R. A.,' line 8, it should read, * Each was fed up to 25 lbs. in Octobor, and has now a one-pound candy cake over the feed-hole.' business ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Bdrtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neota. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodlet, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B. , Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Nbeiqhour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Patornoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY. W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire. JOHNSTON. A. B., Brickhall, Ballywoolen, Killy- leagh, Co. Down. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON, C. T., Crawley, Sussex. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHINSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Steanoeway3' Pbintiko Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.O. [No. 300. Vol. XVI.] MARCH 22, 1888. [Published Weekly.] fflbxtaxhl, Sottas, t£r. THE PROSPECTS OF BEE KEEPING. Many of our readers who can recollect the pleasure derived from selling honey in the comb at 2s. per pouud doubtless feel very despondent at the continued diminution in the price of honey, and probably some are sufficiently pessimistic to not only think but say that the production of honey in the future may, perhaps, be an elegant hobby, but certainly never a paying business. Looking at the subject in all its bearings we beg to take exception to this view, and at the same time to impress upon our fellow bee-keepers that at no previous time have the bee-keepers' prospects been of such a roseate hue as at the present. Till within the last few years honey of good quality was a very scarce article to be found only in the houses of the well- to-do, and but as a medicine even there. Now it is fast becoming a necessary requisite of the break- fast and tea-table ; consequently the demand is rapidly increasing, and if honey-producers will only use their utmost endeavours to keep their honey clean, and at the same time put it on the market in an attractive form, we are of opinion that within the next decade there will be a ton used for every hundredweight now consumed. We would point to the jam trade as a collateral case. Within the memory of many who would resent being designated as old people, fair jam was lOd. to Is. per pound ; now the same quality can be readily purchased at bd. retail. Then only one, or at the most, two grocers in a town kept it, and those only tu a small extent ; now every grocer's shop, though cf the most modest pretensions, even in out-of-the-way villages, has an exhibit of jam as one of its leading articles. The firms who years ago made large prices of a small quantity now thrive far better on a larger sale at half the price. It is admitted they have many facilities for procuring several of the articles they require at a much lower figure, but labour is dearer. The bee-keeper occupies a very similar position as regards the cheaper prices at which he can obtain the necessary outfit, and it only requires the actual facts of the case to be clearly understood and fairly grasped to enable u* to achieve as great a success as our most ardent wishes could desire. It is an indisputable fact that taking, say ten average seasons together, there is no other pursuit in which small capital can be invested with the prospect of such large returns, if the bee-keeper will only remember that it is quite as necessary to thoroughly master this business in all its details a» it is for the professional man or tradesman to master theirs when they aim at success. At no previous time has it been possible to purchase the hard-eamed knowledge of others in the form of books at so cheap a rate as now. Improved methods of management, ifcc, are freely communicated and most valuable hints scattered broad-cast on every hand. This should give encouragement to the faltering and brighter hopes to those who have attained to somo measure of success. We fail to see why, if the price of extracted honey should not in the future exceed sixpence per pouud, it would not be possible to make bee-keeping pay even with a few hives. At that price every hive ought with care tu give the owner a profit of at least a sovereign either by the quantity of honey alone or by the honey and a swarm combined. This is putting it at a most moderate figure. Our most successful bee-keepers are persons who are always on the alert for anything which shall conduce to the well-being of their bees with a view of fitting them to be better producers of honey. It is needless to recapitulate here the several things that go to make success, because the owner himself is the most important factor in the calculation. It is of no use his knowing what should be done if he does it just too late. Let him work never so hard to attain success his efforts will be fruitless. In conclusion, we would say be every ready and watchful, diligently accumulating knowledge at every opportunity, manfully meeting every diffi- culty and fully determined that no obstacle or dis- appointment shall divert you from your purpose. Then shall success be your reward if your work is intelligently carried out. PRACTICAL HINTS FROM COUSIN JONATHAN. Amongst American bee papers, for practical informa- tion the American Apiculiurist bea.s the palm. At intervals of a few months an extra-good number comes from the desk of Mr. Henry Alley. The number for March is so exceptionally good that I have condensed 150 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 22, 1888. the following hints from it — which is always a difficult matter — and do justice to the writers at the same time. Several other subjects were treated on, but I have selected what I thought would be of most interest to readers of the B. B. J. Mr. K. L. Taylor aptly remarks that ' many men have many minds,' and this is as true of bee-keepers as of any class ; and while we have many likes and dislikes as to hives, appliances, and systems of management, yet we may all learn something from the ' hints ' given by others, although we may not be prepared to slavishly follow their systems. BEGINNERS should start with two or three hives, and learn by ex- perience and amid comparative leisure. To produce large crops of honey they must learn to get their COLONIES STRONG as early as possible. The one great pre-requisite for this is superabundance of stores. Spreading brood he con- siders of doubtful utility. If the bees are supplied generously with stores, the NON-MEDDLING POLICY will result in a health)' and rapid increase. Mr. J. E. Pond prepares for the harvest during the winter by getting hives and appliances ready for sum- mer's use. In the spring he examines and cleans out the hives and EQUALISES HIS COLONIES as far as possible. He gives the weak colonies brood from the strong, unites the queenless to others, but pre- fers building up weak colonies with good queens at their head, to uniting together those that are NOT QUEENLESS. Colonies must be well supplied with food, and the inex- perienced is warned that the consumption of food is very great during early spring breeding, and colonies are ' liable to play out rapidly for the want thereof.' The REARING OP YOUNG BEES must be timed to take advantage of the crop. From thirteen to fifteen days are given as the age of the young bees before they become foragers. The .golden rule of Otto — ' Keep all stocks strong ' — is as true as ever, remarks Mr. Pond, which many are apt to forget in these days of PATENT RATTLE-TRAPS, and put their dependence in 'wonderful back-action, incontrovertible, [interconvertible, interchangeable .hives ; but it won't do. The only honey-gatherer is THE HONEY BEE.' Mr. G. M. Doolittle says all work with the bees to be successfully done should bo done with an eye open to the probable time of the blossoming of the MAIN HONEY PLANTS in one's locality. It takes six weeks to build up a colony to a state capable of doing its best work on a given field of blossom, consequently you should time your operations according to your crops. To commence too^ soon is to have large numbers of bees loafing around waiting for the harvest, while being too late gives you consumers instead of producers. The bee-keeper must use COMMON SENSE in regard to bees as in other things, not only by rightly timing his breeding operations, but by using the best races of bees, and the best of queens from that race, as all DEPENDS ON A GOOD QUEEN, as far as the bees are concerned, and on the amount of brains possessed by the owner, to realise that no stone Mwittr (Jjucrjy. [5.] — Which is the best way of preserving combs from wax-moth and keeping them over the winter'/ What should be done with the pollen in them ? 1. Leave them in the hive. 2. Pile up bod}' boxes, filling them with frames of comb so they stand about J in. apart. 8. Provide a large comb cupboard and space as in No. 2. AVith the latter, provision is made for burning sulphur or live coals in a pan at the bottom, if found necessary, but this is seldom required if the combs are used the following spring. Leave the pollen alone. —Sam. Simmins. Suspend them separately in a dry, airy room, and leave the pollen alone; it will become dry and will keep. In the spring, copious moisture with thin, warm syrup will make it again available for the bees. — 0. N. Abbott. Combs of one or two years old, from which honey has been extracted, if not containing over-much pollen, may be immersed in water for an hour or two, and again must be left unturned that tends towards success if he wishes to make his bees a SOURCE OF PROFIT. Mr. Joshua Bull says, although we cannot compel, we can stimulate bees to rapid breeding by amply providing for their needs during spring, and keeping them warm, comfortable, and happy. He keeps A RECORD of all bis colonies, numbering the queens, and painting the number on a piece of tin, which he fastens to the hive that contains her, shifting it to other hives if she swarms or is shifted by any other means. His SPRING MANAGEMENT consists in overhauling each hive when weather permits, taking away the unoccupied combs, seeing that they have plenty of food, cleaning out the hive, closing up the dummies, and filling in the outside space with dry chaff or sawdust, giving dry quilts, and over the quilt laying an old newspaper, to retain the heat, contracting the entrance and recording the CONDITION OF THE STOCK in his note-book and the date of examination. Mr. Bull, unlike Mr. Taylor, does believe that the spreading of brood, with judicious management, mag be productive of highly beneficial results.'' The greatest danger lies in the liability of extending the brood beyond the capacity of the bees to keep warm during any period of cold weather which might occur. WHEN TO SPREAD BROOD can only be learnt by discretion. It is an easy matter to handle bees to death in the spring of the year by continually fussing with them, by overhauling them to see how they are getting along just to satisfy curiosity. Always choose A WARM DAY for examination, so that the bees can fly during opera- tions; and the best judgment of the apiarist must be constantly exercised as to how much room, and when it should be given, and every change in the condition of the colony should be NOTED DOWN IN THE BOOK spoken of above. It is difficult to specialise where all is so good, but Mr. Bull's article ou spring management is excellent reading throughout. — Amateur Expert. (To be continued.) * Italics mine. — 'A. E.' March 22, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 151 passed through the extractor, when, after being sprayed with thin syrup, and cleaned by the bees, they may be fumigated with sulphur and stored in boxes in a dry room. Many prefer to encase such combs in sheets of paper in order to preserve them from the moth, — George Kaynor. All combs should first be thoroughly cleaned out by the bees of any remaining honey after extracting, and in the bodies used for storifying be fumigated with sulphur fume or carbolic acid spray. All joints and openings being made secure from insect life, these bodies may he stored in a dry room, or manipulating-house, tiered any convenient height. In small apiaries, after cleaning and fumigating, spare combs may be nicely stored in a box, with close-fitting lid, sufficiently large to take two or three frames deep by any length needed. The frames therein hang on moveable strips, so that the bos mayr be filled from the bottom upwards. Crown paper lining to box, with sheet of same on top, each tier will repay the extra trouble. This winter we have kept combs in very good condition storified over colonies, the necessary quilting, &c, over latter, shutting off all communication above. Small quantities of pollen may be left and given back to the bees with no bad result, but if combs are largely pollen-stored, it is well to scrape all such pollen- cells away, leaving the midrib only. Many of our attempts to otherwise rid combs of pollen have proved futile. All spare combs which are excessively pollen- stored it is best to break up and replace with a full sheet of worker foundation. — John H. Howard, Holme, Peterborough, I tier my spare combs up in spare hives, and occa- sionally blow some smoke in at the bottom. If there is a moderate quantity of pollen in them, I let them remain ; if they are rather full of it, and I do not wish to destroy them, I just scrape them down a bit before giving them to the bees. — John Walton. I cannot recommend the keeping of surplus combs containing pollen over the winter. What could be better than a_close-fitting box, either of tin or wood, to keep the combs free from wax-moth ? A piece of camphor should be put in the box. — J. Garratt. All combs to be kept through the winter should, after extracting the honey, be given to the bees to clean, and for this purpose they may advantageously be placed behind the back dummy of a needy colony, raising the dumm}' j in. for passage. Combs containing much pollen should be given to stocks which are being fed up with S3'rup, or broken up for wax. When thoroughly cleaned and dry they should be carefully tied up in paper, putting a small piece of camphor in each parcel, which will keep away the moth, and hang them at the top of a dry, airy room. Any little pollen in the combs thus treated may be left, and when given to the bess they will soon decide as to whether it is required or not. — !5. J. Baldwin. Let the combs be perfectly dry and clean when ready to put awa)'. Hang them in a warm, dry store-room, so that the air can circulate round them, but protect them from dust and insects. Any pollen soon becomes dry, and the bees clean it all out when the combs are given to them in the spring. I have never found any difficulty in keeping combs in this way, and I always spray them with sal. acid solution, as advised in the British Bee- keepers' Guide-book , before giving them to the bees. — M. L. Gayton, MuchHadham. Combs should be cleaned by the bees after the honey is extracted, the frames should be scraped clean and hung in racks about two inches from centre to centre, and several rows in height, in a dry room or cupboard that can occasionally be fumigated with sulphur. If there is a quantity of dryrhard pollen in the combs I should melt them down. — John M. Hooker. Keep them freely exposed to the air, or wrap them closely in brown paper parcels, putting a little camphor in each. Do not interfere with the pollen. — J. A. Abbott. Presuming the query refers to combs that have been through the extractor, and cleaned out afterwards by the bees at the end of honey season, I should store them in a dry room or chamber where facilities for hanging thein in same position as when in hive, or they may be stored in the storifying compartment of the hive in a dry room ; when the pollen in them gets perfectly dry a great part will shako out, and the remnant may be left to the bees for clearance.— W. Woodley. A REVIEW OF THE BEE LITERATURE OP GERMANY AND AUSTRIA. (a.) Nordlinger Bienenzeitung , Editor, W. Vogel, forty-fourth year. 2\'o. 4. The most active contributor to this the oldest of all b;e journals i-ince its commencement is Dr. Dzierzon, the grandmaster of bee-keepers. As usual the number referred to commences with an article by Dr. Dzierzon, entitled 'The Hive Question,' in which the author dis- cusses the bees' power of acclimatisation, which enables them to thrive in very cold countries and exist e" in in high northern latitudes where the winter is long rnd severe ; it is even said that colonies of bees have been discovered in the rock-caverns of Iceland. Although this seems incredible, we have authentic accounts of the possibilities of bees existing in an arctic climate. In south Iceland there are some sheltered fertile valleys, where during the short summer months the heat become* very great, and where the bilberry and other arctic plants grow in profusion. The shortness of summer is compensated and equalised by the length of the arctic day, thus giving time for bees to collect and store sufficknt honey to last them through the long winter. As a protection for the roots of plants against the extreme cold in winter kind Nature covers the ground there with a soft covering of moss, which, at the com- mencement of winter is overlaid by a thick layer of snow, below which the temperature generally remains station- ary at about freezing point, whatever temperature the thermometer may indicate above the snow. The maximum of the climate of Iceland in summer is 26" II = 'JOj" Fahrenheit; the minimum in winter — 20° R = 13° Fahrenheit below zero. The duration of the longest days there is twenty to twenty-one hours, and of the shortest four hours. Enormous tracts of country are covered with heath and bilberries, which ripen in September. The same number of this Journal contains an interest- ing account of ' The Importance of Honey to the Ancients,' from the able pen of Mr. Bessler of Ludwigsburg, the well-known author of Geschichte der Bienenzucht (History of Bee-keeping), a work recently published. A further article refers to Mr. Ludwig Huber, who died at Niederschopfheim in the duchy of Baden at the age of seventy-four. Shortly before his death Huber's popular and extensively read work Der Dzierzonstock (The Dzierzon Hive) appeared in its tenth edition. The latter article is illustrated by a portrait of Huber. (b.) Deutsche illustrierte Bienenzeitung. By C. F. H. Gravenhorst , fifth year. The February number of this Journal contains a charming article on Flower i and Bees, by Miss Sophie Warnken, entitled ' The highest intellectual Enjoyment,' the authoress concluding with the remark that he who wishes to experience an intellectual enjoyment should ' at once commence bee-keeping, a hive of bees affording a never-failing source of pleasure; as one watches their labours in the flower-garden, or in the woods and meadows.' Then follow articles on the ' Bogenstiilper 152 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 22, 1888. at the Upper Rhenish Industrial Exhibition at Freiburg in Baden, by Mr. Roth, and ' The Dathe Hive ' by Mr. Dathe of Eystrup. It will be in the recollection of bee-keepers that the latter hive, containing three storeys in which the frames have a width of 23"5 cm. = 9J inches, was adopted as a standard for fixing the measurements of bee-hives in Germany. (c.) Deutscher Bienenfreund, by L. Krancher, twenty- fourth year. No. 3. Mr. L. Stachelhaussen of Selma, Texas, gives a de- scription of ' The Construction of the La»gstroth Hive,' as suitable for use in summer. He is decidedly in favour of hives that can be manipulated from above. Mr. H. Rabes, Secretary of the Niederhasslau Bee-keepers' Association, gives a short ' Explanation in reply to Mr. Koerbs,' with regard to this gentleman's new invention of artificial combs — a general subject of conversation among bee-keepers at present. Is this artificial comb likely to prove useful and of real advantage in practice ? The future will show. (d.) Die (wiirttemberyische) Bienenpftege. Editor, Mr. Baeh, tenth year. No. 1 contains an article on ' Honey ' from the Letters on Diet, by Dr. Job. Aug. Schilling, in which the author gives an accoimt of what has been written about it, and its use as a food and medicine. (e.) Bienenvater (leien). Editor, Mr. J'ernges, twentieth year. No. - of this Journal contains a very interesting and instructive article by Mr. E. Drory, entitled ' From my Diary,' being notes on bees during atrip round the world. The most entertaining of these are dated from the island of Ceylon, where the learned naturalist made observa- tions not only on the various kinds of bees, but also on Meliponas and Trigonas, in the propagation of which he displayed so much skill and perseverance during the time he was editor of the Rucher at Bordeaux. (/.) Bienenwirtschaftliches Centralblatt, Hanover. Editor, Mr. Lehzen, twenty-fourth year. No. 3. This number reproduces the speech made by Mr. C. Liitzow at the second bee-keepers' meeting on ' The Eyes of the Bee,' illustrated by numerous drawings. In another article entitled ' A Lawyer's opinion on the Act of Parliament of May 14, 1870, respecting the traffic in articles of Food and Drink,' Mr. Letocha expresses himself satisfied that the provisions of this Act afford sufficient protection to bee-keepers and the consuming public, as by ite enactments the former are very well able to defend themselves against dealings in spurious hone)', and the latter against dishonest tricks on the part of pro- ducers and sellers of honey. {g.) Oesterreic.h-iingarische Bienenzeitung. Editor, Father Schachinger, eleventh year. No. 2. The Rev. gentleman whose honey aerometer has been declared to be a failure in his leading article in this number defends his invention, saying that no reliable experiments have been made to justify this assertion. Mr. Franz Zavadil recommends the manufacture of artificial combs with square cells. (/«.) Leipzigcr Bienenzeitung, published by Liedlohf § Co., third year. No. 2 of this Journal contains a description of the ' Twiustock Hive, the most suitable bee-hive of all,' by Dr. Dzierzon, followed by a continuation of the 'History of Bee-keeping.' The same number also reproduces some forest regulations which were in force in parts of Germany during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. There is also an article, headed ' Formic Acid in Honey,' in which the writer endeavours to prove that this acid is a product of oxidation of the carbhydrates of plants. («'.) Allgemcines deutsches illustriertes Bienen-Organ, by Mr. Felgentreu, third year. No. 2 contains a description and illustration of the Alberti hive, by A. Alberti. This hive is an oblong box, one of the broadsides of which is accessible by doors, while all the other sides are fixtures. The frames are resting on a grating, and are kept at the proper distance from each other, and from the walls and doors, so that when the doors are removed, the frames are perfectly free and may be turned to and fro. It is also possible to take out of the hive any frame which it may be desirable to remove. (k.) Die Ilonigbiene von Briinn, tivenfy-second year. Editor, Mr. It. Bull. In No. 2 the editor publishes extracts from Mr. Denn- ler's work Das Bienenwachs (Beeswax), on the subject of adulterating and testing wax, and the employment of wax for industrial purposes. (/.) Miinchener Bienenzeitung, tenth year. No 3. Editor, Dr Haulner. In this number dronetraps are described as dangerous appliances which should not be used in the apiary on any account, as they frequently cause the loss of the queen. — Dennleu, Enzheim, in Alsace. ASSOCIATIONS. IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Annual REroRT. The Committee have much pleasure in reporting satis- factory progress during the past year in spreading a knowledge of advanced methods of bee-keeping, and in the work of the Association generally. The number of members has also very largely increased, the total being now 141, as against 85 in 1886. In spite of the injurious effects of extreme drought, the year 1887 has been marked by an exceptionally bountiful honey crop. This, however, lias had its usual drawbacks, in the shape of dull demand and low prices. Under these circumstances the Association may be congratulated on the results of the market established for the sale of members' honey ; and great credit is due to Messrs. Carton Brothers, the agents, to whose unremitting exertions the large measure of success attained is mainly due.* The bulk of the honey sold was in the form of one-pound sections. Two-pound sections are most unpopular, but the few sent were all disposed of. Extracted honey, being apt to candy rapidly this season, found so little favour with the public, that the supply had to be stopped, but consignments already re- ceived were sold at an average price of a little over 8^d. for 1-lb. bottles, and about 4±d. a lb. for honey in cans. Better results may be hoped for hereafter, if individual members will join with the Committee in combating the prejudice against candied honey, which even now is not universal. The average price of 1-lb. sections, taking good and bad together, was a little over Id. For good sections the following prices were obtained : — From January to June, dd. to Is.; July, at first, 8rf. to SW., decreasing, as the month advanced, to 6d, ; August, Id. to 8rf. ; September to December, Sd. to 8^y carbonic acid, possibly drop from their cluster to die.' This, I believe, explains the lament- able mortality among Mr. Adcock's bees. After reading what has been written on the subject, and comparing it with the results of my own experience, my advice to bee-keepers, in order to secure dry and sweet insides to their hives in winter, is : — 1. Have your floor-boards gradually sloping towards the flight-hole ; 2. Paint well the inside3 of your hives; 3. Give a flight- hole in winter of nine inches long by a quarter of an inch high. — II. W. Lett, M.A., Aghaderg Glebe, Loughbrick- land, Co. Down. HORNETS AND WAX-MOTH IN PALESTINE. [1548.] All southern lands abound with hornets ( Vespa crabro), especially such places as afford good nourishment. They thrive well in Palestine, living on carcasses and on fruit. Hornets live in communities like the bees. In spring the queen, the only surviving in- dividual, comes forth from her winter quarters — in the stem of a tree, old house, &c. — and takes possession of either an old nest, or starts building a new one, in walls, fissures of rocks, or in the ground, which she digs herself by carrying out small stones and clods ; she has to do all the work till the first young ones are out. Having pre- pared a fit place, she builds her first comb horizontally, the lower part only having cells ; she lays as many eggs as she can easily care for, and flies out to carry home food for her brood. The first workers appear in June ; as soon as they appear, the mother remains at home, having no more work left but that of laying eggs. As the workers increase, fresh combs are built one below the other, attached to the top comb by a stout central column and by a lesser side column. All is built of mud and some woody fibres ; some combs are as big as fifteen inches in diameter, and five or six combs are often found in one nest. Sometimes in August they have grown to be very dangerous to the bees, and will destroy apiaries wherever they get a chance to enter the hives. In Sep- tember they lay drone eggs in the same cells in which the workers were batched. New combs for queen-rearing are now built; the cells are a deal larger, and very often these combs are superior in number to the worker-combs. In November all workers are gone; the drones too, having fecundated the queens for the following spring, disappear. This is a good time to destroy numbers of queens at a time. We destroy every hornets' nest we can get hold of by putting fire to the entrance'; and if in the ground, open the nest by degrees to get out every one of them. Naturally enough this is done by night, as it would be impossible to attempt disturbing such a nest in the day-time, as the hornets which are out would attack you, and their long sting penetrates even through March 22, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 157 the clothes. The badgers, too, help us by invariably digging up such nests as are accessible to them ; they open the hives, too — it is the brood they are so fond of. Happily the hornets do not develop equally strong in every place, nor in every season. In 188.) and 1880 the Plain of Sharon was full of their nests ; in 1884 and 1887 the mountains of Judea (around Bethlehem), whither we take our hives for the thyme-blossom in July, were full with tliem. Some parts near Jerusalem are quite rid of them : it is there we resorted with our apiaries. Mr. F. Beaton and myself killed numbers of hornets daily at Beyrouth (Syria) in 1882. The method we them employed was by taking a board fit to handle and striking them as soon as they attempted to take the bees gathering at the entrance. Last spring we killed innumerable numbers c f hornet-queens, still the develop- ment was very strong. In 1880 — a very favourable year for hornets here in Jaffa — I put down in my diary — ' Hornets killed : Sept. 30th, 2582 ; Oct. 1st, G08 ; 2nd, 003 ; 4th, 104 ; oth, 2604; Oth, 2037; 7th, 3302 : total of seven days, 12,700.' Does not your correspondent (page 93) say : — ' In a win ile year nearly 400 hornets were killed round the hives 'i ' Hardly worth the trouble to talk about hornets ! I did not note the hornets killed either before or after these seven days marked, but during two long months have I been troubled with them sufficiently, and have taken to every possible remedy : firstly, by killing them by thousands almost daily ; secondly, by the ' Palestine dodge of smoke' (a very good one, too); thirdly, by closing the entrance of hives — the bees themeelves had no ob- jection to being shut up from morning to just before sunset, when I used to give them a chance of having a flight ; and fourthly, by putting hives with combs and honey (no bees) open to attract hornets ; by this method 1 sul- phured on one occasion over 600 hornets that had gone in to get the honey, repeating the same again and again the same day. Another good method to observe is to kill every hornet flying about from March to June — they are the queens ; are much bigger than the workers, are very easily recognised, especially later on when some workers begin to fly. By striking a queen dead at that time a whole nest is broken up. After that time they no more appear till November. A few hornets killed here and there almost make no difference to bee-keepers, as I can well assert, for, after having killed 12,790 hornets in seven days, besides having killed just as many, or nearly so, weekly during live or six consecutive weeks, I hardly noted the difference. I suppose Malta is very much in the same conditions for bee-keeping as Palestine, as we read of orange, karob, and thyme blossoms, also the way the natives keep their bees. We have single- walled hives, one inch lumber, ventilating holes, two on each side of the hive, which are made especially for the moving to and from the mountains in June and Novem- ber. We depend on orange-blossom in April, cactus in May, thyme in July, the karob is too scarce to afford any crop. Our hives are unprotected from the sun, and though the thermometer goes as far as 95° Fahren- heit in the shade, we never knew any full-built and heavy combs to drop from the heat ; fixing the comb- foundation with fat or waste-wax, to keep as long as the bees have not fixed it, has no effect whatever on the built- out comb later on, as it is fastened enough by a strong colony of bees. The bees nowjbegin building foundation combs, which we fix in the nailed frames. We have about fifteen thousand frames in use, they are made of Swedish pine-wood and never warp ; they will hold as long as the comb is well preserved from the wax-moth, a very serious enemy, which has to be combated by putting in air-tight hives or boxes all surplus combs, and sulphuring them once a-week at least during the first month, and once a fortnight in the following two months, then once a-month till the beginning of January ; they are, then, almost safe, still occasionally looking for them. The wax-moth will eat up and utterly destroy any number of combs not sufficiently separated, i.e., hang them two inches apart from centre to centre, and light a piece of sulphur, put in some old plate and hang or put it in a free space inside the store-hive or box, shutting it tightly to have the combs well impregnated with sulphur. Water is absolutely necessary (for bees) to be provided for in such places as where fountains or pools are absent ; a few hives are easily supplied with water, and bees find their way to get water, any hour, in an inhabited place. We now freely give stimulative food to prepare for the orange crop, which is coming on very soon, in fact, too soon to have the colonies sufficiently strong to get surplus by letting them develop naturally. We are five brothers, and own 080 bar-frame hives all in one place ; we move all on camel-back, each camel taking eight hives. — Ph. J. Bahlenspeuoeu, Jaffa, 7th March, 1888. CONSANGUINITY. (1520.)— VIRGIN OUEENS. [ 1 541 •.] If 'A Cottage Amateur " has never tried keeping a frame of eggs away from a stock in a July temperature, a ' Platelayer ' has, with the result that the eggs hatched, at least most of them, into dwarfs) cripples, stingless, wingless insects. Of course the experiment with me was accidental, and I am not likely to repeat it. — Plate- layer, Ruckinge, Asford. EGGS BY POST.— CONSANGUINITY. [1550.] In my letter (1.520) occurs the following passage : ' A Cottage Amateur " has never tried keeping a frame of eggs away from a stock for forty- eight hours, even in a July temperature, or he would know that it would be equivalent to keeping a hen off her eggs for forty-eight hours, and then expect them to hatch.' These observations we made upon the strength of two circumstances that came under my notice during the last season, and were as follows : Upon removing some frames containing brood and eggs from two hive>, at different times, one was in each case inadvertently allowed to remain behind the dummy-board until the following day ; having replaced them in the hive, I found that the fertility of the eggs was destroyed, they failed to hatch. I think that such a position during July or August would be found warmer and of a more equable temperature than that which would be experienced in sending them by post where, perhaps, the mail-bags may be placed in a direct draught from under the doors of a tram, perhaps travelling at the rate of forty or fifty miles an hour, which would materially reduce the tem- perature ; or being carried in early morning a few miles on the back of some rural postman ; or, perchance, lying for hours in a cold post-office. Of course it is quite possible to send eggs if they are, by artificial or other means, kept warm during transit. When reading Mr. Edey's letter upon the above subject, I fully under- stood him to mean sending frames of eggs together with adhering bees, and which 1 now believe he means. During the coming season, if any bee-keeper will re- move a frame of eggs from a hive and allow them to remain exposed to the variation of temperature which must be experienced even in July for forty-eight hours, he may safely depend upon their failing to hatch. If our friend, Mr. Boyes, will inquire, he will find that Mr. Bate's, and, in fact, all pedigree herds, were not pro- duced by in-and-in breeding. Consanguinity is resorted to by pedigree stock-breeders — which I have before pointed out — not to produce a variety, but to perpetuate certain features in a herd at the very frequent expense of stamina. He will also find that all herds are recruited from time to time by the introduction of fresh blood of the same variety from other herds, in order to prevent the ill effects of in-and-in breeding. I have advocated a 158 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 22, 1888. cross to improve our bees, not to go 'jog-trot' on the same lines as of old. If we can improve our stock — and we most certainly can — why not do it ? Mr. Woodley's advice, in the first part of his letter (15.34), to all, to write what they have a knowledge of, is truly rich, when in the last paragraph he writes the absurdity of a crab-apple producing a ' pippin ' by grafting. Allow me to inform him that it is the scion that produces the ' pippin,' and this scion has been pro- duced by cross-fertilisation before it was grafted to the crab stock, the crab stock would only produce a crab if allowed to produce anything. Grafting is a means of perpetuating a variety already produced that it may be of greater utility to the owner. — W. B. Webster. JOTTINGS BY WOODLEIGH. [1651.] I think my letter (No. 1634, par. G) will answer Mr.' Useful Hints ' in his paragraph 'Olla-podrida,' where he animadverts to my previous letters on con- sanguinity, he will see that I do not advocate in-and-in breeding. The object of my writing was to allay any fears that the theories of Mr. Webster may have raised in the minds of some bee-keepers, and to prove that his opinions in the declining prosperity of the two cases cited by him must proceed from some other cause than in-and-in breeding. Mr. ' U. II.' has kindly given an extract from a letter in Vol. V., p. 11, B.B.J., by 'A Renfrewshire Bee-keeper.' Evidently our Scotch friend was not conversant with methods adopted to keep his stock pure, or he would not have had to bewail only one instance of pure impregnation during many years, and which he imputes to chance by having an unfer- tilised queen at the head of one of his colonies. How different from the results obtained by a great master in the bee world, the great Dr. Dzierzon, who exhibited the finest amongst many fine specimens of queens at the Congress of Austro-German' bee-keepers that year, 188;!, (vide Vol. X., p. 271, B.B.J.) and asserted by Dr. Dzierzon to be a direct descendant of the first Ligurian stock brought into northern Europe thirty years before. Here is an instance of one of the first masters in bee- culture in Europe keeping his race of bees pure. As an instance of how easily bee-keepers are alarmed by recognised teachers, take the case of 'Inquirer' (1522). Here we have a bee-keeper with a stock of natural food on hand, probably crystallised sections, and afraid to give it to his bees because Mr. ' U. H.' says it would be injurious, yet a fortnight later our Editor says it is not injurious to bees, i.e., granulated honey. No wonder a new hand was in a quandary over the matter, but if he thinks my advice worth following, I say give the granu- lated honey to your bees. If in sections place two together with glass on the outsides, secured as in glazing your sections for market, place over the feed-holes of your hives, then wrap up in some soft, warm material ; and if your colony is strong they will soon clear out the honey, leaving you the combs beautifully clean, and ready for refilling in June. I myself have been feeding as above with sections that were solid by crystallisation, and have not seen the slightest sign of dysentery, and my bees have utilised every scrap of honey in the sections. It is only a reasonable deduction that if bees can reduce hard cakes of crystallised sugar that they will be able to liquefy crystallised honey ; and if honey so soon granulated, that is gathered from the seed-farms of Cambridgeshire, the bees in that locality must live on hard slabs of crystallised honey the year through. I trust bee-keepers will take the hint of Mr. Grffiin (1524) re the Railway Bates for honey. It will be by concerted action in the matter that we shall he able to make our influence felt, and with the many patrons of bee-keeping who figure in the various reports of the County Associations, we ought to have any amount of influence if the matter was brought before the different Railway C ompanies by some of our patrons and sup- porters.— Woodleigh. FRESH BLOOD.— ITALIAN BEES. [1552.] If ' Useful Hints ' does not eventually turn all our bees into Italian hybrids it certainly will not be his fault, judging by the persistent manner in which he extols his favourite Ligurians in the Journal and de- nounces our native bees ; indeed, he seems never more happy than when lauding the praises of the former and blackening (no pun, please) the latter. Now, valuable as his instructions undoubtedly are on most other subjects, on this particular one it seems to me his enthusiasm gets the better of his judgment, and he allows his hobby to run completely away with him. Don't be alarmed, please, Mr. ' U. H.' I am not going to condemn your favourites, only to point out what to me seems like a little inconsistency in your last week's contribution on this subject, which is this, that you allow Mr. Webster to give two cases of supposed de- generacy through isolation and interbreeding without a word of comment ; but no sooner does Mr. Woodley bring forth two other cases to show that no bad results had followed isolation and interbreeding, than you at once come down upon him ' like a barrow-ioad of bricks.' I always thought that ' what was sauce for the goose was sauce for the gander ; ' and there is no other reason for supposing it otherwise — except that the one case was favourable to your argument and the other was not. What ' A Renfrewshire Bee-keeper' found out in re- gard to his Italians crossing with the surrounding native bees, and what you yourself advance on the same subject, is perfectly well known to be true, and to be in accord- ance with that general law which not only enjoins, but provides for, the crossing of both animals and plants, and to which I alluded on page 145 of last week's Journal; but it is not necessary that the cross shoidd be of foreign blood, any more than that an Englishman should be compelled to go abroad for a wife to prevent consan- guinity. All those bee-keepers have to do who keep our native bees, is to get some driven bees or queens from a distance (and I have gone and driven bees as far away as thirty miles on purpose to get a cross), and there will be no fear of too close interbreeding. I have been most particular to make inquiries that no foreign bees were kept within ten miles of where I have got my cross. The very name of foreign bees is dis- tasteful to me, because I cannot find out that the foreigners take any pains to cross their bees or in any way improve them, but concentrate all their energies on producing queens in large numbers so as to reap the rich harvest of English money which awaits them ; not only so, but the disastrous results from foul brood, which followed the introduction of Italian bees into the apiaries of Mr. AVoodbury and others, should make us pause before placing such a terrible curse amongst our bees. — F. Boyes, Beverley, March YMh. (fdj0.es ixam % gtbxs. Vaison, Vaucluse, France, Mar. 10. — We have had a long and severe winter, but the last four days have been almost like summer, and my bees seem almost wild with joy ! This afternoon I noticed pollen was brought in large quantities ; the bees were so laden that they could scarcely crawl iu through the surging mass of young bees at the entrance. I should say quite thirty bees came with pollen every minute. Our bills are covered with box-trees, or, rather, shrubs, which are just coming into bloom ; and a little later on there will be hundreds of peach, apricot, cherry, plum-trees, &c, in blossom. We have also acacias and lime-trees, and wild thyme March 22, 1888.] THE BKITISfl BEE JOUKNAL. 159 abounds everywhere, as well as wild mint and sage. Near our house there are several fields of sainfoin and lucerne. Do you think these ought to yield the best honey ? What I had last year was most fragrant, and had a delicious flavour; colour, pale amber. I am a novice, and having no one here to help me, bee-keeping being in its infancy (brimstone is the fashion), I have to learn by reading and practising to the best of my ability (a poor best at present). 1 much enjoy reading the B. B. Journal, especially those passages relating to the early experiences of bee-keepers. I have only one stock at present. It was a first swarm last May ; consequently, the queen is in her third year. As I cannot replace her, I Hhall have to make an artificial swarm, and let the bees raise a new queen in one hive, but I am puzzled how to manage about the other, if I have to destroy the old queen. I have not been able to see her majesty yet. Yesterday I tried my very best, but the combs were so covered with bees I failed to discover her. One frame was so heavy I had to rest it on the edge of the hive, and while reaching for a knife which had fallen beside me, the frame slipped from my gloved fingers, and down went frame, brood, honey, and bees ! I never looked, but fled to the house before the infuriated bees had time to recover from their surprise. Shortly afterwards I was thankful to see they did not seem much the worse for the shock they had sustained. I have bar-frame hives (Abbott's); in time I hope to have some like Mr. Cowan's, as illustrated and described in his book. All the hives here consist of four planks nailed together, which form a box about ten or eleven inches square and five feet high ; two cross sticks are placed in the middle. The bees are not fed, but are suffocated when the honey is taken. All our neighbours laugh at me, and evidently think I am a harmless lunatic, but I do not intend giving up such a delightful pursuit, especially after having been stung so many times. This place is twenty- seven kilometres from Orange. It is very hot in summer, and very cold in winter ; we have so much north wind, which, I suppose, is very bad for bees. — Blanche G. [Artificial Swarming and liaising New Queen in Old Stock. — First divide your stock, ascertain which portion has the old queen, taking care the swarm has two frames of sealed brood almost ready to hatch, and one frame of eygt, which can easily be obtained in one of the frames with foundation, about twenty-four hours after it has been inserted in the old hive. Wait until the new queen has commenced laying in the new hive, say, thirty days, then destroy the old queen, removing all frames with larva) to the new swarm, but leaving eggs in the old one ; they will then raise a new queen under the best conditions. In both cases, insert a frame of brood, not sealed, into the hive where the young queen is about to hatch out. This should be done about two days before the queen appears, and at the same time destroy all queen-cells except one. You would be doing well to purchase a new queen for the swarm. Honey Supply. — We very much doubt if your prospects of obtaining good - flavoured honey could be much better than they are. We should be pleased at any time to receive notes from you on any local system of bee-keeping, and also to assist you in an}- way. We regret your accident, and hope the bees did not lose their queen. — Ed.] Tinahely, March 13th. — Herewith find postal order as my subscription to your Cottage Bee-keeper. It is quite a boon to the agricultural community, and will (in Mr. Cowan's hands) ' be up to the times.' Our Poor Law Unions here are asking Government to give each of them 100/. annually as prizes for well-kept farms, best bulls, minor industries, such as fruit-raising, bee-keeping, and poultry-farming. I think your people ought ask a like grant, as well as a Minister of Agriculture like our Colonials. liee-keeping is spreading well here, but our medicsl friends don't advocate well enough 'honey as food.' — J. Traynor. Alton, Hants, March 1 5th. — To-day the weather is warm. The bees seem very strong and very numerous. They are working on the crocuses. The weather has been very serious for bees this winter. Being so warm in January some of them started brood-raising. I find one of my stocks, a very weak one which started brood- rais ing, the whole lot are dead. It was a weak lot last season, the queen being lost or killed; they raised a new queen in place of the lost one, so I had been watching this stook to see its progress, when, to my dismay, I found the whole lot dead, with plenty of food. — F. G. Ayling. Goole, March 17th. — During the past week we have had a return of severe winter weather, snow and rain having fallen rather heavily, accompanied by keen frosts during the nights. It has been blowing a gale most of the week, from the north and north-east. We are wishing for a fine, warm day, to enable us to examine two hives that we have some doubts concerning the queens. — A. Woodhead. Forfar, March V.)t/i. — We have had a severe snow- storm here, which has put a stopper on everything. Crocuses would have been in full bloom by this time if the weather had kept as warm as it was before this came on. Bees were flying as it was, but I saw no signs of pollen being got. My bees were out yesterday too, and I had to shade the front of the hives with boards. 1 saw many of the bees lying dead on the snow, and many of them alighting on it. Food is getting scarce in many hives, and 1 have had to feed several of them some time ago with Saddler's candy, the first allowance of which was soon eaten up. I may mention that the whin (gorse or furze) has been in bloom here the whole winter. I found it in bloom at the seaside in November, and since that time here. Wishing you all success. — 1). Kydd, M.D. Streetsrille, Canada, February 27th. — Our bees in this locality seem to be wintering pretty well up to date, but the trying time is to come yet, as bees that are in the hives now were hatched last July and August princi- pally. There have been a few days this month that bees could fly in this part of Ontario. — W. Cousb. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Letters or queries asking/or addresses of manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for tlie general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt oj their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. M. D.- — Moving Bees. — Move them back about three feet every evening of such days only that the bees have been on the wing. Set a piece of board to lean against the front of each hive so that the bees may mark their new surroundings. Had you moved them, say in November or December last, they could have been shifted to their new stands direct. Inquirer. — Salicylic Acid added to Bees' drinking water, — It is highly improbable the bees would avail them- selves of 3'our kindness. D. M. — 1. Disinfecting Suspected Combs. — We should prefer the spraying as much as possible for the simplest plan, but, considering the present price of foundation, it is positively unwise to use any combs about which you have any suspicion. 2. Wiring Frames. — Cer- tainly the bottom rail will bend if you put any strain on it by drawing the wire tight. We hardly under- stand how your wire slacks if you have }-our block the right thickness under the foundation. We also refer you to page 256 of B. B. J. for 1887. 160 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 22, 1888. Kingston. — Plmiol in Drinking Water. — The bees will not take it while they can get pure water. J. R. — 1. Granulated Sections. — Cannot be restored to their original consistency. 2. Storing Comb Honey. — We presume you mean sections. They should be packed away from the light, and kept, at an even temperature of about 65 to 70 degrees. See recent article by ' Amateur Expert ' on this subject. J. Eodo. — Management of a Bar-frame Hive. — Hive a swarm on, say, five sheets of foundation. As soon as the outside ones are being drawn out, add a fresh frame with foundation in the centre of the brood-nest. Give full sheets of foundation unless you have a honey- flow at the time of hiving the swarm; if so, give i-in. starters only, place queen-excluder on the frames, and a section rack with full sheets of foundation on top at once, cover up warm, and place on stand of parent stock. Watch that they do not run short of food if the honey-flow suddenly ceases. Seven frames of brood only will give the bees a better chance of storing a surplus than ten. Give the other three at the front with starters only ; they will only build them then as they require them. We have found eggs laid within twenty-four hours of hiving a swarm, although the comb bad to be entirely built by the bees without the aid of foundation. Unless you have exceptional ad- vantages, you ought to get your sections finished and removed by the beginning of August. About six frames are sufficient for an ordinary stock to winter on. There should be about twenty to thirty pounds of either honey or syrup in these frames for winter store. We should advise you to study Cowan's Guide, also the back numbers of the B.B.J., from which you will get much help. We will be pleased to help you at any time. W. M. E. L.— Will Strange Stock Fight?— You need not fear to move your bees to the farm, neither need you fear they would kill any swarm you might buy. Bees are most peaceable folk. Ten shillings for a first swarm in May is very reasonable. Second swarms of course are not so valuable as first swarms, but local circumstances must determine local prices. No doubt if you take all swarms the farmer may have, you will find no difficulty in arranging the price. T.N. — 1. Zinc over Feed-hole. — Use tin by preference; you can easily punch some holes iu it. 2. Space below Frames. — About half an inch is quite sufficient. 2. Bees dead. — Probably cold or starvation, but it is impossible to say for certain without either seeing the hive as you found it, or else having a detailed descrip- tion of packing, relative position of dead bees, and their unconsumed stores, &c, 4. Bees Killing one another. — This looks like robbing. Try placing the hive mentioned in an entirely fresh position, and con- tract the entrance to about i in. for a week or two until they get stronger. C. M. P. — The sample of sugar may do for the bees, but you will not find it so suitable as Porto Pico. National Co-operative Flower Show. — By an oversight, amongst the prizes to be given was omitted Turner's Cottagers' Hive, value 10s., presented by Messrs. Turner & Son, Kadcliffe-on-Trent. pgusiness ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Koad, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Webster, W. B., Binfiekl, Berks. Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand, Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B. , Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. SniMixs, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER. W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDET & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS.. Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., W addon Road, Croydon. HOLE J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire. McNALLT, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON, C. T., Crawley, Sussex. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J„ Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WTrHINSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stranoeways' Printino Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 301. Vol. XVI.] MARCH 29, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (^bitorial, ftoltas, #r. PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY. Examination of Hives. The time has at length arrived when it is necessary to examine hives, so as to ascertain their exact condition. The weather hitherto has been so cold and changeable that wise bee-keepers have not disturbed their bees. Xow, however, it is quite time to do so, that they may note the condition of their colonies, and be able to settle on the course to be pursued. Have everything that is likely to be wanted ready at hand, so as not to keep the hive open longer than is absolutely necessary. Although the sun may be shining on fine days, the warmth is deceptive ; the air is chilly, and brood long exposed to its influence at this season is likely to suffer and become chilled. Having everything ready, we Temove the roof and quilts, or chaff-box, and subdue the bees either with smoke, or carbolic fumes, or carbolic-acid solution. If smoke be used, it can be administered by gently turning up the last quilt next to the tops of the frames, and by blowing in a few puffs at the ends of the frames. We prefer blowing in the smoke at the ends, because it will travel right along the passages between each of the 'combs, and will reach every part of the hive much sooner than if it strikes the face of the comb at the side of the hive. Put down the quilt and allow the bees a few seconds to gorge themselves with sweets. Then turn over one side of the quilt, exposing one or two frames, and give the bees another puff or two of smoke before proceeding to examine them. "We have also used successfully the carbolic sheet recommended by the Rev. G. Raynor instead of smoke, and bee-keepers will find its application very easy. The solution is prepared in the following manner: — Calvert's No. 5 carbolic acid 1£ ounces. Glycerine 1 J „ Warm water 1 quart. The acid and glycerine should be well mixed before adding the water, and the bottle must be well shaken beforj lining the solution. Bee-keepers should keep this solution always in stock, as it is useful not only for manipulations but also in cases of robbing. A piece of calico, or cheese-cloth, can be soaked in it, and after wringing it is ready for use. Before opening a hive moisten a goose-quill with the solution and pass, it over the alighting-board and around within the entrance. Then gently raise the quilt on one side of the hive and pass the feather moistened with the solution over the frames as far as the centre of the hive. Lay the quilt down gently, and do the other side in the same way. Then take off the quilt and lay the carbolic sheet over the frames. The carbolic sheet can also be applied with- out the use of the feather, by rapidly stripping off tho quilt and laying the sheet in its place before the bees have time to recover from their surprise. Afterwards turn up the sheet and push the division-board on one side, so as to give plenty of room for the removal of the first frame. Take hold of the frame by the projecting ends, and carefully lift it out of the hive without crushing a bee. Then raise it to the level of your face and examine it. If the bee-keeper \\ ishes to find the queen he must look very carefully foi her, aa at this season queens are very likely to escape notice, being much more active than they are later in the season. Both sides of the comb should be examined as rapidly as pos- sible, and with a little practice dexterity will be acquired, and the bee-keeper will be able to turn his frames with tho greatest ease if he carefully follow our instructions. Having the frame on a level with your face, lower the right hand and raise the left until the top-bar of the frame stands perpendicular. In this position the same face of the comb will still be towards you, with the bottom-bar of the frame towards your left. Now give the frame a half-turn round towards the right. This will bring the other side of the comb to the front with the bottom-bar turned towards your right-hand side. Lower the left hand, which is at the top, and raise the right so as to bring the top-bar to a horizontal position. Now you have the top-bar at the bottom, the bottom-bar at the top, and the comb in the same place as it was hanging in your hands when first taken out of the hive. In this way the comb is reversed, and you are enabled to examine the other side. To bring it back to its original position, reverse the operation, always taking care to keep the comb perpendicular. This method of procedure applies specially to combs built in frames that are not wired, as of course combs that have been secured in wired frames are not liable to give way like ordinary combs. If an ordinary comb is only fixed to the top-bar and part of the way down the side-bars, as is generally the case, when this is turned up, unless kept in a perpen- dicular position, it is liable from its weight to break from its attachments, and fall out of the frame. After the first comb is examined, put it gently into the hive ' 162 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 29, 1888. and place it slowly into the rabbets so as to allow any bees upon feeling the slightest pressure a chance of getting out of the way. This frame is placed at the proper distance from the division-board, and the next can be taken out and examined in the same way. Examine the combs from outside to the centre, then cover them over and commence operations from the opposite side. When all the comb3 have been inspected, remove those that are found to be superfluous, allowing the bees only as many as they can comfortably cover. Brood will be found in all strong hives. We examined some hives about a week ago, and found five frames of brood in one and six frames in another hive, there being enough bees to cover eight and nine frames respectively. These bees had been put into winter quarters in Septem- ber, and not touched since. The centre combs had brood to within a couple of inches of the end bars, and there was a good deal already hatching out, and a great many young bees in the hive. Such hives are in good condition and do not require much attention, except a little stimulative feeding to keep them going. When all the frames have been replaced, push up the division- boards, put on the quilts and cover up comfortably. Go over all the hives in the same way, noting the quantity of brood, the number of frames in each ; and if the queen has not been seen make a note of this also, so as to be reminded to look for her at a future examination. Bees require now to be kept warm more than at any other time because the nights are very cold, therefore leave no more combs than they can cover. Be sure that the bees do not run short of food, or have too much, otherwise the queen will not ■ find room to lay her eggs, and the development of the colony will be retarded. The first examination should be done on a fine day; and if the bees are inclined to rob, late in the afternoon. Do not leave the hive open long, but keep it covered with the carbolic sheet, which will generally keep robbers at a respectful distance. Clean hives and floor- boards may be given to any colonies requiring them, although we prefer to defer this operation until warmer weather sets in, as it takes much longer to accomplish than a preliminary examination such as we have described. PRACTICAL HINTS FBOM COUSIN JONATHAN. (Continued from page 150.) Mr. G. W. Demaree says, those about to start bee- keeping on an extensive scale should s lect the most suitable location. Then he goes into the most difficult question of the BEST HIVE, which really means the one he is most used to ; hut ho insists that hives must be light, substantial, and capable of being ' tiered,' adding the 'tiering up' is essential to the largest yield of the best quality of honey. The best bees, he says, are the first crosses between the Italians and the blacks. To successfully winter and have stocks strong in spring, they must have PLENTY OF STOKES, bo that they require no interference till they begin to gather honey and pollen in early spring. Then all up- ward ventilation should cease, as bees require plenty of water for breeding, and the moisture will do no harm, but, on the contrary, be an advantage. SECTION CASES should be put on before the bees have filled the brood- nest with honey, and partly built-out sections from the previous year should he pared down, till the cells are only half an inch deep, to givo satisfactory results. He also advocates leaving the honey on the hive sufficiently long to be WELL RIPENED, and that all should take pains to build up a home honey- market, and not glut the great cities and towns and bring down the price. Mr. Eugene Secor says, Inferior honey is as great a bane to bee-keepers a.i adulterated. Most of the blame for the INFERIOR HONEY he lays at the door of the extractor in the hands of the novice and inexperienced, who instead of honey extract nectar. ' Instead of a rich, oily, aromatic delicacy, whose fragrant memories will linger long after the joy has passed, he has some sweetened water that will hasten to convert itself into vinegar, as if ashamed to attempt to counterfeit what it can uever equal.' HONEY TO SELL WELL must be well ripened, and put up so attractively that the purchaser will delight to take it home when he or she has company to tea. Dr. C. C. Miller has discovered that every producer should not only use THE SIZE SECTION that he can sell best, but stick to one size, and not change without a reason, nor try to work two or three different sizes. The doctor also writes about OVERSTOCKING, trying to settle the question as to how many stocks it is profitable to run in one apiary. He finds it hard to fix tho number as there are so many factors to be taken into consideration, and at last sets it down as somewhere between 75 and 125 stocks — a pretty wide range, as he admits. Mr. Henry Alley, the manager, as the editor of Api modestly styles himself, comes last. He also writes about overstocking, recommending bee-keepers to feel their way slowly into the capabilities of their district. He also gives a few hints about developing a HOME MARKET, which are very practical and well put. To find a veteran of thirty years' standing recommending ex- perimenting need not surprise us, especially in the way of IMPROVING THE STRAIN of bees and building up colonies in spring. Foul brood, he says, ' stamp out ' with merciless vigour — bees, combs, hives, and all, and start with a fresh lot of bees from a distance. The best ARTIFICIAL TOLLEN for feeding bees in early spring, he says, is wheat-flour. He is unfortunate in being four miles from the nearest bee-keeper, as he recommends all bee-keepers TO BE SOCIABLE, and meet as often as possible, and talk over the best ways of wintering bees, marketiug honey, the best hives, &c. &c, which certainly is the best advice that we can endorse in closing theae lengthy extracts. — Amateub ExPEBXi March 29, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 1C3 USEFUL HINTS. "What more can we say of the weather ? The chief topic of conversation — the one subject of which English- men never tire ? and truly our climate affords just cause. Hut of late the extraordinary vagaries permitted by ^Eolus and other responsible deities have not been con- fined to our island home. Europe, even to its remotest corners, and America, the land of ' blizzards,' have been alike visited by ' Africusgue, Eurusque, Nbtusque ;" and blinding blizzards, with mountains of driven snow, have prevailed everywhere to the discomfort of all, and sounding, alas ! the death-knell of many. And what about our bees in all this hubbub and turmoil of the storm-gods ? Doubtless many a colony will fail to ' put in an appearance ' when May with her floral induce- ments fain would entice them forth to sip her ambrosial dainties. For strong colonies, well provisioned, in strong, well-built hives, we have no fear; but the weak ones, located in the modern, cheap (?) ' tuppenny-'apenny- 'ives ' must assuredly ' go to the wall.' ' 1'enny-wise and pound foolish' is still too much the order of the day, which we fear many will find out to their cost. ' Right here' (Am.) let us ask a question : What is the derivation of the word ' Blizzard P' We have sought all our dictionaries— some half-dozen — through and through, and in only one (Nuttall's) do we find the word given, and there its meaning only, sic: ' A sudden, violent, cold snowstorm [U.S.]' We 'guess' the derivation to be thus traced : Blind (blink, blinker), blinder, bliudzer, blidzard, blizzard — meaning literally a 'blinder.' Just ns our word ' blinkard ' means one who blinks, so ' blizzard ' will mean a storm which blinds or causes to blink. Pardon the digression. Feeding, after the late severe weather, is of the Utmost importance, and must not be postponed for an hour. Before the advent of this latter ' cold spell ' bees had commenced breeding, and serious inroads had been made upon their store. Now, with many colonies, a supply or non-supply is a matter of life or death, and those which show in largest numbers on a bright, sunny day are probably as near starvation point, or nearer, than those which scarcely show at all. The more mouths the greater. the consumption of food at this season. Often have we found our most populous colonies semi- comatose— sleepy, sluggish, languid — and at death's door in the months of April and May from the absence of food in hive and field. Let the food now be syrup, made from loaf sugar or granulated sugar of any kind, but it is not economical to buy the low-priced sugars. The following is a good recipe for syrup for spring feeding : — White loaf sugar 5 pounds. Water 3 pints. Vinegar 1 tablespoon!' ul. Salt 1 „ Salicylic acid solution 1 „ The salicylic acid solution is prepared thus : — ■ Salicylic acid 1 ounce. Soda borax 1 „ Water 4 pints. Mix with warm water, and shake well in a large stone bottle. Syrup should never be given without this solution, which is an effectual preventive of foul brood, generally speaking. Feed at the top of the hive, to prevent robbing. Any cottager may easily manufacture a bottle-feeder for himself. Take a. block of wood, four inches square and one inch thick, with an auger-hole in its centre large enough to receive the mouth of an ordinary wide-mouthed pickle-bottle. Tack a piece of stout canvas over one side of the block, and place it (canvas side downwards) on the feed-hole. The pickle- bottle, filled with syrup, and having a piece of cheese- cloth tied over the mouth, is then inverted; and its neck inserted in the hole in the block, and we have a perfect feeder which cannot leak, and from which the bees can take food as required. No shovel is required when inverting the bottle. An excellent food, used for queen- cages, and by many preferred to syrup for early spring feeding, is the following : — Powdered sugar (confectioners' ' frosting ') 5 lbs. Liquid honey (warm) 1 lb. ^Vell kneaded together for some time, until perfectly mixed. _ Two pounds, spread on cheese-cloth and covered with stiff paper, is kid on the frames, under the quilts, and will last an average colony about a week at this season. Our advice is, — Feed all colonies, weak and strong. If there is a superabundance of honey in any hive, by uncapping a few cells now and then, turning aside the quilt, without further disturbance, the bees are as effectually stimulated as by syrup feeding. Pollen supply must be continued, as recommended in last 'Hints,' for which see 'Manipulation' also. Iteration of the same advice week after week is wearisome to all, and reference to late ' Hints ' can always be made by those who file their Journals, For this reason, we are very anxious that every bee-keeping cottager should have brought to his door our monthly Adnser to keep for Ms own, and thus have it in his power to refer at any moment to any particular piece of advice or suggestion. We all know how much anything which we can really call our own is prized. What a touch of nature is there in the old nursery rhyme : — ■ ' Oh, pretty new doll, it looks fine, And its cheeks are all covered with red; Oh, pray, may it always be mine, And, pray, may I take it to bed ?' Changing Hives. — When making the first spring examinations it is well, if the hives have been fouled by dysentery, to substitute clean, dry ones in place of the damp, dirty ones. This is easily accomplished, thus: — Remove the hive under examination from its stand — or stand and hive altogether, as the case may be — a few feet backwards, or sideways, and place the clean, dry, empty hive exactly where it stood. Smear the entrance of the occupied hive with carbolic solution and strip off the quilts, quickly replacing them by the carbolised cloth. Remove the frames which are unoccupied by bees, one by one, to the same position in the new hive as they occupied in the old one. Now you have the brood- nest alone left. Remove this bodily by placing beneath the ends of the frames pieces of lath, or strips of wood, and, carrying it to the new hive, insert it as it was before. We have often performed this operation on a fine evening in April without causing a dozen bees to take wing, and seemingly without the bees knowing that any operation at all had been performed upon them or their hive. Let the old hives be scraped, cleaned, and thoroughly disinfected by washing with carbolic-acid solution — 1 oz. of acid to 1 pint of warm water — then dried, and placed ready for further use. Confining Bees to as many combs only as they can fairly cover is certainly advantageous, especially in the case of weak colonies. Their domain can be enlarged at pleasure, as required, by moving back division-boards, on either side, and inserting combs, one by one, at intervals longer or shorter as demanded. Uniting weak colonies has never availed much in our hands ; but of course mnch depends upon the queen, as dwindling is often caused by an unprolific or aged queen. We prefer taking a frame of brood from our strongest colony, and placing it in the centre of a moderately weak one ; but this must not be done too early, before there are sufficient bees to brood it well. Very weak colonies are not worth the trouble or expense of nursing. By this \ We mean those which cover a couple of frames only. If / ' such possess a good queen it will bo best to place her at 164 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 29, 1888. the head of another colony, whose queen requires to bo aiijK reeded, or to keep her at the head of a nucleus in case of further need. Queenless colonies should be united to those having fertile queens and requiring bees. Continue to keep all hives well protected from cold. Where the enamel quilts have not been given, they should be supplied at the first opportunity, and covered with several other quilts, of felt or carpet, chaff- cushions, &c. Warmth now, to breeding colonies, being of the greatest importance. Olla Podrida, &c. — In consequence of going to press somewhat earlier than usual — in anticipation of the Easter holidays — we are compelled to omit our notes under this head, but shall hope to return to the sub- jects of Messrs. Woodley, Boyes, and Godfrey's courteous letters, at no very distant date. Meanwhile, we beg to assure Mr. Boyes that we have not the slightest, wish to apply a ' sauce to Mr. Woodley and to withhold the same from Mr. Webster ; albeit, so far from classing these gentlemen under the title anserine we consider them amongst the foremost of modern apiarists. As regards Italians and hybrids versus blacks, our opinion has been formed on a twenty-five years' expe- rience. And since we do not plead guilty to riding a hobby, we do not see how it can have run away with us. According to Mr. Gradgrind's dictum, ' Facts are stub- born things,' and on these, so far as they have come within our own knowledge, our foundation is laid and our edifice raised. Stkctcb <$xixrg. [C] — If only starters, two or three inches deep, *re used instead of whole sheets of foundation, in the brood-nest, how is the production of drone-comb prevented? By preventing (if possible) the too-rapid incoming of honey, naturally the formation of drone-comb is, in a sense, accidental, depending on the honey -How — if meagre, the bees will build worker-cells as a rule ; but a glut lasting a few days will cause them to build store, or drone-cells to receive it. — 0. N. Abbott. By placing the frames at a distance of lj in. from centre to centre, instead of the usual distance of li in., and by confining the bees to as many frames only as they can cover, giving mure room by adding frames as required, in the case of newly-hived swarms. — Gkoboe Raynor. By placing the starters \\ in. distance, and having colonies or swarms in a normal state (with the queen in prime condition) to carry out the work. Unce in our experience we set up a strong swarm, which (then un- known to usj was headed by a virgin queen. Next morning's examination showed us drone-cells worked, at the lj distance, upon worker foundation. My astonish- ment revealed the probable cause, and I now espied the slim Tirgin rushing about ' all life and gay.' A frame of hatching brood was given, and the hive well marked for the queen's return from mating. Forty-eight hours after I again examined, and found the queen had mated, and the bees, with their instinctive knowledge of the fact, had returned to worker-cell production. My super crates were placed, and all went well. I mention this to prove 'No rule without exception.' — Joun II. Howard, Holme, Peterborough. I have never tried starters for many years, so cannot say. — John Walton. I am unacquainted with any way, if the arrangements are of a normal kind. Possibly crowding the frames closer together might act as a preventative, but I am not prepared to say that it would.— J. Garratt. I do not think it can certainly be prevented ; but if only a sufficient number of frames are given for the bees to cluster upon and entirely cover, in the first instance, provided food is coming in, either naturally or artificially, regularly and not too fast, while comb-building is gorng on, worker comb will probably fill the frames. A swarm usually builds sufficient worker comb for the bees to cover, and then they surround their brood-nest with drone-comb. Hence the advisability of having large swarms and crowding tho hive as much as possible in the first instance. As soon as the frames are all built out the bees will gladly avail themselves of surphu room, where, perhaps, drone-comb will not be an ob- jection. Swarms headed by young queens do not appear to be so anxious to build drone-comb as those headed by older ones. — M. L. Gayton, Much Iladham. If starters only be used in the frames it is absolutely necessary that they, the starters, should not be placed more than lj in. apart to prevent drone-comb being built. — S. J. Baldwin. By keeping the frames \\ in. from centre to centre, using Mr.W. B. Carr's metal ends, or those made by Mr. Godman, which obtained a medal at Newcastle, either of which will keep the frame! li or \\ in. from centre to centre as required. — John M. Hooker. The bees are sure to commence with worker-comb, and so long as they continue to build without a check they will not build drone-cells, but when they stop building they will not generally recommence until they are short of storage room, when they are liable to build drone- comb. Therefore they should be fed in bad weather till the hive is filled with comb, but it is best to use old foundation. — J. A. Abbott. By giving only a part of frames at first, then inserting the remainder as required in centre of hive, I have found that some swarms build more drone comb than others treated on same lines, though I cannot say yet if it is an hereditary propensity or the result of some occult influences. — \V. Woodley'. ASSOCIATIONS. STAFFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Annual Meeting of the Staffordshire County Bee-keepers' Association was held on Thursday, March loth, in the Guildhall, Stafford. Major-General Buller pre-ided, and about forty members were present, includ- ing Mr. A. II. Heath (the Hon. Sec), the Revs. J. D. Glennie, A. It. Alsop, and G. R. Bailey, Messrs. W. B. Yarde, Lieut.-Col. Mort, H. H. Pratt, J. R. Critchlow, Eliliu Clowes, II. Wood, A. W. Rollins (expert of the Association), &c. Mr. Heath read the Annual Report, as follows : — ' The work of the Association during the past year has been carried out on much the same lines as in the previous four years of the Association's career, commencing in April last v ith the spring tours of the experts, Messrs. Rollins and Clowes, in the south and north of the county respec- tively. 141 members were visited, 151 skeps and 482 bar-frame hives were examined ; and the cost of the tours was 10/. 17s. lOjrf. In the autumn the experts visited 153 members, examining 172 skeps and 572 bar- frame hives, and the cost of the tours was 10/. 4s. 9^d. Thus the average cost per member visited in the spring tour was 2s. id., and in the autumn tour 2s. Qd. ' From their reports we are led to believe that bee- keeping in Staffordshire is carried on on the most approved and scientific principles. The one feature which is unsatisfactory is the prevalence of toul brood in certain districts. This is a serious matter, and should occupy the attention of all bee-keepers in districts where the disease exists; the cures for it are well known, and larch 29, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JO JliNAL. 165 should be applied without delay, so that the infection may not be carried into every quarter of the county. 'The bee -tent was engaged at eight shows or fetes, and left a balance in hand of 12/. 4s. \NS11IKE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. At a special meeting of the Committee of the N. B. K. A., held in All Saints' Schools, Northampton, on Saturday, March 17th, called to consider the advisability of supplying the Bee-keepers' Adviser gratis to members or for a slight remuneration, it was decided to send the Bee-keepers' Adviser gratis to members who subscribe 2s. 6d. and upwards, and to cottagers paying a subscrip- tion of l.«. Sd. per annum in advance (to all members who desire to have the Adviser). And it is earnestly hoped that by making this concession the Association will gain many new members, especially among the artisan and cottager bee-keepers, who at present hold aloof from the Association, but who, indirectly, are reaping a benefit through the diffusion of the knowledge of advanced bee- keeping made known through the Associations, and those members who devote time and energy in furthering the aims of the Association. All who desire to have the Adviser are requested to send their subscriptions to the Hon. Secretary, Mr. R. Hefford, Houghton, Northampton, or the several district secretaries at once. It is also advisable to state that any member of the N. B. K. A. can have the B. B. J. through the Associa- tion at cost price, viz., 8s. 8d. per annum, paid in ad- vance—half-yearly if preferred. By arrangement the Journal is sent direct to subscribers from the office weekly, causing no delay. — A. T. Adams, District Secretary. LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Committee of the Lancashire and Cheshire Bee- keepers' Association held their first meeting of the year at their room, 2 South John Street, Liverpool, on the 19th March, 1888, when twelve members put in an appearance and unanimously elected the lie v. J. F. Buckler, of Bedston Rectory, the Chairman for the year. After passing the accounts to date, and arranging several details of work for the year, there was a discus- 166 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 29, 1888. sion whether it was advisable to make a county compe- tition a feature of the show to be held in conjunction with the Royal Manchester, Liverpool, and North Lancashire Agricultural Show to be held at Lancaster from the 5th to the 7th of September, 1888, when it was decided to set apart 151. to be offered in prizes for the best exhibits of honey staged by Counties affiliated with the B. B. K. A. — W. Lees McClube, Son. Secretary, The Lathams, Prescot, March 19th. WORCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. We are glad to be able to announce that Mr. E. Davenport, the expert to the above Association, who, for private reasons, sent in his resignation to the hon. sec, has reconsidered his position, and will continue his duties for the current year. His address will be, as before, at Tontine Buildings, Stockport. imngix. BELGIUM. If we are to judge from the tenour of a communication which has reached the Revue Internationale d 'Apiculture from M. Karel de Kesel of Amougies-les-Renaix, Bel- gium is at last not only becoming alive to the importance of apiculture as a means of improving the condition of farmers and others engaged in agricultural pursuits, but is about to take such practical stop.-; as will place it at no distant date in a lino with other European countries. We cannot do better, therefore, than place before our readers a translation of M. Karel de Kesel's communication as published in the Revue Internationale d 'Apiculture, and which is to the following effect: — 'I am in a position to inform you that our Minister of Agriculture has just approved a report upon Practical means fur spreading the knowledge of keeping bees in our country, and decided to at once give effect to the following two recommendations, viz. :— 'First. — To hold an International Bee Exhibition in Brussels in the course of the present year, of which I will send you later on the prospectus. 'Second. — To order fifty lectures to be given in the most suitable Belgian districts for successful bee-keeping. ' In order to spread as much as possible the knowledge of bee-keeping it has been decided that for this year no more than one lecture is to be given in each district. This first lecture will deal merely upon the rudiments of bee-keeping and manipulating, so as to initiate into correct principles those who have already acquired a natural instinct in the management of bees. ' The lecturer will be furnished with horse and trap. In these he will carry about with him, among other things, a stock of bees to be used for practical demon- strations at his lectures. An adequate r mount of pub- licity will be given, to the effect that a bee expert is about to arrive with an ambulant apiary, that he will bring with him bee-hives on the moveable bar-frame prin- ciple, that the combs will be removed from and replaced into the hive at pleasure, and that the bees will be seen working through glass. Mention will also be made that the lecturer will bring with him bees of several breeds, as well as bee-hives, from which as many as 75 kilos of honey can be obtained in favourable seasons ; and that, in fact, he will show them sundry bee-furni- ture of the latest invention, &c. It will also be made known that editors will be supplied gratis with a sum- mary of the lectures, together with a lithographic design of an improved bee-hive, together with explana- tions and a list of the most approved books on bee-keeping. The explanations and documents which you have sent me, showing how a Bee Association could best be organized in Belgium, will be of great assistance to me. Again M. Vernieuwe, attached to our Ministry of Agriculture, himself an amateur bee-keeper, has received the particulars which you aud Mr. Cowan have ■sent him. ' We shall soon send out to all the bee-keepers known in Belgium an invitation to a general meeting, ia order to agree upon the main point of a proposed association. ' 1 have perused over and over again all the numbers of your Revue Internationale d Apiculture for 1887. For me it has been a very useful and encouraging reading. For years I have had to do as best I could with my bees without the assistance of a reliable guide; hence it is only since I adopted, three years ago, large hives with strong colonies that I have been able to obtain satisfactory results. When I look upon the past I cannot help thinking of the many things that I have learned at my cost, and of the money that 1 could have saved if 1 had known of the existence of the Revue Internationale d'Apiculture from the first. (Signed) Karel de Kesel.' ITALY. The Board of Management of the Central Bee Association held recently a meeting at their head oiliee at Milan for the purpose of electing and reappointing honorary representatives at home and abroad. Mr. .lohn B, Camaschella, of Forest Hill, S.E., was re-elected representative for Great Britain and its dependencies. Mr. Camaschella has held this honorary appointment ever since 1877. dTorrcsuonaena. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed bj his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com* munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the piper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, rejiorts of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Reviewt £c, must be addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Oirtme, IV. C All business communications relating to Advertisements, 4c„, must be addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). *t* In order to facilitate reference. Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, Will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. THE ODOUR OF NECTAR, [1553.] I dare say much of what I say on this subject will interest tho»e who have made horticulture a hobby rather than bee-keepers, whom it affects only in a slight degree, and that little is purely of a scientific character. We take it for granted that the odour of flowers is the odour of the nectar, and that it is given off by the plant at certain parts of the day or night, more at one time than another, according to the surrounding atmospheric conditions and in proportion as it requires the visits of such animals as are useful to it in securing cross-fer- tilisation, for whose services the plant is bidding, with its seductively attractive perfume and its deliciously flavoured food, the nectar. It is only in keeping with a law of nature (affecting not alone individuals of the vegetable kingdom) that peculiar degrees of heat and moisture, together with certain unknown electrical currents or conditions, per- haps also accompanied by seismic fluctuations, produce activity in those parts of flowers which are destined to play an important part in securing for its kind a future on the earth. The ovaries, the pistil, the stigmatic sur- face, the anthers and pollen-grains, are all distinctly acted upon by the suitable surrounding conditions, and in the same measure is nectar secretion copious when an agitated, irritated state is produced by such sur- March 29, 1888.] 1?HE BKtTISH BEE JOURNAL 16? roundings. The nectarlike, perfume-laden breeze has only become so by gently brushing; about the pendent catkins and flowers against leaves and branches until the agitation stimulates an extraordinary nectar flow or transudation through the cells of the nectaries. In order to test the question as to irritation increasing nectar flow, it is only necessary to fillip with the finger the stem of a perfume-bearing plant in bloom, and the increased scent is distinctly perceptible ; the nectar will continue to be secreted by the flower so long as the atmospheric conditions remain suitable, or until its seed has been fertilised. A very interesting study may be made of the mechanical contrivances found on various plants, which are used by them to assi*t or prevent insects visiting the parts of flowers where nectar is lodged. Amongst these protective appliances I may name prickles, ha IPS, and sticky exudations, and these are generally found at the nodes or parts where branches join the stem, where branchlets join branches, and where leaf-stalks join the branchlets. Nature is far more sparing of original elements than one would at first suppose, but she is multitudinous in her combinations of those elements; products arc given which in no manner resemble the parentage. In colour, every hue is made by the intermixing of red, blue, and yellow ; every tint, from rosy dawn to golden sunset. In music we have a similar trinity of notes, the inter- mediate shades and combinations of which give us the the grand harmonious notes of thunder rolling amongst the mountain-tops, the seemingly discordant screeching of the storm rushing through the forest or beatiug its waves of wind and sea agaiust Nature's rugged breast; the sighing of the wind amongst ttie tree-tops, the weird noises through the night of the myriads of falling pine- cones, the startling cracking of the tree trunks as the rising sap of spring bursts the bark and splits the stems ; these, down to ' the utterances of the insects,' merely vary in combination or intensity, the few simple primaries of sound formation. In the sphere of chemistry the com- pounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, are innumer- able, and have become a distinct branch of study. We are shown how to obtain the most dazzling tints from coal-tar, the brilliant aniline dyes locked up in a piece of coal. We are obtaining from the same source most enticing flavours of raspberry, strawberry, pine- apple, pear, apple, &c, sweetened with saccharine, itself a hundred limes sweeter than sugar; perfumes follow- on in the same line, and all from a bit of Nature's carbon compound ; and here we come back to the nectar and its odour. Now, instead of being at the trouble — tj say nothing of the difficulty — of mixing various nectars in order to obtain new combinations, let us experiment with sprigs of the flowers themselves; you may then, perhaps, agree with me in my assertion that Nature is 311st as chary and economical in her elementary perfumes of nectar as she is in those other objects which appeal to other senses besides smell and taste — I mean colour and sound. The perfumer uses very few bases, but he builds up new scents (to which he gives startling and at- tractive names) by scientific combinations alone. Let us do this for ourselves with a sprig each of mignonette, wallflower, and garden-pink; these three, or, indeed, any other three, will give a blend, in which — if tested fairly — it is most difficult to recognise the separate com- ponents ; so it is with our honey, it is only recognisable when one component predominates over another. In order to show how the same flower (nectar) scents repeat themselves throughout nature I will give you a list of notes I made on February 20th, 1883, comprising plants — principally orchids — from all round the belt of the earth, with the associations they gave me to other odours. La'lia anceps (orchid), scent of honey. Cattleya Mossiie (orchid), two petals, seent of honey (lip no scent). Hyacinth (pale blue), like a vanilla pod or like Stanhopoa Tirgrina (orchid). Zygopetalum Mackayi (orchid), Hla3-coloured, scented like lifac. Odontoglossum Halli (orchid), like a bcanfield. Orange flower, stamens and petals like j ismine. Orange flower, stigma, of orange. Odontoglossum pulchellum majus (orchid), of May blossom. Mormodes piirdinum (orchid), of sandal-wood. Dendrobium heterocarptim (orchid), of Windsor soap. Ccelogyne cristata (orchid), of May blossom. Cytissus fragrans (yellow), like Cattleya citrina (an or- chid, also yellow). Cattleya citrina (orchid), of lemon or citron. Dendrobium crystallinum (orchid), of heather honey. Epidendrum fragrans (orchid), of plum stone kernels or hydrocyanic acid. Kpidendruui virens (orchid), of chopped hay, slightly of bergamot (like a manger). Lselia albida (orchid), of sweet honey. l'ilumna fragrans (orchid), of weak vanilla. Odontoglossum maculatum (orchid), like Daphne. Odontoglossum blandum (orchid), disagreeably of jasmine. Polyanthus narcissus, disagreeably of jasmine. Orange blossom, disagreeably of jasmine. Azaleas, of pinks. Skimmia Japonica, of Daphne. Lily of valley, weak Daphne. 1'ancratium caribba'Um, sweet Daphne indica. Criuum Careyanum, vanilla. Dendrobium fimbriatum (orchid), red inky or creasote. Dendrobium primulinum (orchid), lilac and honey. Dendrobium Wardianum (orchid), wild rose. rhalienopsis Schilleriana (orchid), of daphne indica and violets. Ccelogyne flaccida (orchid), urine of horses. (i deandra Devoniana (orchid), heather. So it is, almost throughout the floral world, the in- numerable changes are rung on comparatively few bells. With us, our honey, mixed by the bees, changes its character with almost every section where one kind of flower does not strongly predominate in bloom; and in this case, who has not found a friend who simply could not bear the flavour of honey from one source alone, clover, lime, or heather, the intensified flavour of which per se is decidedly objectionable ? A good mouthful of clover- honey reminds one of the smell of a mill-pond on a hot autumn evening, the lime, like re^in or varnish, and a comb of heather highly suggestive of a farmer's boy drying his damp fustian or cord before the Are. At- tenuated or blended, I don't care which, the same sub- stance produces on the palate what, without blasphemy, may almost be called a divine sensation. — K. A. II. UitiM.siiAW, Sbrqforth, near Leeds. NEW ARTIFICIAL CO.MB-FOUNDATION. [1654.] I have read your article on 'One-side Cell Comb-Foundation,' on page 138 of the B. 11. J. for this year, with much interest, as I had myself, when in convers.i'ion with Mr. Alfred Neighbour some six weeks ago (about Mr. Marshall's inventionl, suggested that the fixing the foundation at the side of the frame or section would fulfil the objects Mr. Koerbs proposed to obtain. 1 think the one-side cell cjmb-fouudation can be readily made by any one having an ordinary comb- foundation mill, which will answer both purpises at a small additional expense. For the one-side foundation, the upper roller in the mill has simply to be taken out and replaced with a smooth one. The sheets of wax are prepared exactly as before. A piece of calico washed free from dressing and dried is placed on the wax on the table, and about half an inch is turned down under the sheet of wax. The handle of the machine is turned round once or twice, to lubricate the under roller, and the wax- 168 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 20, 1888. sheet, -with the calico on the upper side, is then fed through the mill. Directly the pressure comes on the calico, the end turned under is embedded in the wax, prevented from slipping, and when passed through the machine, comes out with a hacking of calico on one side, and the usual impression of foundation on the other. It can, I think, also be fixed to thin board or card- board, or anything that will bear the pressure of the rollers. I have not tried to make foundation in this way, not having a mill, but I feel pretty certain it will answer. I hope some of the makers of comb-foundation will experiment a little and say what they think of this plan. The reason the bees may bo expected to build on one side only is that there is no wax on the other to induce them to start building, and as the space between the foundation is about li inches, they will_ not attempt to insert one. Nothing but careful experiment will enable us to be certain how the bees will act, and at present no opinion can be formed as to whether or not there is any advan- tage to be gained. If the bees will build out the comb and fill it with honey only, combs with a backing will be much stronger, and when extracting, less liable to break, as there will be no weight of honey on the other side of the midrib endeavouring to fly from the centre, tending to break the comb, — John M. Hooker. two coats of paint I can assure you it is not at all a bad hive, and it costs me next to nothing, and there is plenty of room to put sections on one above the other, and making these appliances is a far better occupation on a winter evening than going to a public-house. Well, after I had made this, I bought a swarm the beginning of June 1886, for which I paid twelve shillings, and put it in. The first year I took nine pounds of honey from the bees, and showed it at our local show, got a prize of two shillings, and sold my honey for nine more shillings. I thought I was getting on famously. When 188? came I had iuy one stock strong and healthy, and on June 15 it threw out a swarm; and such a swarm it was, it weighed six pounds of bees good weight, and I hived them in another of my own manu- facture, and let them stand about a fortnight and put on some sections, which were soon rilled ; and from my swarm I took twenty-four sections and a glass ; the glass weighed a little over four pounds, and I sold from both my hives over two pounds worth of honey at tenpence a pound, and have both my stocks strong and healthy ready for 1888. — A Cottager. BEES FOR PLEASURE AND PROFIT. [1555.] Seeing in your first number of Adviser, which I by chance got hold of, that you would gladly correct any mistakes, &C, and put in shipshape any commentary which you might receive from any cottager, I gladly take the opportunity of giving [my little experience in bee-keeping. I have received very valuable assistance through Gardening Illustrated. I started some six or eight years ago, and of course with the old-fashioned skeps, but I did not succeed, for after a year or two all my bees died, and so I determined to try a.bar-frame, so I bought]an|old one for five shillings as a pattern, as I wanted my bees more for pastime than anything else. I determined to make all my own hives and everything connected with them. And this is how I proceeded : I got an old tea-chest, which is inside measurement 16j inches square, then 1 made a false bottom and cut a slit in one side for an entrance for the bees, 6 inches long by half inch wide. Of course the tea- chest not being thick enough to keep out the winter, makes it require the extra bottom; then I take two pieces of wood (I do not mind about thickness), cut them 10j inches long, and 85 inches deep, and nail them fast inside and outside about one inch from front and back. Of course the front one must have a little taken out at the bottom for an entrance. Then I take two other pieces of wood, 8£ inches deep, and cut them just to fit so that they can be moved backwards and forwards at pleasure. This makes my hive like two boxes, one inside the other, the inside one being about an inch smaller than the other ; the ad- vantage of this is I can stuff a piece of sacking, or hay, or sawdust, down the side for winter. Then I make my own frames, I make them of such size first to allow quarter of an inch betwixt the side of the hive and the frame ends so that the bees can pass at the ends of the frames ; and I make them &\ inches deep : I find I can get seven frames in such a hive, which is sufficient to keep the stock through the winter. 1 had forgotten the landing stage. Well, I nail a piece of wood in front for landing, and a piece above slanting downwards to shade and cast off the wet, then I make ends for the roof and take three pieces of board like most wooden hives one sees, and my hive is complete except the painting. Of course it requires a certain amount of putty, and with ARTIFICIAL FECUNDATION. [1556.] As a skilful bee-keeper here in Denmark Mr. P, 0. Berg, Torring) has in the last two seasons tried some very interesting experiments in this direction, I shall relate these to you, as they may, perhaps, lead to some very important discoveries on this head. Mr. Berg's experiments were made at the same time as i Professor MacLain's in North America, but without his knowing the latter, and the former are in several respects better arranged. Mr. Berg has not caught his drones among the multitude of drones in a strong stock (as did Mac- Lain), but at the entrance of the hioe, at the moment when the drone intended to take a wedding flight. This accounts for MacLain's complaint that most of his drones were not fit for the purpose, while with Berg every one of his was suitable for fecundation. He seizes the maiden queen by her wings with the thumb and forefinger of the left hand. In this situation the queen will bend her abdomen downwards towards the thorax. Then ho seizes with the right hand thumb and forefinger the drone on both sides of the thorax, and cautiously pressing the abdomen, the desired effect is produced, and fecundation may be accomplished. Mr. Berg tells us that the queen when released will disengage herself in some fifteen minutes. He has in this manner artificially fecundated six queens in the season'1880, and four in the last season, and in all ten cases with an excellent result. As these very remarkable experiments, if they are i confirmed, undoubtedly will lead to very important pro- ! gress in apiculture — that is, to an easier and more sure ' fecundation of the queens — I hope that you are willing to acquaint your readers with them through your I valuable Journal. — Hans Ebslev, Editor of the Danish Bee Journal. QUEEN-RAISING. (1500.) [1557.] ' A Cottage Amateur,' in writing on the the above subject, appears anxious to put the matter on a practical footing, so that all may be ready when the host of bee-keepers will be wanting cells and young queens for expected swarms. This is all right, and as it should be ; but the next question, ' What will such a comb cost ? ' is a matter for consideration, the more so as ' A Cottage Amateur ' so pointedly refers the question to me, as the writer of the previous article. Now, I am quite willing and ready to quote on learning his bona fides, but the mere thought of naming prices in these columns, sacred to correspondence, is enough to shock March 29, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 169 any manufacturer, not to mention our courteous editor. If ' A Cottage Amateur ' will write his name and place of abode on a post-card, I will then tell him in whose catalogue he can find the prices of ' Wired combs con- taining brood, eggs, &c.,' first published in 1884. As eggs only are wanted in this case, if he deducts, say, o3£ per cent, or one-third from the value of a comb in its normal condition in the brood-nest, he will arrive at a fair price for what is asked. Again, if he wants same comb to contain eggs from different queens — say, Syrian or Cyprian on one side, and Carniolan on the other (and, by the way, this cross will be hard to beat for business) — let him then add one-third to these figures, and he will then arrive at ' What such a comb will cost.' — John Edky, St. Neots. [This letter should have appeared in our last issue. — Ed.] HONEYED EOOD. [1558.] The aim of your new venture would, mayhap, be furthered by the gathering together of receipts for eatables in which honey forms a part. In the hope that you will find room for such, and that others of j'our readers will add to the stock, I send the following by way of beginning: — In Miss Gordon-dimming s Wanderings in China, wherein she describes a Chinese dinner, occur ' ham stewed in honey,' and ' pears sliced in honey,' ' crab- apples and chestnuts preserved in honey and dried.' We are not told what kind of pears are used, but our stewing pears seem suitable. It does not appear whether the ham is cured, or stands for ley ; but perhaps the latter, for we have it, in his own Confession, that St. Patrick found fresh pork seasoned with honey so luring that he ate more of it, than was good for him. Being on board ship, where they were short of provisions, at last they fell in with a herd of swine, of whom, killing many, they ate their till, seasoning the meat with an opportune find of wild honey. As might be expected, St. Patrick had night-mare. This was not due to the honey, but to the surfeit of pork to a starved stomach. "Your readers are advised (1) to try such of the Chinese dishes as they have a chance, and (-!) to take warning by St. Patrick.— G. O. Whay, LL.D., Bedford, March 22. DRONES. [1559.] Since writing my last article I have had the pleasure of seeing the first volume of Mr. Cheshire's ad- mirable contribution to the Physiology of the Honey-bee. Without defining the time when the drone is disposed to mate, Cheshire demonstrates, microscopically, that it must be at least several days old ; and my observa- tions show that sexual desire comes much later. Mahan, as stated in my work, first made the im- portant observation that drones, leaving the hive to mate, have a large supply of honey, which is found on their return to have been almost entirely consumed. I failed to ascertain how many marital excursions drones would average in a single day ; but as they are often flying about three hours in favourable weather it is probable that they make three such trips at least. To do this they must consume twice as much honey as a swarming worker that carries off in its honey -sac almost a week's supply. The importance of preventing any overproduction is therefore obvious without any further comment. Let me here make some suggestions to those who aim to exclude all drone-comb from most of their stocks. I say suggestions, for, after having been pre- cluded by sickness from the practical management of bees for most of my time during the past fifteen years it would ill become me to speak in too confident a manner. In limiting the production of drones to just as few as we think will be needed for tb.3 fertilisation of our queens, may we not err against that wise precept, ' There is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want ? ' It is easy to take for granted, that every bee in a healthy populous colony will do all that it can to enrich its home, even in the entire absence of any drones ; so it is easy to assume that every wo;ker in an artificial swarm will work just as well as it would in a natural one; but who, after a large experience with both methods, can deny that, for the production of comb honey at least, the natural swarm lias that spur in the head which it never gets from our artificial processes '? 'jls it not reasonable to think, that, for its highest pros- perity, every colony of bees should be in a normal, that is to say, a natural condition Y What can be more certain, than that strong colonies with few or no drones, in the very height of the honey-harvest, when such colonies show that they crave them so much, are not in a condition which stimulates them to do all that they are capable of doing ? Their owner may know that, in the apiary, there are drones enough for all needed purposes ; but how is he to impart this formation to his droneless colonies, when, by the fiat of the Creator, every healthy stock seeks to be in a condition that would be best for it, if there were not another family of bees on the face of the whole earth ? So far, therefore, from grudging to any colony a goodly number of drones, I prefer to see that one-third of one central comb in each stock hive has choice drone-cells. I will conclude this article by giving some facts which show that, to ensure the mating of queens, many more drones seem to be needed than are commonly thought enough. During the period of my observation in 1885, adrought had so cut off the secretion of honey that I had no reason to suppose that any drones could be found for the mating of my queens, except such as I had bred, and kept alive by daily stimulative feeding. For over two weeks 1 had more than a dozen young queens which flew nearly every day, and some of them, I knew, made several excursions on a single day. I had over two hundred drones, and yet only one of those queens laid any eggs. When the weather became too cool to expect any favourable results, I found, by dissecting the other queens, that none of them had mated ; yet when my apiary was largely devoted to queen- breeding, and I had thousands of drones, I had good success at the same season, under circumstances in to respects more favourable. — L. L. Langstroth, Dayton, Ohio, Feb. 10. (Gleaninys.) CHEAP AND EFFECTUAL FEEDER. [1560.] Take a common round tin coffee-canister, stick a piece of rough brown paper on the bottom, to give the bees foothold, and with a darning-needle lightly tapped, make a tiny hole (or holes, as required) through the brown-paper and bottom of the canister, place it over the feed-hole in the board, remove the lid of the canister, and pour in syrup as and when required. There is no need to remove the canister to replenish the syrup. It will only have to be taken off if it is required to make more holes, or to stop a hole with a fine wooden peg. Cover the canister with a good-sized flower-pot, with the hole stopped. This answered with the writer last autumn as well as the regular feeders, and cost practically nothing, and it was thought that the bint might be acceptable to those who have to take care of the pence. — T. H. H. A SMALL COTTISWOLD APIARY. [1561.] I have been a bee-keeper more or less since March, 1871, also a slight contributor to the B. B.J. in its early days. In 1875 I had some forty stocks in Woodbury hives : I had purchased eight Ligurian queens, joining seven successfully, and had bred queens from them, but could not keep them pure. This year 170 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 29, 188$. (1875) wa9 fine until June, and they increased fast; then it set in wet until September, and I had to feed them all from July onwards. In the autumn foul brood appeared, and I lost them all ; since which I have kept a few stocks of Blacks. In 1876 I came to the conclusion that the ' Woodbury' would be better deeper, that a strong stock required more brood space; so I experimented on two stocks by deepening the frames to 1(H inches ; last summer No. 4 stock, which had wintered on eleven of these frames, and No. 2 on eight, each gave me somewhat over 100 lbs. of honey in 1 lb. and 2 lb. sections and other supers, leaving them a winter supply ; besides which No. 2 worked out the three frames of foundation. Finding these two were my strongest stocks last spring, I iifted up three more and placed similar hives (only containing ten frames instead of eleven, and which 1 have christened the ' Bannut Hives ') under them. They treated the upper ones as supers, and drew out the foundation and filled the Bannut hives with brood and honey, and, so far, have stood the winter well. Besides these five I have one Woodbury containing three driven stocks, and one skep containing one driven in July last ; they gave me last season •'! cwt. of honey, the surplus of •which I disposed of at dd. per pound. I do not, as a rule, allow them to swarm, and if I want a swarm I make one out of two hives, as recommended by Lang- stroth. I do not find a ready sale for honey in sections, and generally extract it, leaving stock hives undisturbed. I make my own hives and appliances, place the hives on separate fixed stands, with loose floor-boards and outside cases fitting over the stands, and very similar to an ilustration in II. B. J. of April 8th, 1886, on doubling. I keep these outer cases on always, well painted, lower- ing them to top of hive in autumn. The air circulating round the hive keeps it dry. The hives are not painted, live inside planed, and the outside left rough. The honey-flow last year lasted about five weeks. My principal object in writing to you is to relate what seems to me an extraordinary occurrence. On the 0th February last, being a fine, warm day, the bees were flying freely ; and as I was watching them with great interest I heard the buzz of a drone, and saw one enter No. 2, amongst rather a large flight of young bees ; and on 6th inst. I saw another in the same hive, and on the 14th two drones. The queen is one of 1886, and a very prolific one, and the hive well stored. Last September a small swaim (perhaps a pint of bees) came and settled in a small bush. I put them into a three-frame nucleus hive witli some honey, but they would not stay. I hived them three or four times; my hees cleared out the honey, and I found the queen — a very small one — dead. Next day I think most of the bees joined my hives. I have tried the Ligurian, but did not find them better honey-gatherers than the black ; the largest surplus I got from one of them was 70 lbs. in supers ; and as to the first cross with the blacks, I had to put on veil and gloves, and still got quite used to the stings; but with the blacks I find a whiff of tcbacco or a little carbolic suffice ; and I am satisfied with the returns, and then they cost but little. — Fkitz. A VOICE FROM A COTTAOER. [1562.] I have been keeping bees for several years on the bar-frame principle, having obtained the book of Modern Bee-keepiwj, and started to work and made all my hives (of course they were rather rough at first, being a bootmaker) from old packing-cases, which I bought cheap, and have been very successful every year obtaining first prizes at several of the shows. The first year I began I think I must have been very venturesome, hot having seen any honey in sections or bottled for show. I bought one swarm, took sections off top, and extracted from the lower frames. I entered at the Romsoy Horse and Poultry Show, and was fortunate enough to obtain two prizes. Mr. Editor, I am glad to see we have a journal that will come within the reach of everyone, and, by what I see of your first number, it is likely to bo a very useful one. I hope it will be taken in largely. I hope the cottagers will take it in, and well study it and work from it, and see if they cannot find a much better plan than the old sulphur pit. I was pleased to see the account of the Village Blacksmith. In a place like this one has to do the best he can ; there not being anyone keeping bees on the bar-frame principle for upwards of twenty miles round. We can get an expert twice in a year by paying a small sum, which one is loth to part with in these times. I have in all twenty stocks, that being my number last year. Being the most experienced in bee-keeping about here, I go to some of the people round to assist them, and am willing to tell them what little I know. I went to a friend last year to look at some bees just in the height of the honey season, as he was in difficulty about them, the distance being about eight miles. When I reached there and looked into his hives, to my disgust I found some of his hives not made up full of frames, also supers put on, and no covering at all placed over. Some sections were well filled, some 4j by 4i by 2 were filled to the weight of two pounds, no dividers beiag used, some dividers only half wide enough, some crooked and broken. The bees had taken possession of the roof of the hives, and had put in a lot of honey. I asked him the reason that no coverings had been used. His answer was no one had told him, and also he had not seen any instructions in any book. The clergyman here used to take tho Bee Journal in, and lent it to me. I thought it a most useful journal, but being too expen- sive I could not afford to take it in. Do you think that at these shows if a bar-frame hive was shown full of comb and bees and supers on, and show the cottagers how they are managed, it would bo of service towards getting them to take to the new method ? — Village Shoemaked. [We think such an exhibition would be of great service at a show, and would be a practical lesson to the spectators — Ed,] PHOTOGRAPHIC GROUP OF BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS. Abbott Brothers are preparing a large photographic group of the most eminent bee-keepers in the United Kingdom, and they would be pleased to receive any assistance from those who take an interest in bee- keeping, so that the group may be rendered as represen- tative and as complete as possible. Lecture on Bees and Bee-Keepino.^-Ou Monday, March 12th, an instructive and interesting lecture was delivered by Mr. W. J . Anstey (Oxford Secretary of the Oxfordshire Bee-keepers' Association), in the schoolroom, Yarnton. The room was quite full of villagers. The Rev. J. A. Balleine, Vicar, presided. A large supply of appliances were on view, and the lecture was illustrated by diagrams and dissolving views. Leicestershire Bee-keepers' Association. —An interesting lecture in connexion with the above Association wasdelivered at Sheepshed,near Loughborough, on March Kith, by Mr. J. II. Howard. Mr. Ward occupied the chair. Much interest was shown by a very attentive audience. At the close Mr. W. P. Meadows advocated the cause of the Association and the good work they were doing, and advised all interested in lee-keeping to join, so that more funds might be placed at their disposal, and more lectures, &c, given. The more general use of honey was also advocated, and the advantages it possessed as a food and medicinei March 29, 1888.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 171 depots from % Jibes. York, March 17. — I have done and will do uiy best to promote the circulation of your monthly Journal ■which was much wanted, and ought be extensively sub- scribed for. — J. II. Llanerch, March 18. — Weather exceedingly cold, with north-east wind, and an occasional shower of snow, the bees are kept in ; and I think that those hives that have bred freely during February will lose a lot of their brood. During a heavy storm of wind and rain that passed over this county on the 9th instant, some of my hive-covers were blown off and the quilts got ■wet through, so in giving them dry warm quilts I could not resist the temptation of examining them. They had brood on several frames, one had five frames well covered with brood, several of which were hatching out while I held the frame in my hand. My stocks, fifty in number, have wintered well so far, with the exception of one Italian hive, which is suffering from dysentery. This hive suffered the same last year, and I had to unite it to another, and being in too much uf a hurry to unite properly, the other bees (which were blacks) killed all the Italian workers, but kept their queen and killed their own. I find the Italians difficult to winter. — II. P, Jones. East Yorkshire, March 20.— Bluff Iioreas breathes his bitter, biting, baneful bla-st, Blizzarding with icy breath all plants and trees — Bold Frosty Jack in iron grip holds fast Benumbed Nature, Blighting for the present hopes of men and bees. — ■ F. Boyes. Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, March -Since my last, the weather has been very severe, with scarcely any exception. The north-east wind has been like a two- edged_sword, cutting every way. In the early part of last week, I was looking round amongst the hives, and noticed one stock with a lot of dead bees at the entrance, I uncovered them, and found 1 was only just in time to save them from starvation. I took them into my honey place, and got a paraffin stove and warmed it, and poured a little thin warm syrup on the bees, when they soon began to show signs of reviving ; then I placed a bottle of syrup over the feed-hole, which was taken down during the night, and next day they were as right as any of the others. In the autumn I had placed them in a hive composed of two sections in height, six inches in depth each of them ; and as they were on Standard frames they did not reach the bottom within about three and a half inches: but at the time I placed them in I considered they had honey enough to winter on, it may have been that the empty space caused them to consume more food. At all events I do not think it advisable for so much space to be left. The 21st was a lovely day, causing the bees to be very busy, and they were out very much after water and on the crocuses, also the pea- flour, which they went in for in great numbers. As it was a bit milder I looked over all my other stocks, feed- ing any that I could not see with sealed food in the combs when I uncovered the quilts, but not separating the combs. I consider I was very fortunate in thus doing, as on Sunday morning we had a deep snow, and it was also very cold, though it soon melted. Then again last night and this morning there was more snow, and as I had looked them over and fed where I considered neces- sary, I can feel comfortable about them and not be afraid any more that they will be liable to starve. As far as I could see, stocks seem in good order, more especially as we have had such sharp weather. Have been busy of an even- ing getting extra hives, &c, made. — John Walton. Sutton, Hudbg, Yorkshire, March 20. — We have had very bad weather sinee January, only had two cleansing flights in about eight weeks. Snowing almost every day, but we have not had very hard frosts. Bjes wintered very well so far, I only kmw of about throe or four stocks dying in the district. I wish the weather would break up so as we could make a thorough examination to see if they have plenty of stores. — John Baixbiudoe. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS ft INQUIRERS- Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon. dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giuing such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt oj their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal nterest will be answered in this column. A. B.— Bees proving a Nuisance. — ' In the event of the gentleman and his friends getting stung,' we consider that the question of nuisance, should be determined by your views of neighbourly courtesy. It may be that your neighbour has no right to compel you to move your bees, but as in the course of events humans are penetrating into, and reducing, the domains where bees had once the priority of range, the result will h I that the latter must succumb and go farther a-flelJ. Your bees, however, may not prove the nuisance you seem to anticipate, and therefore there is no reason to cross the bridge before you reach it. Joseph Brine. — Honey-comb Designs, — You will find a communication, with illustration, on honey-comb designs in B. B. J. of May 1-th, L837, from William M'Xally, Ulenluce, and in number for May li'th, the advertisement you are in search of, from Kichard M'Nally, Longforth, (ilenluce. Geohue E. ConnYN. — 1. Excluder Zinc. — In Mr. ( 'o wan's pamphlet on Doubling and Storifying, he says : ' We have long since discontinued to employ excluder zinc, as we have found it interfered with the work of the bees, and that we always got much more honey without its use than with it. 2. Carbolic Cloth Recipe. — li ozs. Calvert's No. 5 carbolic acid, 1J ozs. of glycerine, 1 quart of warm water. The acid and glycerine to be well mixed, and the bottle to be well shaken before using. The cloth should be steeped in the solution, wrung dry, and spread over the hive on removal of the quilt. II. Inston. — Apply to Mr. J. Huckle (Secretary of the Herts B. K. A.), Kings Langley, Herts. Alex. Jack. — Sections in travelling by rail have a strange tendency of having the combs broken and separated from the wood. We should advise you to use in future a spring travelling crate : this holds twelve 4j x 4j x 2 in. sections, and it is fitted up com- plete with glasses, springs, dividers, &c. Thanks for your kind wishes. J. J. Shipman. — Foul Brood Solution. — The proportions given in Guide Book are quite correct. No. 8 being one ounce toone pintof water equal in round numbers toone in twenty. No. 9 is one ounce of No. 8 to one pint of syrup, also one in twenty, consequently there is one of absolute phenol to four ounces of syrup. l'oucan get phenol in crystals for about 3s. Gd. a pound, and make your own absolute phenol, and then you will be cer- tain to have the proportions right. The crystals are taken by weight, and in all cases of solutions the measures are fluid measures. Twelve ounces of pure phenol crystals dissolved in three ounces of water make the absolute phenol No. 7 in Guide Book. We do not know why Mr. Cheshire adopted the plan of introducing the phenol cure in the manner he did, but presume a certain mystery attaches to the preparation, and bee-keepers were obliged to procure it through the medium of dealers( and were supposed to only get the 172 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 29, 1888. genuine thing if guaranteed by Mr. Cheshire. We think every bee-keeper should make his own solution, and if he will purchase the pure phenol crystals and carry out our instructions, he will see there is no such mystery about it, and that he will effect a considerable saving, and pocket the profit. W. W. — Mode of fixing Foundation. — Appears a good idea, but turn the prongs the other way. Llancaiach. — Baubling. — We have had excellent results without any excluder zinc between. Some prefer placing the top set at right angles to the lower set. About three-eighths of an inch is sufficient space between upper and lower. The stock referred to can be increased to the extent you wish with good manage- ment. Uncap some of the honey in the hive to stimu- late them to breeding. The pollen referred to can be given to your remaining stocks. Jo. Ro. Lo. — Answers will appear in our next. J. Cubbie. — The comb sent is very suspicious. We should advise you to destroy it. H. S. H. — Transferring. — This is not the time to transfer bees from a skep to a moveable-comb hive, and any interference now they would not get over until quite late in the season. We would strongly recommend that the bees should be left in the skep until they show signs of being crowded, when an artificial swarm could be made or the skep could be placed on the top of the frame-hive (as you suggest), which must have full sheets of foundation in the frames, or they will build a large proportion of drone-comb in them. If the skep is a bought one, or is not in the exact position it is wished the frame-hive to stand, it should at once be placed there just before dark; a piece of board should be put before the hive that the bees leaving may take notice of the altered position of things, and so find the hive on their return. The bees will be better able to keep up the warmth of the skep, and will increase faster than they would in a larger hive, and with increased numbers and fine weather, will soon make up for the delay in being placed in it. Query.— What is the experience of those who have used ' Heddon's ' or other invertible frame-hives, during last season P Give results. — A. T. A. Keceived from Messrs. Abbott Brothers two samples of fancy cardboard boxes for holding sections, lined with tinfoil, which will render them honey-tight, and capable of being washed. Amebican Cloth Quilts.— I have tried these for the first time this winter, and find them not nearly so good as the old bed-tick ones — those colonies wintering under them have lost far more bees from death than those wintered on the old-fashioned plan, especially have large numbers of dead bees been thrown out after severe frosts — out of all proportion to what have been ejected from hives with ordinary quilts and chaff-cushions. — F. Boyes. ^Business ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol. Bakes, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchurch St. Bubtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. P., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Mbadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holbora. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Boad, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn, FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E. Meadows, W. P. , Syston, Leicester. Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent &. Oo., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Bookseller^ and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER. W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street. Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE J. R. W., Tarrlngton, Ledbury, Herefordshire. McNALLT, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON. C. T., Crawley, Sussex. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J„ Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHINSHAW, A.. Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. British Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stranoeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 302. Vol. XVI.] APRIL 5, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (&hitaxhlt Sottas, tit. IN-AND-IN BREEDING. ' To breed from closely related animal of the same stock.' — Webster. Our valued correspondent, Mr. W, 15. Webster, favoured us recently (pp. :j;J, 48, 61) with a series of articles op ' Consanguinity,' the gist of his argument being, that it is detrimental to the interests of the bee-keepers whose object is to ' make his bees pay,' if ho force (or allow) them to continue inter-breeding in near relationship, and that to prevent as much as possible this consanguinity it is advisable to import (not necessarily from abroad) new blood into the apiary occasionally — Cela va sans dire. Truly our Journal has been read to little purpose these many years if it has now become necessary to hammer this fact ho.me to British bee-keepers of 1888. It is well said that ' Nature abhors self-fertilisation,' and she takes sure steps to prevent it all through the range of animated things, from the bacterium to the elephant, from the jelly-fish to the oak. In the botanical world we are astounded at the devices made use of by the plant, under Providence, to prevent self-fertilisation, or any reasonable approach to consanguinity ; and as our honey-bee is perhaps of all agents the most-used cross- fertilising instrument, surely bee-keepers ought to be the last to deny her the benefits of a system by which she confers good upon so many varieties of beautiful and useful plants — benefits palpable to every thinking mind. Even atheists admit the operation of great fundamental laws which pervade the whole of the animal and vege- table kingdoms, one of which is that of which we are speaking, e. g., that in-and-in breeding is deleterious, and cross-breeding beneficial, if we seek for the development of higher powers. When we instance the breeding of domestic animals in support of the in-and-in breeding argument, we stultify ourselves by admitting an imper- fect acquaintance with the customs of breeders. The Chillingham wild cattle have been mentioned, but these animals, through continued in-and-in breeding, have de- generated (so we were told by a recent eye-witness) into a herd of only some fifty or sixty comparatively small animals. In breeding short-horns the parentage is so arranged that consanguinity in a near degree is avoided. The very particular animals themselves, so much prized by connoisseurs, are the results of studied crosses, the original of which are resorted to at times for the re- importation of typical points. We are sorry to find Mr. W. Woodley the parent of the following remarks on page 00 : — ' I feel sure that in- and-in breeding does not deteriorate the race of English bees as regards their size, working qualities, or prolific- ness, though it should run on decade after decade, generation after generation;' and we think he will, after a little further investigation, admit his error, or that ho misunderstood the meaning of the term in-and-in breed- ing as used by him and Mr. Webstor. It is too lato in the day to doubt the firmness of the ground on which Mr. Webster's articles are based, now that we obtain 'honey by the hundredweight' from bees, which, accord- ing to excellent authorities, have ceased any longer to be the old English or German brown bee by reason of tho numerous importations from abroad. It is difficult to see how any objection can be taken to Mr. Webster's argument when he distinctly tries to pro- tect himself from misunderstanding by saying on p. <'>•';: ' I do not mean to assert that an apiary in the British lands could be annihilated through the owner neglecting to introduce fresh blood, but each consanguineous cross militates (against) the chances of successful venture in bee-keeping. Indeed we will go further than our corre- spondent, and assert that the owner of a single hive of bees would not have to wait many years for tiie extermi- nation (or, what is quite as bad, the worthlessness to be proved) of his bees, supposing it possible that they could be perfectly isolated. Mr. W. VVoodley's case (p. 01) of the old man whose ' father and grandfather in the lone valley,' left him a pure, inbred, immaculate strain of bees, tells somewhat against his argument in our opinion, for they did not ' go forth and multiply ' much if, after a century aud a half, they only yielded the owner an annual profit of 6/. ; whereas if an occasional queen had been introduced from beyond them, we suppose that valley would have been full of somebody's bees by this. Then, again, we are led to infer that there was a proximity of stocks, for ' the farmer's widow gave the man a second swarm of bees, and we have had them ever since.' This argument is little support in favour of in-and-in breeding unless there be some evidence (beyond that of the old bee-keeper alone) that no other bees had been kept within a radius of six to eight miles during the century and a half. Mr. F. Boyes (p. 144) gives us one of his usually interesting articles : but we take leave to say he misun- derstands the question at issue. The question of keeping to the English bee as it is, or of importing foreign bees, is scarcely germane. Our native bees can be used for cross-fertilisation to any extent without the necessity of importing a single foreign bee; such woidd not be con- sanguineous breeding, the germ of Mr. Webster's argu- ment. If Mr. Boyes exchanged any special variety of pigeon with Mr. Webster for breeding with his own, such a mixture could not be called in-breeding, and would be productive of good, indeed it would be a most advan- tageous infusion of new blood such as is not only advocated in these daysof high breeding, but insisted upon ; it would be, in fact, just such an importation of fresh 174 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 5, J 888. ■vigour as is advocated by Mr. Webster, and is recognised as one of the canons of scientific bee-keepiDg'. But if we in- terbreed the tv/o/irst relations of any animal, we pn ibably find some sign of degeneracy at once; and if the system be adhered to, of narrowing the parentage, so to speak, instead cf expanding it, for a few generations, we accen- tuate such signs and enforce either the necessity of infusing new blood, or being face to face with what means ultimate extermination. A good, all-round bee might be produced from an admixture of Ligurian, Carniolan, Cyprian, and English blood in fifty apiaries at once in this country, and in one or fifty years, if such bees were interbred this would not be consanguineous breeding, exactly as our own English bee in its wild or domestic state can intercross without interbreeding. Mr. Webster's position will be much simplified if we take him to mean that the interbreeding of different families of the same (or different) variety of bee is to be commended and advocated, whilst the interbreeding of blood relations (near or remote) is to be deprecated and condemned. Those who do not agree with us on this point find the grossest fault with that All-wise order- ing of things which brings about by natural selection ' the survival of the fittest ' (that common and much- prostituted phrase). Else there were no necessity for either queen or drone to retain their wings for the pur- pose of taking their well-known high and wide flights. This great circuit-flying alone shows us the efforts made by the bee to secure cross-fertilisation, as also does the impossibility of obtaining fertile queens in the hive and the difficulty of accomplishing artificial fertilisation. It is also shown in the evident necessity of aerial fertilisation in order that a queen may have a distinctly probable chance of meeting a strange drone. We have no desire to stifle the discussion in our columns of any moot points, the ventilation of which may give new ideas to our readers, and throw new light into dark corners, but when we see old and valued contributors mistaking the points at issue, and meandering away from the true subject ; by this means also somewhat puzzling those who are trying to follow them as to their real meaning, it is only meet and right that the points in dispute should be sifted out and re-iterated in such a manner that there should be no mistake possible on the part of those who are likely to be affected by the nature of the correspondence. CELLAR AND CLAMP WINTERING OF BEES. In northern countries, where Winter holds high revel, and Frost seizes everything in its icy grasp, cellar or ' clamp ' wintering of bees is an absolute necessity. Nowhere is this system more extensively practised than in our own Colony of Canada, as well as in the northern parts of the United States. We have, fortunately, a winter climate usually of so mild a character that any necessity for bee-keepers to go to the expense of a bee-cellar rarely presents itself. In Canada and the United States the bee-keeper, at the approach of winter, removes all his colonies from their summer stands, and with a deal of labour packs them away in a frost-proof house, leaving them thus until the advent of summer weather ; they are then removed, and placed again in the positions occupied by them during the preceding summer. Often it happens that, even with these great precautions, many colonies are lost ; the reason of such is mostly an enigma. Many colonies also, after removal, are subject to that bane of bee-keepers, spring dwindling, though the cause of this latter is mostly traced to the unsuitable quality of the food stored by the bees during the preceding autumn. Until the year 1887 we had no record of the presence of a properly-constructed bee-cellar in England ; in this year Blr. W. B. Webster, being introduced when on a lecturing tour to a gentleman, Mr. Greenhalgh of Nuwtun- le- Willows, Lancashire, an old Canadian colonist, was informed by him that he had constructed a cellar upon the same lines as those used in Canada, and of which he had had considerable experience. Mr. Webster, having received an invitation to view this cellar, availed himself of the opportunity, a report of which visit was pub- lished in this Journal, (p. 270 of last volume). Unfor- tunately, Mr. Greenhalgh neglected to weigh his colonies before placing them in the cellar, but he expressed an opinion, upon removing them in February that there was a scarcely perceptible difference in the weight, perhaps from two to three pounds each. Tho foregoing led Mr. W. B. Webster to try, during the winter just passed, what would be the effect upon a colony placed in a 'clamp ' in much the same manner as potatoes and other roots are preserved in England in what are called ' graves.' For this purpose he dug a circular hole in the earth 3 ft. 6 ins. in diameter, and 1 ft. in depth upon the clay — we should consider this, being damp, rather an unsuitable place for such an experiment, but Mr. Webster had no other — the bees, in a straw skep,were, without floor-board, placed upon four stakes driven into the clay, the ends being four inches above the level of the bottom of hole ; over the hive were ranged some rough branches in the form of a dome, then a layer of straw, about two inches, and over all the earth piled to the depth of eighteen inches. This was done on the 10th of last November, and the bees left quite undisturbed and with- out any ventilation, except that obtained through the porosity of the earth, until a fortnight ago, when, upon removal, they were found in a most flourishing condition, and, that which is of the greatest moment to us in Eng- land, had only consumed two pounds of stores during their four and a half months' incarceration. We do not feel inclined upon these experiments to recommend an universal system of cellar or ' clamp ' wintering in England, but to direct attention to a subject that has engaged the attention of apiarists for many years as to the least amount of stores a stock of bees can be safely wintered upon. It has been universally recommended that from 25 to 30 lbs. is the safest amount, though 20 lbs. will mostly suffice for a good colony ; but if these same bees were ' clamped,' and only consumed 2 lbs. in four and a half months, they would have more stores than could be consumed before the advent of spring, and as a consequence this surplus might be con- fiscated by the bee-keeper. The question would then arise, whether the surplus thus obtained would be sufficient to pay the apiarists for, first, the trouble of removal into winter quarters and subsequent placing on summer stands ; and, secondly, the expense of building a cellar or constructing ' clamps ? ' Our opinion at the present time is that these pro- ceedings, taking into consideration the price of honey, would not pay at least to ' clamp ' them, as each year these 'clamps' would have to be renewed, though the expense would simply be the labour. A cellar if properly constructed would last for years, therefore this expense would be distributed over an almost indefinite time. Our American friends in more southern latitudes rarely cellar their bees, where, owing to the mildness of the climate, they are not necessitated so to do, we may therefore take a hint from them, remembering at the same time that honey fetches in the United States but a little more than half the price it does in England. We will therefore leave this interesting subject to the consideration of our readers, who in making further experiments may discover some method whereby a colony can be deprived of a larger amount of stores, and yet at the same time be safely wintered, thus bringing in a little more profit to the bee-keeper. April 5, 1888. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL- ITS BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY ; On, Glossary of Technical and Scientific Wouds used in Works upon Bee-keeping. Abdomen, n. (/.. from abdo, to conceal.) — The lower part of the body, united to the middle part, or thorax, by a stalk or petiole. It is divided into seg- ments and rings, on the sides of which are small spiracles, by which the insect is enabled to breathe. Abdominal distension. — This is a swelling of the abdomen produced by the bees eating too much pollen during winter, which they are forced to do to keep up the temperature in hives not properly protected, and are unable to fly and discharge their fieces. Abdominal plates. — The upper and lower plates of the abdominal rings. In the worker only, there are on each of the ventral plates, except the first and last, two irregular-shaped discs or depressions called 'wax-pockets,' because it is here that the wax produced by the wax-glands collects. Abdominal ring's. — The belts of chitine forming the abdomen, each composed of two plates — the dorsal (on the back) and the ventral (on the lower side). Drones have seven rings, whilst workers and queen have only six. Abductor muscles. (Z. abduco, to lead away.) — Those which pull one part of the body from another, in opposition to the adductor muscles, which diaw together. Aberration of instinct. (L. aberratio from dberro, to go astray.) — Wandering from the right way. Sometimes bees will swarm without making the usual preparations by commencing queen-cells, by trying to raise a queen from a drone-producing t-^j, ; or a queen will refuse to accompany a swarm. Such cases being out of the usual course are assigned to aberration of instinct. Abnormal bees. (L. ab, away from, and norma, a rule.) — Irregular, deformed, sometimes containing the characteristics of the two sexes in one individual; hermaphrodite. Abnormal swarms, — Such as leave the hive under unusual conditions or contrary to known laws. Aborted, p.p. {L. aborior, to miscarry. ) — An organ whose development lias been arrested at an early stage is said to be aborted or atrophied. Absconding- colony. (/.. ab» and condo, to hide, i.e., to withdraw.) — A colony of bees which deserts its hive in a body. Absconding- swarm. — Part of a colony which swarms in a natural manner, and goes away to some distant place either before or after first settling in a cluster, or sometimes cvii after being hived. Absorption. ;;. ( /.. ab and sorbeo, to suck in.)— The act or process of taking in or imbibing bythe mouth or other parts, as in the case of thelarvsB. The imbibition by the tissues of nutritive materials. Acarus. n. ( > rV. acares, a morsel.) — A genus of Arachnidse belonging to the order Acarina, usually called mill's. Acarus favorum.— Found on old honeycombs, which are sometimes entirely eaten up by these mites, leaving a dust and their east skins. Accepted, p.p. or a. (L. accepto, to take or receive.) — Sometimes applied to the favourable reception of a strange queen by tin- lues of a queenless hive; — kindly received. Acclimatise — Acclimate, (fir. clima, a zone, clime.)— To inure, or to habituate to a climate different from tin- native one (or not indigenous). Accommodation cells. — Irregular-shaped cells of variable size placed between worker and drone cells. Ti-an.it/iun cells. — In building comb bees pass from worker to drone cells by constructing from one to six rows of such cells, and these sometimes have from three to seven sides. In joining two pieces of comb together bees build accommodation cells to fill up the interstices. Accouplement. n. (Fr. couple, to couple.) — A coupling, or connecting, or pairing between drone and queen. Acherontia atropos. — Latin name for death's head moth, a lepidoplerous insect of the family Sphingid.-e, an enemy of bees, doing much damago in southern Europe, where it enters and plunders bee-hives with perfect impunity. Acid. (£. acidus, sharp, sour, literally piercing ; Br. akis, akidus, a sharp point.) — Sour to the taste. Honey after fermentation turns acid, and may be made into vinegar. Honey also contains a minute quantity of formic acid, but not in sufficient quantity to make it per- ceptible to the taste. This acts as a preservative. Acoeton. n. (Butler gives its derivation as Gr, a, not, and l«iit<,s. u bed, hence without lees or dregs ' which form the bed or ground whereon wine and such liquors lie ;' virgin honey, so called because ' it runneth of itself as new wine and oil.')— Name given by ancient writers to virgin honey — the very first that is taken from new comb. 'This acoeton or finest nectar, for his incorrupted puriti, is called virgin •honni.'—C. BuTUSB. Acrid, a. (Fr.aere; L.aeer; Gr. ak-e, a point.) — Pungent, bitter, sharp or biting to the taste. Adapting- board or Adaptor. ( L. ad, and apto, to lit.)— A board placed on the top of a hive, wit li holes or slits in it to allow the bees to pass into the supera placed upon it. Adaptor zinc. — Sheet of perforated zinc with holes just large enough to permit workers to pass through into supers placed there, but too small to allow the passage of the queen. Adductor muscles. (L. addueo, to draw to.) — Those which draw one part of the body to another. Adjustable entrance. — Entrance to a hive which can be enlarged or contracted by means of slides or blocks. Adjustable floor-board.— Loose tloor-board used in hives on legs, which can be raised or lowered at will. Adulteration, 91. (L. from adulter— ad and alter, other.)— To corrupt or make impure by an admixture of less value for tin- purpose of deception or getting a greater profit. Substitution of a cheaper article tor the genuine one. ( To he continued.) ASSOCIATIONS. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The first meeting of the newly-elected committee was held at 105 Jermyn Street on Wednesday, January 21. There were present the lion, and Rev. II. Bligh.the Rev. Dr. Bartrum, the Uev.li. Raynor.the Rev.F.S. Sclater, Captain Campbell, J. M. Hooker, W. O'B. Glenme, Treasurer, and the Secretary. A letter was read from Captain Bush regretting his inability to be present on account of illness. Mr. T. W. Cowan was elected chairman, and the Hon. and Key. II. Bligh vice-chairman, for the' ensuing year. The following sub-committees were also appointed, viz ' Finance:' the Key. Dr. Bartrum, Kev.R. Erriiigton, 176 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 5, 1888. and Mr. H. Jonas. 'Educational:' Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh, Dr. Bartrum, the Rev. G. Raynor, and the Rev. E. Clay. Exhibitions : Captain Bush, Rev. R. Errington, J. M. Hooker, H. Jonas, Rev. F. S. Sclater, Rev. J. L. Seager. County Associations: Rev. F. S. Sclater, Captain Bush, Rev. G. Oddie, Rev. J. L. Seager, and Captain Camp- hell. The chairman was elected an ex-officio member of each sub-committee. It was resolved that committee meetings be held on the third Thursday in each month. On the motion of the Rev. F. S. Sclater, it was resolved, ' That a sum of ten pounds be voted for prizes in classes (open to members of the British Bee-keepers' Association only), at the comity shows of affiliated county associa- tions— such prizes to be offered only in cases where county associations will give facilities free of charge for the staging and care of the exhibits, the same total not to exceed 21. in each case.' The matter was referred to the Exhibitions Committee to make the necessary arrange- ments. The Secretary reported that he had received a com- munication from the President in reference to the bills ahout to be presented to Parliament relating to the teaching of agricultural and kindred subjects in elemen- tary schools. Her Ladyship considered that it was very desirable that the Association should endeavour to obtain every possible information which would tend to demonstrate the benefits which the nation derived from the industry of bee-keeping. GLOUCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Notice to Local Districts. The Hon. Sec. of the Gloucestershire Bee-keepers' Association desires to draw the local secretaries' attention to the following new rule, and will be glad to hear at once from those that wish to avail themselves of it : — That all local secretaries who are not appointed by the district associations shall be appointed by the general committee for the districts where they may be deemed desirable, and that the general committee may fill up all vacancies in its own body which shall occur during the year. Moved by Mr. Brown, seconded by the hon. sec, That members of the Association be recommended to form themselves into district associations, mutually arranging the boundary of their districts, should any difficulty arise as to the question of boundary, the matter shall be referred to the general committee, whose decision shall be in all cases final. That district associations shall subscribe to the county Association one-fifth of the total amount of their annual subscriptions, and render an account of all their receipts and expenditure to the general committee. That each district association shall hold an annual meeting early in January, when it shall appoint a local secretary and other officers it may deem desirable, but subject to the approval of the general committee. That the Association shall aid the district associations as follows, and in any other manner within its power ; viz.. by lending its bee-tent on conditions fixed by the general committee, by providing sufficient annual reports, and by supplying receipt-books, and members cards. WORCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The address of Mr. E. Davenport, Expert to the Worcestershire B.K.A, is ' Tontine Buildings, Stourport,' not Stockport. (fcrtspnfama. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn, on separate pieces 0/ paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, &c, must be addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.G.* All business communications relating to Advertisements, &c.t must be addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). *%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any Utter or query preuiously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1888. [1503.] Having had full charge of negotiating with Irish bee-keepers, in connexion with samples of Irish honey for above, allow me, on behalf of my brother and myself, to thank all those who kindly sent samples from Ireland. Our best thanks are due to the hon. secretary of the Irish Bee-keepers' Association, Henry Chenevix, Esq., who kindly supplied a list of the best known bee- keepers in the various comities. I put myself in com- munication with many of these, and am happy to state I have received samples from Ireland sufficient to prove that they are advanced in the science of bee-keeping, and are keeping pace with their English and Scotch friends. Of the various lots I purchased I would specially mention the samples received from Miss E. E. Rutherford, Ghan House, Carlingford, and Mr. George Turner, Revlin House, Donegal. Of the other samples I received, I have to state many of them arrived in a terrible state of havoc, which was due in many cases to careless packing. Altogether, the Irish produce will have a creditable ap- pearance. Should an}' Irish bee-keepers have any speciali- ties, which they would like included in the Irish collection they will kindly forward the same at once to the under-noted address. — John D. McNally, 30 Miliarbank Street, Springburn, Glasgow. SECTIONS. [1564.] Much has been written in your columns as to the most suitable size and width for sections, and also as to the desirability of four bee- ways or two bee- ways ; but as far as I have seen the question of the most suitable width for these openings has never been discussed. I would much like to get the opinion of some experts on the subject. My own opinion is strongly in favour of full bee space sections. Last year I tried, by accident rather than by design, half bee space and full bee space both two and four way, and came to the conclusion that the best were the two bee way with full bee space. The separators need only be plain strips of tin or wood. I found that the cutting out for the half bee space very much weakened the separators, and as a consequence they required more time and care expended on them in manipulation. Besides I thought — for on this point I am not certain — that with full bee space the sections were better finished. Unfortunately last year very few of my sections were really well filled, owing I suppose to the peculiar season. Though it was only last year that I took notice of the difference arising from the different bee spaces, yet I have had full space section in use for three years, and always liked them, but last year settled me in the belief that they were best. Another thing I would like to mention, viz., that no firm of dealers, so far as I know, state in their catalogue the width of this bee space in their sections. This must have caused mnch trouble to buyers who sometimes have to order in a hurry without seeing samples. I know it has to — Gbobge D. Clark. Aprils, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 177 QUEEN REARING. How Some of Them do it in America. [1565.] Noticing the query by Mr. Stevens and your reply thereto in the Feb. 9th No. of the British Bee Journal I am constrained to offer the following, chiefly because it is very different from the method laid down in the article referred to, and is withal so very simple, only expressing the hope that it may be new to some of the readers of the British Bee Journal, and may help Mr. Stevens or others in the rearing of their own queens. Every Yankee is supposed to be in a hurry, and I believe we apiarists are no exception to the rule. From April 1st to October 1st finds every day filled full of work for the man with 100 or 150 colonies on his hands, iu a good locality for honey production. But queens must be had to prevent in-breeding, to replace old or worn-out queens or inferior ones, or to remedy queenless- ness. Here queens cannot be reared and fertilised much before June 1st, so if we need queens in spring we buy tested queens of those who have them for sale. This gives us new blood, and from these and two or three others of our best queens we must prepare to rear all queens needed for the summer's use. Of course, since they are the best queens we have, their stocks will be strong, but they can be stimulated by a little syrup-feeding, or by giving them extra sealed brood from other colonies. When the time comes put on the supers, but do not give them all the room they want, crowd them a little. With this management one of the three or four will be sure to swarm early, casting a fine swarm. Hive this and givo them all they can do gathering honey — we are now after the queen-cells to be found in the old stock. At the end of six days they will be ' ripe,- when we go over the hive and cut them all out except one, to provide this colony with a queen. Handle the cells thus obtained very care- fully, for they contain royalty. These cells are then placed in the ' nursery? This is simply a brood-frame one and a half inches wide, divided into compartments thus: — On one side of this frame is tacked wire-cloth over t he whole side ; on the other are slides for each row of boxes. The cells should then be carefully placed one in each compartment. It is not necessary to suspend them. 'Ibis frame is then to be placed in the centre of a good colony in such a manner as not to interfere with the supers much. Examine this daily, and as soon as a queen hatches remove her through the slide door at the back to a queen-cage, and introduce her to any colony which from any cause needs a new queen. As the colonies from which you have prepared to rear queens swarm one at a time, we are supplied with cells for our nursery frame until the close of the honey harvest. Last season I introduced some twenty queens from one mother, reared in the manner described above. With us hurried Yankees the loss of time to the colony until the new queen is fertilised is more than compensated for by having to make no nuclei. Then, again, the loss in brood to the colony, to which the virgin queen is introduced, is not felt (with us) until after the honey season is over, and the young queen will provide a good strong colony for winter, which is all we de-ire. But how do we obtain the few queens needed in the autumn? Why we just return some natural swarm having a good queen, and if her wing is not clipped we first place perforated zinc over the entrance, and watch for her as the bees go in, and when we find her make a nucleus with two frames of bees and brood and the queer from the parent stock. Two or three of such nuclei will generally supply all queenlessness in tlfe fall of one hundred colonies. Of course, the method outlined above must be carried out on a smaller scale in a small apiary ; but I have prac- tised it with as low as sixteen colonies. We find it the simplest and the cheapest, both in time and money, as well as the best, for the queens are all reared by natural swarming, and we can pinch off the heads of small queens or those leaving no jelly in the cells. By buying a few tested queens each spring an', breeding from them we avoid that in-breeding so much discussed in your excellent paper the British Bee Journal — J. H. LiAitnAisKE, Larrabee's Pt., Vt., U.K. A. FIRST ATTEMPTS. [1666.] I am much obliged for your comments in the B.B.J, of January 26th, 1888,011 the sample of honey I sent you. When writing you with sample, I promised to send you later on an account of my first attempts at bee-keeping. Here it is, if you think it will serve any good purpose in your interesting Journal. I had been reading your valuable Journal the whole of the winter preceding my ln-ginning a start with bees in the spring of ls~~, obtained Mr. Cowan's Guide, and Root's A Ii C. In April I bought from a bee-dealer two lots of condemned bees in a twin hive, described as strong', healthy, and breeding. On arrival, I had them examined by a friend of mini', a large bee-keeper in this neighbourhood, who gave me the consolation that one stock was too weak to pidl through the spring, the other, he thought, -would be all right; and so it turned out. I thought I would start with two stocks, so ordered a swarm which came late in June : and now my troubles began. I had never hived a swarm in my life, and only saw it done once, and then by an expert. I was quite alone the evening the bees arrived, and could not possibly turn them out of swarm-box before '.'.15 p.m. — rather late. After unscrewing the cover, in my haste to get them out, I forgot to bump the-box so as to get the bees into the bottom of the box before throwing them out. I turned the box over, and the bees being close to the unscrewed wire gauze, their own weight bent the same, and they rolled out 4| lbs. strong. I saw my mistake instantly, and though in anything but a confi- dent mood, with hundreds of bees flying about me, gave the box a good thump to get out what remained, and stuck to my standing. I next helped them towards the entrance of the hive with nearest tool to hand — a stick — and then did a little painting with a feather and some carbolic to keep them within boundary -line of the sheet in front of the hive. It was now getting dusk, and to help them cluster quicker, I sprinkled them with a little water from a rose-water pot; when doing this the handle came off, and half a pot of water went over the bees. Oh ! I thought, if this lot gets through all right, it certainly will not be due to any help I have rendered them. However, the dry ground and sheet soon ab- sorbed the extra moisture, and in about twenty minutes they were all in. At ten o'clock I lifted the hive on its stand and bade them good-night. Lost a good teacupf ul of bees — dead. Result of my evening's performance — bees on the brain ; could not get a wink of sleep. A fine beginning this, I thought. But how about the queen ? Had I drowned her Jubilee Majesty? — that's the rub! I put them on ten frames of full sheets of foundation. When 1 ex- amined for the first time, which was in the course of live days (could nut get near them before, they had been 10 badly handled that they fairly drove me off tin.' first I WO attempts I made to examine them), I was ven pleased to find proof of her majesty's presence. At the end of the season the swarm had drawn out twenty combs, and 178 THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April o, 1888. gave me 17 lbs. surplus beautiful honey, such as sample sent you. By the time they had the super combs well out, the honey glut was over, and then it simply became hand-to-mouth work with them. I may say 1 did not take but one outside frame from brood-nest, which was without brood, leaving the rest for the stock to winter, and in September gave them 15 lbs. of syrup in addition. The condemned lot before referred to filled my four- teen-frame twiu-hive with bees, and gave me but one frame of honey. This was through another blunder of mine. If I had limited the brood-nest, surplus honey, instead of a box full of bees, would have been the result. However, I packed this lot also in September, and fed rapidly. To-day, March 2nd, the bees are out in large numbers for a cleansing flight, and looking remarkably strong and healthy as far as a novice can judge. I intend to-morrow, if as fine as to-day, to give them a cake of candy for safety, though I do not think they are short. ' How many stings did you get in hiving your swarm so clumsily ? ' asks some one. ' Not one ! ' ' Did you use gloves?' 'No.' 'Veil?' '\es.' Further, to encourage the timid — of whom I am one — I did all the manipu- lating throughout the season without a sting. Perhaps I should have said, both lots of bees are blacks — the swarm not of the sweetest temper by any means. — J. W. Paul, Westbrook Villa, Neath, South Wales, March 2nd. 'with the aid of modern bee-keeping: [1567.] As your correspondent, 'A Voice from the Cottage,' I have taken the B. B. J. for twelve months, and have not seen anything of a bond fide cottager. Well, sir, I don't think we can expect much from them if it is the same all over the country as it is in this part — West Sussex. There are a great many cottage bee- keepers about here, but. all on the old style. They winter one or two stocks and destroy the rest. I had the good luck to save six stocks from death last year. An old cottager, who is past work, asked me to take his honey for him ; after a good deal of talk I got him to let me drive the bees out and have them for my trouble. He was very doubtful about it ; he has kept bees all his life and had never seen such a thing done. However, with the aid of the B. B. J. and Modern Bee- keeping, I drove them very well and pleased him much. He says the honey is the best he ever had. But to myself. 1 am a cottager, groom to a farmer two years this summer. I bought a late swarm of bees and a straw skep ; gave 7*. for the lot, and was told that it was bad luck to give less than 10«. I did not know any- thing about bees. 1 had a mile to carry them. I got them home all right, placed them on the stand, and left them all that summer. The next spring I got Modern Bee- keeping ; in that little book I found out all about bees. I made a super to lit the top of my hive with eighteen sections, crown-board, and roof. At the beginning of .lime 1 placed it on and had a glass to look in. In three days they were up and at work. I had quite a show for a while, people kept Coming to see the bees work ; and by changing the sections I took thirty-one pounds of nice white clover honey. I had no trouble to sell it at 1(W. per pound. I had never seen a frame-hive, and I could not afford to buy one, so, with the aid of Modern Bee-keeping, I made a very good cottage hive to take eight frames; I only put six in, and when I put my driven bees in I tied some unfiuished sections in the frames ; but I put the frames too wide apart, and the bees have built up between them. I put two lots into that hive, as I had no time to drive any more then. The next week 1 bought a straw skep and put the other four lots into it, Then 1 wanted a feeder : I got an empty syrup tin, made some holes in the bottom, tied a piece of coarse paper over them, placed it on the frames, and another over the hole of the straw skep. I only had to pour in the syrup and put (he lid on, and it has answered well. I could put on two pounds at a time, and so far my bees havo done well. I have three stocks to work tins summer, and as there is a lot. of white clover sown about here, I think I shall get a nice lot of honey. I have made a good frame-hive this winter; it has ten frames, one dummy, quilts, two section-crates, moveable floor-board, and porch. Next month I shall drive one of my straw hives, cut the combs out, and tie them into the frames with tape. I have got a good smoker, and can manage them pretty well now. — E. PiAvbn, Norton, Selsey. WHAT IS A COTTAGER? [1568.] Now when many people want everything at least possible expense it is absolutely necessary to pass a rule defining the cottager. With keen trade competi- tion, appliances, &c. are within the reach of all. The principal point, therefore, I consider, is time to give the bees the necessary attention when required. Take, for example, an agricultural village: the schoolmaster, the shoemaker, carpenter, and blacksmith, are in a certain sense their own masters, are always at home ; yet these enter as cottagers. What wonder if the labourer com- plains that he stands no chance at the local shows ? I believe there is nothing like fair competition for keeping up an amount of interest necessary for success in bee- keeping, but the man who is always at home has an advantage over his neighbour who is away the whole day. — North Devon Kustic. NOTES FKOM MALTA. [1560.] I have at last hit on a satisfactory method of driving the bees from the native pots, but not until I almost lost two stocks. The combs are built sometimes across, but more generally very nearly fore and aft; and my plan was this, I gave them a puff of smoke at each end, and followed up by sprinkling from both ends with thin warm syrup. After some minutes I stood the pot, big end up, in a broken chair, and put my smoker underneath witb its mouth just inside the small end or muzzle of the pot, so that the smoke went curling up slowly through the combs. A skep being held above as in ' open driving,' the bees ran up beautifully, and in a very short time I had the pot clean, and then hired them. I have never had to do with bees before, but can't help fancying that these are smaller than usual, because after hiving 1 stood the pot above the hive as a super, in order that they might hatch out the large quantity of brood there was, inserting excluder zinc between ; but, lo and behold ! when some days after I opened up to examine, the hive was deserted, and the pot full. Queen and all having gone up, and the performance bad to be gone through again, and this time I cut out and transferred three combs. They have drawn out almost all the foundation, and her majesty appears to approve as she is not content with a patch in the centre, but has literally filled the frames from top to bottom. I never saw such sheets of brood, and as level as a board, and the young bees somehow seem bigger. May it not be that founda- tion causes them to build larger cells than they naturally do? I find great difference in their temper— one hive I can hardly go near unless fully gloved aud veiled, while another got from the same apiary are like lambs, and I find that smoke enrages them to an extent that I have almost given up using it. The scirocco wind makes them heavy and dull. Drones are already flying, and white capping is visible oyer honey here and there. Clover being now in blossom. I have just ordered a hive on Heddon's plan, as I find April 5, 1888.] THE BKITISH BEE JOUBNAL. 179 trouble with the eight-inch sheets of foundation ; they warp so, and when really hot weather comes I think his shallow boxes will act better, but I doubt his system of contracting and wholly trusting to artificial feeding in winter, especially for an amateur who cannot always be among his hives. 1 have discovered a carpenter who has frame-hives, about twenty, and gets his things from Turin. He was astonished at my whole sheets of wax, as he had only used starters, and I don't fancy has any section super arrangements. — M alia. -f. DRONES AND THE FERTILISATION OF QUEENS. [1570.] Last year I had a stock of Carniolans headed by an unfertilised queen. This queen was reared late in the autumn, and the weather turned out very cold so the drones refused to come out. About the end of March I examined my hives and found this hive with plenty of drone-brood, but no worker brood. As I wanted to get purely mated Carniolan queens, I thought it would be a good chance to have them mated with these drones before other drones ap- peared, so raised queen-cells at once, and by the end of April they were placed in nuclei to be mated. There are no bees within two miles of my apiary, and I attend to those, and I did not see a single drone. The queen did not begin to lay until the end of May, but she must have been mated with these drones. I intended to give it a further trial this spring, but the queen that I reared late last autumn got lost, as I cannot find her iu the hive. I should like to have the experience of others. — H. P. Jones. WELSH BEES AND FOUL BROOD. ["1571.1 Having acted as an expert for the Mont- gomeryshire Association, and having been all over Merio- nethshire, and parts of Denbighshire and Cardiganshire, and having manipulated several hundred stocks of bees, I have not seen the slightest trace of foul brood, except in one case, and that I aiu glad to say was not a bar-frame hive, but a skep ; nor were there bees kept in bar-frame hives within eight miles. This goes far to prove that the bar-frame hives are not the cause of foul brood. Having noticed the great difference in colour of our native bees I do not wonder as to there being a dispute as to whether to call them black or brown bees. I have noticed that there are two distinct kinds in Wales, one black and the other brown. The black bees (or the darker-coloured ) are more fierce ; their queens are not so prolific, but the workers are better honey-gatherers, and are tearful robbers, nearly as bad as Italians which attacked one of my stocks, and actually met the workers cm the alighting-board and made them deliver their honey, and if they refused, they killed them. The brottm (or the lighter-coloured) are very amiable, their queens are very prolific and beautifully marked, very much like Carniolans, and then- workers have light hands around them, but are much smaller than Carniolans, their only fault is they do not defend their hives well. I think that one of these queens mated with Carniolan drones would make a good useful bee. — H. P. Jones. PAINTING HIVES— WIUEI) FOUNDATION. [1672.] I doubt whether Mr. II. Adcock may think my Ipraetice any better than ' painting ' the inside of hives. However scorned, years' experience proves that it answers. It is to give two dressings of boiled linseed oil. The first dressing will sink into pine wood and entirely disappear in a few hours. The second will dry in a day or two, and make the hive impervious to wet or damp, and is much to he preferred to any kind of paint, the base of most of which is either white lead or white zinc, and this, I think, is injurious to bees. Probably this may partly account for so many of Mr. A.'s bees dying, but more was owing to the hive being set perfectly level. No matter what the kind of hive, whether on the rectangular or parallel system, to carry off the water, it should be inclined a little to the front, but only very slightly. But if Mr. A. wishes for a hive iu which it is impossible for wet to gather, let him try a modification of Mr. Blow's Anglo-Cyprian. 1 made myself one a few years ago bv way of experi- ment, but instead of placing the flight-hole' at the end of the hive, and entirely closing the lower angle, I made the flight-hole at that angle, and along the whole length of the bottom of the hive with corresponding slides, and an alighting board nailed to the legs on the front side twelve inches broad, coming down nearly to the ground. Although it might be objected to in another respect, it certainly has the merit of being always thoroughly dry, and the bees have done very well in it. A good deal has been written and done about wired foundation. I entirely object to it, except in the case of sending a hive and stock (especially a recent swarm) to a distance by rail. If you want, as is not unfre- quently the case, to cut a comb out of a frame, it is mosl inconvenient to have cut through five or six wires at top and bottom. The same object, viz., keeping the foundation sheet straight can be much easier effected as follows : — Bore two small holes a quarter of an inch apart in Troth ends of the frame exactly equidistant from the middle of the end, and about an inch above the lower edge of the foundation sheets. Then with a needle draw a piece of strong cotton or linen thread through the holes from end to end of the frame, but taking care to cross the thread as soon as it is through the wood end, so as to clasp I he foundation close by ; return the thread to the end you began at, and tie tightly. This will keep the foundation quite straight and in the centre. The bees will draw it out, and when they come to the thread will gnaw it in two, and drag it out of the hive, or the bee-keeper mav do that for them. Under this method I have never known the foundation to buckle or twist. The dark line represents u Lr 0 the foundation, and the dotted lines the thread crossed at each end; the whole a section of foundation, thread, and frame ends. — J. H., York. DROUGHT NOT THE ONLY CAUSE OF A LIGHT HONEY-CROP. [1673.] It appears to be a very general complaint from almost every quarter that the honey-crop of 1887 has been unusually light, ami the cause is almost unani- mously attributed to drought, but 1 apprehend that the dry weather was not the only cause, nor do 1 think it was the principal eause of the failure of the honey-crop. If such were the case, how could it happen that the best flow of honey that we had last summer came during a few days right in the very driest time in the whole season : while just before and immediately after there appeared to be very little or no nectar in the flowers. That is the way it worked in this locality as near as I could discover, and I watched things pretty carefully, or at least I tried to. I think it was the late Moses Quinby that said that the best time for bees to store honev is 180 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 5, 1888. ■when the farmers begin to complain of the need of rain, or words to that effect, and my experience coincides with that sentiment. Now, in this immediate vicinity it was not so extremely dry during the past summer as to effect the field-crops very badly, although more rain would, no doubt, have been beneficial to them, yet the honey-crop was no better here in June and July than in many other places. And the same condition of things appears to have existed in other localities also. In the American Bee Journal, page 613, W. J. Cullman, of Mt. Sterling, 111., makes the following statement : — ' We have had this year, without exception, the largest wheat and oat crop that was ever known in this section of the country, and I see the same recorded for Missouri and other States. We had a fair crop of hay, and will have more corn than we had last year. We have double the yield of clover seed than was ever known before. It is true the honey-crop has been a partial failure.' I desire to call special attention to Mr. Cullinan's state- ment wherein he says, ' We have double the yield of clover seed than ever was known before.' Now, the complaint is almost universal from Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and many other places, that the yield of honey from white clover was very light indeed, notwithstanding the fact that clover bloomed profusely and yielded seed abun- dantly, at least in some places where the honey-crop failed*. From the foregoing, I draw the conclusion that it was not altogether the lack of rain that cut the honey- crop short the past season. A pertinent and interesting query very naturally arises at this point : What then is thr reason the flowers did not supply their usual quantity of nectar? If I were called upon to answer this question I should freely admit that I do not know. But judging from appearances, I have formed the opinion that the failure did not result altogether from the want of rain, but was also equally due to some peculiar state of the atmosphere, which 1 do not fully understand, and there- fore cannot explain satisfactorily even to myself. I am not a scientist. The secretion of nectar in the flowers is a very delicate process, achieved only by the spon- taneous action of natural laws which are dependent upon suitable atmospheric conditions for the fulfilment of their functions; and are very sensitive to any interruption of, or changes in, those conditions. Even the changing of the wind from one point of the compass to another will sometimes appear to suspend the operation altogether for the time. We can understand the effect, although we may not be able to comprehend the why and where- fore concerning it. Every one that has had much experience with maple sugar is, doubtless, familiar with the fact that the flow of sap from the trees is governed almost wholly by the state of the atmosphere. When the conditions of the atmosphere are just right ti ere will be an abundant flow of sap ; when they are not right no sap can be obtained, although there may be no visible difference in outward appearances. Is it not reasonable to suppose that the flow of nectar in flowers is equally as much affected by atmospheric conditions as is the flow of sap in the sugar maples ? With your permission, friendly editor, I should like to see this matter mentioned through your columns. Per- haps, some of our scientific people will be kind enough to enlighten us upon this interesting subject. — Joshua Bull, Seymour, Wis.— (From the American Bee-keepers' Magazine.) A PLEA FOR LARGE FRAMES. [1574.] It seems to me that the most important feature of bee-culture is either ignored or carelessly oyer- looked, in the bee-lore of our best modem apicultural writers. It is a fact that none will dispute, that we measure our harvest by the strength of our colonies numerically ; and to achieve the best results in this direction should be the guiding star of the apiarist, and the brood-chamber should be constructed in accordance with the natural laws governing the household economy of the honey-bee. Let us take a peep at the bee in its natural habitation, where they become their own architects in the construc- tion of their own combs, and what do we find ? I havo transferred hundreds of colonies, in all kinds of hives, nail kegs, log hives, box hives, and from bee-trees in the woods, and the same principle that governs one governs all, in the main, and that is large, deep, roomy combs, with stores above, brood beneath, and combs spaced from one and a half to two inches from centre to centre. In the early part of the season sealed brood can be found in the centre of the combs, next to which can be found larvse in all stages, and on the outside of all, eggs, showing conclusively that the queen first commenced her laying near the centre of the comb, and, like a spider spinning her web, she plies her vocation from centre to circumference — Nature's most economical method of time-saving to the queen in her vocation of reproduction. We should imitate Nature in the construction of our hives, especially in that of the brood-chamber, that we may bring about the greatest strength possible, numeri- cally from the prolificness of the queens. To accomplish this, I contend that the most essential point in apiculture is, our combs should be so arranged that not one second of time need be lost by the queen in her onward march from cell to cell, depositing in the height of her fecundity about two eggs per minute, or nearly 3000 eggs in twenty-four hours. In order to do this, she should not be confronted with horizontal bars and bee-spaces in the centre of her brood-nest, as they are certainly a great barrier against her fecundity, being contrary to the laws of her natural domain. Being thrown out of her natural circuitous orbit, she loses time in passing over bars and bee-spaces, and shifting from side to side, thus losing the benefits of the queen's functions, which means a serious detriment to the strength of the colony. Mr. lleddon has the lasting gratitude of the apicultural world for his many discoveries and substantial inventions, and we certainly have no desire to rob him of his justly earned fame ; but we do take issue against a shallow, sectional brood-chamber, for reasons heretofore men- tioned, and sincerely believe that had he exercised his ingenuity and inventive powers on a hive with combs of larger dimensions, he would have come nearer ' the hive' that will come to stay, and would have opened a new era, far in advance of that realised by his present device. My argument is not altogether from the reasoning of Mr. H.'s departure from the theory governing their household economy, but years of practical experience with small and large hives has confirmed my statements in every particular, as regards the superiority of large combs over small ones, for obtaining strong colonies. Let those who doubt my statement try an equal number of colonies with queens of equal fertility, and report. It is said that ' the proof of the pudding is in the eating thereof,' and if Messrs. lleddon, Hutchinson, and others, can give reports of larger yields of honey from the sectional brood-chamber than can be given from hives of large, roomy combs, I will have to acknowledge the fallacy of this article. I wish to get at facts, and if ' the new must give way to the old,' and the time is near at hand when ' we will manipulate hives more and frames less,' we wish to know by actual test the reasons, whys and wherefores. — J. M. Hambaugu, Spring, Ills. — (From American Bee Journal.) NOTES ON BEE-IIIVES. Fertile Queen Introduction. [1575.] The art of queen introduction may be ex- plained by considering the subject under two heads, or cases — (a) A stock of bees queenless; (b) A qutjtrj subjectless. April 5," 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 181 A stock of bees may become queenless naturally or accidentally, or may be made so artificially ; among tbe former cases a queen leaves the hive and is theu subject to the dangers of being destroyed by birds, insects, or reptiles; or it may miss its way, or may not be hived, &c. It may die of old age or disease, or may become a prey to some parasite. The weather, the time of year, or a lack of drones, may be against the successful union of the sexes, and so make the queen useless and worthless — merging into so-called fertile workers. Amongst the reasons for artificially deposing the queen may be mentioned the desire for a queen of greater prolificness, bees of greater amiability or other qualities, or of a different race. When bees discover that they are queenless (either artificially or naturally so made) they at once set upon the work of raising a queen from any worker larvae in the hive not more than three days old, if virgin queens are not being raised. If they are rendered queenless while eggs or larvae less than three days old are in the hive, and they begin to raise queens or build queen-cells upon those, it is difficult to queen them, but still this is not impossible. The queen-cells should be allowed to develop until a day or two before the queens are likely to hatch, and should then all be cut out — i.e., the queen- cells — and the place brushed over with carbolic acid solution, except one cell, upon which the alien queen might be caged after the larva, or nymph, has been de- stroyed. The queen may be liberated at dusk the next day. This deceives the bees, so far as we are able, and causes them to believe their own endeavours have been successful. There are objections to cages of all kinds — «.. from L, albus, white.) — Drones with white heads and white eyes, quite devoid of colour. Sometimes the eyes are red. They ar • not uncommon amongst crosses of black bees and Italians, are perfectly blind, and are supposed to be diseased. (British Bee Journal, vol. xv. p. 18.) Albinos, n. — The term is applied to a variety of Italian bees lighter than usual, and which have distinct rows of white hairs. Professor Cook says they are not a distinct race, and that he has often noticed among Italians the so-called albinos. Albumen, n. (L. from albus, white.) — This enters largely iuto the composition of the body, and is that form of nitrogenous food which goes to construct the nerve substance. Bees derive it from pollen. Albumen, in the shape of white of egg, has been long used by the Germans as a stimulant in spring. Alcohol, n. (Ar. al. the, and kohl, fine powder.) — A pure spirit which can be produced by distillation from fermented honey, and is the intoxicating principle in mead, rnetheglin, and hydromel. It is used by bee-keepers to dissolve salicylic acid or thymol (remedies for foul brood), and being a ready solvent of propolis is also used for the removal of this from the hands. Alien queen. (L. alienus, fr. alius, another.) — A foreign queen, or one belonging to a strange hive. Alig'hting'-board. n. (A-Sa.v. lildan, alihtan, to descend, alight.) — The projection of the floor-board in front of entrance ; that part on which the bees alight before entering the hive. Aliment, n, (L. alimentum, fr. ah, I nourish.) — Nutriment ; food which nourishes. Alimental. a. — Supplying food that nourishes, as chyle, is alimental. Alimentary canal. — The duct by which the food is conveyed through the body and the useless parts evacuated. It commences, in the bee, at the mouth, and consists of the oesophagus, honey stomach, chyle stomach, small and large intestines, and ends with the anus. Alternate, a. (L. alternatus, fr. alterno.) — Dis- tance-pins and broad shoulders are put on opposite sides of the ends of top bar, aud are said to be placed alter- nately.— To change one frame for another reciprocally, as in uniting two colonies. Alveole—alveolus, n. (Fr. L. alveus, a hollow vessel.) —A cell in a bee-hive. Alvine. a. (Fr. L. alms, the belly.) — Relating to intestinal excrements. Ambrosia, n. (Gr. ambrosia, food of the gods, sup- posed to give immortality, fr. a, not, and brotos, mortal ; ambrotos, immortal. It was often confused with nectar, the drink of the gods, one of the ingredients of which was honey). — The name given to pollen and bee-bread by C. Butler and other ancient writers ; also called ' leg- honie,' because of the pellets of pollen carried on the legs. Ammonia, n. (So called from Jupiter Amnion, near whose temple it was first discovered.) — A volatile alkali used in solution in water and called liquid ammonia. Used by some to relieve pain caused by the sting of a bee. (To be continued.) ASSOCIATIONS. IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual general meeting was held on the 5th iust. The chair was taken at first by Mr. Tipping, afterwards by Rev. Thos. Lindsay. There were present also Miss E. E. Itutherfoord, Rev. P. Kavanagh, Dr. Knight, Mr. Millner, Mr. Read, Mr. Sproule, and the Hon. Sec. Mr. Ohenevix. The report and balance-sheet for the year 1887 were adopted with a vote of thanks to the auditors. Votes of thanks were unanimously passed to Dr. Traill for the gratuitous use of his rooms for meetings, and to the press for great services kindly rendered to the Association. Lord Ardilaun was re-elected President. The Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, and Secretary, were also re-elected. Miss E. E. Rutherfoord was elected as an additional Vice-President, and Messrs. Gillies and Read were elected auditors. Mr. Sproule and Mr. Read were appointed scrutineers to examine the voting papers for the election of the new committee. This was no light task, as fifty-four of these papers had been sent in. The result of the examination was that the following were declared elected as the acting committee for 1888-9: — R. Sproule, Rev. P. Kavanagh, A. Traill, LL.D., J. M. Gillies, J. K. Millner, E. P. O'Farrell, M.D., M. H. Read, S. K. Twigg, C. F. Knight, M.D., John Jones, M.D., J. O'Reilly, D.L., T. G, April 12, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 189 Barlow, E. Byrne, J.P., Rev. R. Seymour, J. Barnes. After some discussion it was resolved that in Rule VII. for the words 'in the second week in February' be sub- stituted the words ' not later than April.' There was an interesting debate as to the best method of forming depots in various parts of the country for the sale of members' honey, in addition to the depot which already exists in Dublin, and the Committee were author- ised to grant sums of money in aid of such local depots. Copies were distributed at the meeting of a circular, which Messrs. Abbott Bros., the Association's agents for the sale of honey, are issuing, with the sanction of the Committee, to grocers and other dealers in Dublin. The following have been appointed Hon. District Secretaries for the counties prefixed to their names. For Cork, Mr. C. E. Beale ; King's Co., Mr. R. T. Croasdaile, J.P. ; Fermanagh, Rev. D. E. Dickson ; Waterford, Mr. W. E. L'Estrange Duffin; Wexford, Mr. T. Elderkin; Sligo, Miss L'Estrange; Mayo, Mr. W. Morony ; Tipperary, Mr. T. G. Barlow ; Louth, Miss E. E. Ruther- foord ; Meath, Rev. It. Seymour. BEDFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the above Association was held in the Blue Ribbon room, Bedford, on Saturday afternoon, March 24th, under the presidency of the Rev. Dr. Wray, of Bedford. Amongst those present were Mrs. Edwards, Messrs. E. E. Dymond, Sydney Street, W. James, Turtle, Johnson, J. Pestell, and the Hon. Sec. (Mr. W. Rushton, of Felmersham). The Chairman stated that the meeting was called mainly for the purpose of drawing up the schedules of prizes to be offered at the various shows during the season. On the motion of Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Street, it was agreed ' That there be an additional class for cottagers, in which prizes shall be offered for the best six 1-lb sections of comb honey.' Mr. Street proposed, Mr. Johnson seconded, and it wras carried unanimously, ' That prizes in Classes I. and II. be all of money as in the other classes, and that the silver medal be offered for the best exhibition of comb honey in any class, and the bronze medal for the best exhibition of extracted or run honey in any class.' Mr. Johnson moved and Mr. Turtle seconded, ' That two prizes in money be offered at the Bedford Show for the best exhibition of bees-wax.' — Carried. It was resolved on the motion of Mr. John- son, seconded by Mr. Pestell, ' That the prizes offered at the Sandy Show be equal in amount to those offered at the Bedford Show.' Mr. Johnson then suggested ' That the medals (silver and bronze) given as prizes by the B. B. A. be offered elsewhere ; ' but it was decided to discuss the matter at a future meeting. Mr. Johnson proposed, and Mr. Dymond seconded, ' That the same amount in prizes be offered at the Woburn Show as last year.' — Carried nem. con. A short discussion then en- sued in regard to the entry fees, and it was ultimately agreed on the proposition of Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Pestell, ' That the same entry fees be charged at the Woburn Show as at other shows.' Mr. Johnson moved the following resolution, which, having been seconded by Mr. Pestell, was carried unanimously: — 'That the expert be requested to report any cases of " foul brood " he may meet with, and ascertain on what terms the owner would allow the infected stocks to be destroyed, and that the Secretary be authorised to pay a fair amount in com- pensation.' J)0mrpt. BELGIUM. An interesting Apicultural Exhibition will be held in Brussels from the 11th to the 23rd of August next. There are seventeen classes in six divisions, and the prizes consist of medals and money. We hope some of our manufacturers will make a show because, owing to the circulation of the French translation of our Guide Book in Belgium, many bee-keepers have there adopted our plan of hives and methods. Application for space must be made before loth May next, and full particulars may be had by addressing Monsieur le Secretaire des Concours Internationaux d' Apiculture, Jardin Botanique, Brussels. Exhibits coming from other countries than Belgium pay half rates on Belgian lines. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. The honey-bee was introduced into Southern California in March, 1855, by Mr. 0. W. Childs, who purchased a few colonies in San Francisco, paying $100 per colony for them at that port. Under his care and management, the bees multiplied |and produced large quantities of comb honey, which he sold readily at $1 per pound. His success started a boom in the bee business, and in three years afterwards nearly every American resident in Los Angeles city had bees to sell, but the pri«e was a shade lower than that paid b}' Mr. Childs in San Francisco, for many were anxious to sell their bees at $5 per colony. The price of honey had [gone down to 15 cents per pound. Swarms of bees had escaped from the apiaries and located in hollow trees, clefts in the rocks and holes in the ground, so that the laud was literally flowing with honey. About this time the fruit-growers began to com- plain that the bees destroyed fruit, and most of the bees were removed to a distance from the city and located in the foothills and at favourable spots, along the foot and sides of the mountains. In their new homes the bees produced a better quality and a much greater quantity of honey, found in the bloom of the black and white sages that abounded in the hilly and mountainous regions, besides the nectar-yielding indigenous shrubs and plants so abundant in Southern California in those days. From 400 to 500 pounds of honey per hive was considered a fair yield ; and as the quantity of honey increased the price decreased, so that 4 and 5 cents per pound was about all that good honey would command. Most of the honey was shipped by sea to foreign countries. A small quantity' found a market in New York. The crop of honey in 1S7C was enormous, thousands of tons being gathered in Los Angeles county alone, and equally large yields were produced in San Diego county, one person being credited as the owner of G000 colonies of bees and producing $50,000 worth of honey and beeswax. The next year, 1877, proved most disastrous by reason of an extremely dry season. Thousands of colonies of bees perished for want of food, and the spring of 1878 found many apiaries entirely destroyed. Discouragement took a fast hold of the average bee-keeper, [and to such an extent that he quitted the' business in disgust and never embarked in it again. Low prices for honey have been the rule since 187G until the present year, when, by reason of a short crop, and the meagre supply of honey on hand, both in California, the eastern States, and the West Indian Islands, the price of honey has gone up nearly one-half more than it was one year ago, and this right in the face of low-priced sugar, an article that has heretofore governed the price of honey to a great extent. Amongst the men of means now pouring into Southern California in search of a salubrious climate and a rich soil, that has never failed to give a fine crop of fruit in a hundred years, no doubt many may be found who have in their "old homes handled the honey bee, either for profit or pleasure— that pleasure derived from investi- gating the habits and peculiar instincts of the most wonderful creature in animated nature, seemingly en- dowed with an intelligence that man himself can hardly measure. To such men, coming, as they mostly do, from northern latitudes, where winter care of bees is often greater than the care and labour bestowed in summer, I 190 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 12, 1888. would say, Take hold of the bee business in this land of sunshine, where, on an average, there are not 15 days out of the 365 of the year in which the bee is not on the wing — in this land of perpetual bloom, where the honey bee may gather nectar every day in the year. Take hold with your experience, and, keeping step with the progress and advancement that permeates every other branch of business, help the honey bee to gather and store the unlimited quantity of nectar that burdens the bloom of millions on millions of flowers in this favoured land of ours, and save from the wild winds this wealth of sweet- ness that would otherwise be for ever lost to mankind. The health-seeker can hardly find a business so conducive to perfect restoration of health, and the student of science can nowhere find a field that will afford a more inter- esting and absorbing study than that furnished by the apiary. Very many of our prominent bee-keepers have turned their attention to town sites and corner lots, quitting a business that has heretofore yielded them health and wealth, without the risks of speculation, and to-day there are fewer men in the business than there were fifteen years ago. The orchard and vineyard, the grain field and town site have displaced many a splendid apiary that was con- sidered a good property three or four years ago. Our extensive mountain-ranges afford an abundance of bee pasture in localities where the plough, the orchard, and vineyard can never go, and the very best use that such places can be put to is to make them the home of the honey bee. San Diego, Ventura, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and San Bernardino counties ought to maintain 500,000 colonies of bees, that would produce $5,000,000 worth of honey and half a million dollars' worth of bees- wax per annum. Nature furnishes the raw material ; the honey bee, under proper handling, will throw in the necessary amount of industry, if man will take the trouble to throw in a little industry and skill to give to commerce this vast amount of wealth that would add so greatly to the pleasure of the palate, as well as to the health of humanity. For it is a fact that pure Californian sage honey contains medicinal properties that, properly used, will add greatly to the health of most people. — C. N. Wilson. feMSpoittmxa. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, jEc, must be addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c}o .Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C All business communications relating to Advertisements, &c.t must be addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). *»* In. order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. OUR HONEY IMPORTS. The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom during the month of March, 1888, amounted to 2841. [From a return furnished by the Statistical Department H. M. Customs to E. II. Bellairs, Wingfield, Christ- church.] CYPRIANS AND CARNIOLANS. [1576.] From Great Britain and from America letters similar to the following have so often been received by me that I deem the answers of sufficient general interest to warrant their publication on both sides of the Atlantic. They are given in accordance with my experience and honest convictions. I would explain that I sent Mr. Group mported Cyprians in 1885, and again in 1886, direct from Cyprus by letter-post. Ranchtown, Pemu, U.S.A., Feb. 23rd, 1888. Me. Fkank Benton, Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Dear Sir, — 1. Are the Carniolan bees as good honey- gatherers as the Cyprians ? 2. Will they at all times defend then- hives? 3. Are the queens as prolific as the Cyprian and Syrian queens ? 4. Do you consider them as well a defined strain or race as the Cyprians? The Cyprians, according to my experience, are a far better defined race than the Italians. When crossed their markings are transmitted much farther. I am inclined to give the Germans the next place. I have experimented with the German, Italian, and Cyprian races. 5. How do the Carniolans winter in confinement ? I would like to have this information as early as possible, but should Mr. Benton not be at home, I will esteem it a favour if the receiver hereof will transmit it to him. Kespectfully, John W. Groit. Answers. 1. No; but they are good both as honey-gatherers and comb-builders, and they seal their honey in such a manner that the combs look whiter than those sealed by Cyprians, Syrians, Palestine?, or Italians. 2. No. If made queenless, they are thrown into greater excitement than are other bees under the same circumstances, and if deprived of their brood at the same time are frequently so disconcerted as to neglect for the time being the defence of their hives. At other times, that is, under ordinary circumstances, they are most excellent defenders of their hives. 3. Carniolan queens are not, as a rule, as prolific as Cyprian and Syrian queens, but are far more prolific than black or Italian queens. The best Carniolan queens do not fall far short of Eastern queens as regards pro- liricness. 4. I do not. Mr. Group is quite right in saying that ' the Cyprians are a far better defined race than the Italians, and when crossed their markings are trans- mitted much farther.' And the same thing is true of Cyprians as compared with Carniolans or any other known race. Cyprians are the ' thorough-breds ' among bees — the only ones whose pedigrees are pure, and their long line of ancestors bred in pent-up Cyprus, under conditions that must necessarily have produced a won- derful race of bees, reproduces its individuals to our admiring and covetous gaze, — admiring because these bees transmit their markings and great beauty, and covetous because they transmit also, even should their pure blood be adulterated by several generations of cross- breeding, their wonderful energy in collecting honey. Among European races of bees, Carniolans, according to my experience, are, in all points of importance, decidedly superior, no matter whether we consider their qualities as honey-collectors, or their ability, if their working-force be so directed, to increase rapidly ; their readiness to enter surplus receptacles and ability to build and seal over snow-white combs; their gentleness of disposition — their quietness under manipulation, and inclination to adhere to the combs, yet the comparative ease with which they can be brushed or shaken off; their ready defence of their hives under all ordinary circumstances, both against moths and robber bees; their quiet submission when confined for shipment; their readiness in construct- ing numerous queen-cells ; the great prolificness of their queens; the indisposition the workers show towards gathering propolis to daub up sections and glue frames solid; the greater size and individual strength of the workers; their ready submission upon the application of smoke, if perchance they may have been aroused by rough manipulation ; their disinclination to attack any one who merely enters the apiary ; their hardihood, enabling them to withstand the severest climates and April 12, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. mi their quietness and compactness in their winter clusters making them remarkably good winterers ; if we test them in regard to any of these points, side by side with /any other commonly cultivated European race of bees, all must yield the palm to the silver race of Carniola. Mr. Samuel Simmins, in his excellent work, A Modern Bee-Farm, published last autumn, tells the whole story in one sentence when he says of Carniolans, ' Scarcely a fault can be found with them.' I concede for the blacks what Mr. Group intimates he is inclined to credit them with, viz., transmitting power. The Carniolans are also well endowed in this respect, but if the blacks or Germans have, in comparison with them, nothing that is superior to transmit, pray of what use is the bare power to transmit, even supposing that to be greater than is possessed by any race except Cyprians ? To transmit, forsooth, their tawny, shaggy coats, their black tails, their proclivities for robbing, their kindly disposition toward moth-larva;, their keen- ness in spying out, the moment they stick their heads forth from between the top-bars of the frames, a soft spot in the back of any man's hands, and their agility in getting there, while their fellows left in the hive do mostly come on the scent of their predecessors' tails? Or is it to hand down to the coming bee that trans- cendent quality or sense whereby this aforesaid German bee invariably and instantly becomes aware of the intrusion of a strangers nose within twenty rods of its alveary domicile, and the unexampled self-forgetful uess it exhibits in the punishment of this offending but other- wise very respectable human member? But enough of this. Americans should have no prejudice in this matter, for we have no native race of bees ; all are imported foreigners ; and it only behoves us to select the best to build upon. And are we to remain idle, while breeders of horses, of cattle, of sheep, of swine, of poultry, of fancy pigeons, and even of pet stock, by im- porting, selecting, and combining, are producing almost any and every form and quality desired ? And for us to commence with the common black bee — the ' scrub ' among bees — would, I consider, be equivalent to the cattle-breeders going back at the present time to the ' scrub ' among bovines, because forsooth he may have discovered that his developed breed will not bear the ne- glect that his common stock would, and still preserve the character it had when he first made its acquaintance ; or it would be like the horticulturist who should ignore the splendid fruits already existing, and persist in cultivating the sour, gnarly natural fruit ; or the woollen manufac- turer, who should go back to the spinning-wheel and hand-loom, because the steam-loom costs a deal of money and eats up tons of fuel, or because, perhaps, its tre- mendous clank and clang do not please him ! No, friends, though all these old things had their uses, and, doubtless, there are many still for whom such things are best adapted, those who lead must have what produces the best result — what yields the greatest returns. These can- not afford to ignore any of the progress the world has made in their respected branches. No more can the breeder of bees, who, by selection and combination, expects to attain greater and more satisfactory results than have heretofore been reached, afford to ignore the great value of the breeding material which the past few years have placed at his disposal. And as Nature herself has kindly done part of the work, he cannot afford to go over it again, but should begin with the races she has partly perfected. 5. Excellently. They have been developed in a cold, mountainous region, where snows are deep in winter and rains often prolonged and even cold during the summer season. The past winter bees have been con- fined here without a good flight for four months continuously. Snow has been over two feet deep in the open country, while mountain ravines are drifted full. The thermometer several times indicated 13° Fahrenheit below zero. Very possibly this question is meant to refer to wintering in cellars or special repositories. In Carniola bees are not wintered in cellars, so far as I know. The native bee-keepers pack their shallow box- hives (which are C to 8 inches deep, 12 to 18 inches wide, and about 3 feet long) side by side and one above another in old-fashioned bee-houses or sheds, and sur- round them with moss or fine hay, letting a mat or trap- door close the front during intense cold or when the ground is covered with light snow and the sun is bright. In this sort of repository colonies, with abundant stores, winter well. — Frank Benton, Laibach, Upper Carniola, Austria. GRIQUALAND BEES. [1577.] I send you some bees from this district, and would you kindly inform me, through the columns of your Journal, what kind they are ? They work fairly well, but are very troublesome when the hive is doing- well, as they sting a good deal then. Another question I should like answered, and that is, I found, on opening a queen-cell on two occasions, a worker-bee only inside, and dead, and on another occasion only some stuff inside which appeared to be a mixture of wax and pollen ; these cells were sealed, and to all appearance just the same as the ones that contained queens. Only this summer have I and a few others gone in for bee- keeping. I think we shall do well when we get into it. Both your Journal and book are of great assistance. We have no foul brood to contend against, nor the wax- moth. I only hope foul brood won't be brought into the country through foundation-comb, some of which we have on the way out. We have about seven months' summer (our seasons are not well marked here, and we have practically only summer and winter) and a dry, though cold winter. So I think in time, and with experience, we will go ahead. — Rf.uij. TviutELL, Griaualand East, Cape (Mony, South Africa, January, 1888, [The hive-bees forwarded are the same as those de- scribed by Dr. Stroud, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, see B. B. J., vol. xiv., p. 188. Dr. Stroud would be pleased to give any advice required as to treatment. Most of the bees have three yellow bands, as Ligurians, Cyprians, &c. The queens and drones are the usual size. Like Dr. Stroud's South Africans, the workers are smaller than those of any other cultivated race, and the presence of darker bees shows them to be hybrids, though generally well marked. It is not unusual to find workers in queen- cells. After the queen is allowed to hatch, the worker goes in to clear up ; its ' friends ' kindly seal the cover- ing, and the poor inmate, forgetting its first cradle, fails to find an exit — and dies. — Ed.] RAILWAY RATES. [ l-">78.] Our thanks are due to Mr. Griffin for bringing this subject so practically to our notice. It is one which presses very heavily on all our home productions. I am glad to hear he has been so successful in his negotiations with the Railway Companies in his district, but I fear so long as Railway Companies are allowed monopolies — and they take precious good care to be well represented in Parliament — we shall never see the tariffs put on a much more liberal basis. With respect to Railway Companies and their rates, I will, with your permission, Mr. Editor, mention a case where your humble servant was nearly made to smart dearly for the carriage of his hives and bees. Well, I wanted to send some of my hives to the heather — over fifty miles away — so I ordered a van for their conveyance in the usual way, and at the usual cost, and took thirty hives to the moors through which the Company's line 192 THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 12, 1888. passed. All went well, not a single hitch or mishap of any hind, and the bees did wonders, for in about a fortnight many of them were hanging out as if pre- paratory to swarming, and the fronts of the hives, too, were covered with bees. Of course those in this con- dition had filled all up, sections and everything (though the sections were not yet sealed over). I returned home in high spirits at the very cheering prospect, determining to send up another consignment of crates filled with empty sections, when, lo ! at home there was a note fra- me, a notice from the Railway Company, stating that I should not be allowed to bring my hives home again unless I paid the ordinary parcels rate on them. I made a rough guess, and made the cost on that scale come to about 20/., falsing in the weight of hives, combs, &c. Well, this was a damper. What to do I did not know, but decided not to send any more crates — no use mailing the hives heavier, there would be enough to pay on them already. Well, September came, the weather broke, and I wanted my hives home, but the Company, or rather the official who had charge of this district, was obstinate. In vain I referred them to the price stated in their own time-table ; in vain I stated I was paying the price always chaiged before; in vain I protested against having been allowed to take them unless they were prepared to bring them back at the same rate — he was obdurate. Well, October came, the days much shorter and the nights colder ; it became a necessity for me to have my bees somehow, so I did what I ought to have done at fh-bt if I had only thought of it. I got the station-master who had charge of them to order a van for their return home. I ought to state that he was under another official, a gentleman at head-quarters, whose name was highly spoken of whenever 1 heard it mentioned. Well, I went over and fetched all away, paying the station-master the usual charge, which he took without a murmur. But I was not out of the wood yet, for on arrival at Beverley I was met by the booking clerk, who told me I could not have my bees unless I paid the demand of parcels rate. However, I was ready for him, and handed him the receipt for the carriage. He then said they could not be delivered that night — in fact, not until he got orders from his superior, the ounoxious official. I replied that unless I got my hives out of the van not only that night but at once, the bees would all be suffocated, and that to save them I should open all the doors and let them out, and compel the Company, as I had paid the carriage on them, to deliver them at my garden, adding that I pitied the men who had to enter the van next day to get them out. He then stated that under the circumstances I had better take them ; so, having two men with a spring cart in waiting, I quickly landed them safely into the garden, and so ended as disagreeable a piece of business as I care to have to do with, and all through the obstinacy of an official who I afterwards heard was — shall I say it — yes, a jealous bee-keeper.— F. Boyes, Beverley. RAILWAY BATES. [1-579.] Replying to inquiries on this subject, in reference to my previous communication, p. 133, the classification on which the charges for honey are based are the regular Clearing-house rates, which are, or supposed to be, the guide for all railways throughout the United Kingdom ; but these are subject to alterations from time to time when agreed upon under certain circumstances. I mentioned on the previous occasion three classes. The following are the rates between two particular stations on the G.W.R. system : — Class 2 would be at the rate of . . . 10s. Class 3 „ „ . 12s. lid Class 4 „ „ . 15*. 1(W Or take two other stations at a greater distance : — Class 2 would be at the rate of 34s. 2d. Class 3 „ „ .... 39s. 2d. Class 4 „ „ .... 49s. 2d. From these figures it will be seen that it is worth moving in the matter, as the saving would be considerable. But although the various lines work on the Clearing house classification, yet quantities of honey under 5 cwt. are charged on a sliding scale ; and here again we get considerable variation, as many lines have a scale of their own, and other railways have a sliding scale which they use for competitive places (where other lines touch) and another for their own stations where they are masters of the situation. As far as I can ascertain the G.W.R. and the M.R. have only one scale for all stations, but the L.S.W.R. have two, and the S.E.R. work on a different system. For instance, 28 lbs. to be charged at the rate of 40s., by the G.W.R. would be Is. At the same rate by the L.S.W.R., if to a competitive station, would also be Is., but if to another place the charge would be Is. 3d. The alteration to Class 2 will, I hope, soon be an accomplished fact. The G.W.R. are doing their best. I hope others interested in the matter will not discon- tinue their efforts ; they must remember that one or two applications will not carry the day. — Wm. N. Gbiffin. DIPLOMAS.— SECTIONS. [1580.] The remarks of ' East Grimstead ' on ' Hon- orary Awards' in your number of March 22nd, seem to me worth the consideration of the B. B. K. A. Of course, I speak from an outside point of view, and do not know how the suggestion might work. One can imagine his being ' posed ' on being asked if he had a certificate, and being mortified also at being obliged to confess that he did not possess one. At the same time, he might have been well worthy of it, though it must be allowed that (as in the professions) the diploma, or whatever it may be called, is the security to the public. In some respects the parallel does not hold good, and I venture to think that it would be a graceful and much-appreciated com- pliment if the B. B. K. A. were to formally confer the title of Honorary Expert on certain persons who might be recommended by their county committees, on notice being given that they were prepared to receive names. I loiow of an old bee-keeper who has acted as third- class judge, though not certificated ! (The first cer- tificated man must have been examined by one not cer- tificated.) His relations to others would make it improper for him to incur the risk of a closed eye through not wearing his veil. Yet, if there is a queen to be found I think he can find her, and the ordinary manipulations of fifteen or sixteen hives are common things enough to him; while not only the county bee-tent, but many literary associations, have called on him (not in vain) for lectures, and no one who wants information seems to hesitate to apply to him for it. Now if such a one held the title of (say) second-class expert it might deservedly save him from a similar unpleasant fate to that which befell ' East Grinstead,' and spare his association at the next ex- hibition from a suspicion of weakness. The power to produce a novelty in sections must, one would think, be well-nigh exhausted. If foundation is to be fixed in the sides one is inclined to ask, Which is the side of a 4j x 4j- four-way section ? There is, it may be admitted, the advantage that they can be turned any way, inverted or semi-inverted. The principle of a clip between the two halves of a side was surely that of Abbott's old long sections of ten years ago, where the top was formed of two laths, moveable, kept in place when fitted by small brads. We have now a little slit in the top of a one-piece section, or a fair kerf from end jo end of the quarter in which is the dovetail. Will no April 12, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 193 One advance a little further ? I never let my dovetail be seen on top. How shall I keep them at the bottom, and yet have as much security for a full piece of foundation as is given by the new inventions ? 1 do not think I have one slip in a hundred of the (about) half-size pieces which I use, but I might wish to use full pieces and not show the dovetails. I think of a plan, but I have neither leisure nor appliances to work it out. — S. C. AN IRISH EXHIBITION IN LONDON. [1581.] An Irish exhibition is to be held at Olympia, Kensington, to open on the 4th of June, and to close on the 27th of October. Lord Arthur Hill is the Secretary. Department A is devoted to Agriculture ; hives, and bee- appliances, manufactured by Irish firms, will be admis- sible in section 4, and in section 5, ' Products,' the following are named: — Milk, cream, butter, cheese, eggs, HONEY, bread, biscuits, flour, vegetables, cereals, roots, hops, seeds, tinned meat, compressed animal food, foods of all kinds.' This will be a good opportunity for the Irish Dee- keepers' Associations to show how the country has benefited by the visit of Messrs. U. N. Abbott and W. Carr, who, under the auspices of the B.B.K.A., made a lecturing tour through Ireland, the expenses of which (soma 80/.) were borne by that Association. It will be early for this year's honey, but that of last year will be eligible, and can be supplemented by this year's honey later on. — J. M. Hooker, April 7. KOERBS' COMB FOUNDATION. [1582.] With regard to the new Koerbs' comb founda- tion, has it occurred to any of your readers, that inas- much as there are cells on one side only, not more than one half the number of bees usually working on the ordinary comb, would be able to work on the Koerbs' foundation ; and moreover, that it is probable that the bees would be prevented from manipulating either the comb or their honey on cells of double depth with that speed which they would be able to exercise on the foundation now generally employed? — W. J. Mucin. f.y, Loweswater. SUGGESTIONS. [1583.] In your issue of March 1, your correspondent, Mr. Shea, gives a few ussful hints to bee-keepers in his communication (1510) under the above heading, and I hoped some one more capable than myself would have given in return a simple mode of shading the entrances from the glare of the snow ; but as no one has replied to his request I shall be pleased to give him my experience if he will accept a hint from a working man. He says, 'Porches I have discarded as not necessary ;' true, they are worse than useless as often made, but if they com- prise a slanting board not less four inches wide, and are placed rather low across the entire front of the hive, you have always a shade on the entrance and a dry promenade for the bees in all weathers. Another plan, very effective, though not so simple as the above, is to make the alighting-board work on hinges, fastened to the floor-board, and which may be hooked to the porch as soon as winter commences, and which need not be lowered until spring, as the bees can go in and out freely at either end of porch. — Yorkshire Novice. GARDENERS AS BEE-KEEPERS. [1584.] I have just been reading your new monthly paper, and most heartily congratulate you on its issue, and also wish you every success. I was much pleased with the letter of the ' Village Blacksmith,' and it put the idea in my head that perhaps you might rind space in a future issue for my experiences as a bond Jide cottage bee-keeper. I am a gardener, and I think every gardener ought to keep bees. I have kept some now for six years, the first four of which I kept them in straw skeps, and used supers on the top, but got but little honey. Then a change came o'er the scene. A shining light arose in the shape of a new school-master, who not only knew something of the modern systems of bee-keeping, but was willing to share his knowledge with anyone else. Under his tuition I learned some of the mysteries of the bar-frame hive, and also how to make one — rough, certainly, but still it answered for a time. I have made several since then ; but I now buy 9- inch deal boards, and make them 18x20 outside measurement, and use a doubling box on the top. In the autumn of 1880 we commenced driving, and I got stung so badly that I thought I would give it up, but still I persevered, and can now drive bees with anyone. I had four lots, which I placed in two hives ; they wintered well, and came out very strong last spring. One I worked for sections, and the other for extracted honey. I commenced extracting June 21st, and got 20 lbs., and by tin1 end of July my hive had yielded me 95 lbs., and the other about 50 sections, so I think on the whole my first season turned out well. I am now the happy possessor of seven colonies, and hope to give you a further account of my experiences later on. — Kentish Bee. [We shall be most pleased to receive the account of your experiences, and we would fain hope that the day may soon arrive when all gardeners will be bee-keep- ers.— Ed.] FIXING FOUNDATION. [1585.1 I forward you a description, with sketch, of the way I fix foundation in my frames for insertion in the Journal if you think it of sufficient interest. Cut two strips of wood Jxfx length of inside of frame, and nail them to the top of the inside of frame on each side of the foundation, pressing the strips well against the foundation. Nail with J in. wire shoe nails. If half sheets only of foundation be used, this plan works perfectly. I have never tried it with whole sheets without wire, for I always wire the whole sheets with diagonal wiring, one wire passing on each side of founda- tion. I embed the wire with an 8d. brass wheel, which cooks use for cutting out pastry devices. There could not be a better embedder, so I think. The f in. strips need not be the full length of inside of frame ; 8 in. in length works well, if wire be used, or three blocks 2 in. in length spaced along the frame would do. Strips the full length of frame have the advantage of strengthening the top-bar. In my opinion no part of the frame should be of less than § in. stuff. — Hive. WIDTH OF SECTIONS. [1586.] In discussing this subject, in which we find considerable diversity of opinion, we must carefully weigh the advantages, or otherwise, of narrow v. the two-inch width. For my own part, I am strongly in favour of the latter, for reasons which I shall briefly endeavour to point out. It has been decided that the 4j x 4j section is the best for many reasons. The l|-in. and lj-in. width sections have their supporters ; they look neat and are a handy package ; but the cost will be the same as a 2-in. section. The foundation, See., will be the same, and as the quantity of comb-honey they contain is less, the cost of production will be greater. If the bee-keeper works his bees for exhibition purposes and his honey for home consumption, then he will be the best guide as to which width is preferable ; but if the apiary is to be a paying concern, and the sections 194 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 12, 1888. are worked for sale, then my experience would strongly he in favour of the full-width sections. We have noticed that the cost of production is the same for a narrow and wider section ; therefore, if the chances of all were equal, then the 2-in. section would produce the hest profit. But where a sale for one narrow section is obtained, a market is open for six of the wider. Many firms will not look at a narrow section, and as supply and demand must be considered, it devolves on bee-keepers to take the wants of the public as a criterion, and to decide on onlv having 4j- x4Jx2 sections. As I am now only alluding to which width section will find the best sale, I will not speak of the merits of two or four bee-way sections, as long as the 2-in. width is adopted, either of these plans will not be against their market value ; and this allows the bee- keeper some diversity of metho'ds of working. — Wm. X. GrtlFFIN. QUEEN INTRODUCTION. [1.587.] I have read with much regret Mr. Bonner- Chambers' letter (1575) in last B. B. J. in which he so strongly condemns the Simmins' method of direct queen introduction. I have adopted the system throughout my apiary of fifty stocks, and have never had a failure when 1 have strictly followed the directions. As Mr. Simmins is the only dealer to my knowledge who guarantees safe introduction, I think it only fair to give an instance which to unbiassed minds will surely negative Mr. Chambers' sentence: — 'The system seems a very valu- able one fur queen-dealers, as they can guarantee safe introduction, telling their customers to look on the third day to be sure, and yet prepare to send them another on the fourteenth, by which time she will be lost in some unaccountable manner.' Having safely introduced five Carniolans to stocks whose queens I had killed ns being of a second-rate quality I proceeded to examine hive No. 0 with the intention of killing the queen so as to make room for the sixth Carniolan which had just come to hand. Being struck with the fine appearance of the black queen, I removed her with a frame of brood to a spare hive intending to utilise her as occasion misrht require. Although at the time I did not recognise the fact, yet I was virtually constructing a nucleus, which is expressly forbidden b}' Mr. Simmins. This queen was balled and killed on the eighth day by the old bees, re- turning from the nucleus. I wrote Mr. Simmins a post- card informing him that the queen was killed, but giving no details. By return of post I received a note saying that ' Mr. Simmins will certainly send you another so soon as more come in.' On thinking it over I saw in what way I had departed from the instructions, as ex- plained above, and of course declined Mr. Simmins' offer to replace the queen. Surely the above is strong proof that Mr. Simmins or any other dealer who may guarantee safe introduction is not actuated by any motive so base as that suggested by Mr. Chambers. — E. J. Gibisins, Neath, Glamorganshire, April 0. ALIGHTING-BOARDS.— GIVING SUGAR CAKE [1588.] I enclose sketches of two devices that might interest some of your readers if you think them worth inserting. Fig. 1 shows one of my hives arranged to prevent young bees being lost by dropping from the edge of the alighting -board, and also to give the young pollen-gatherers an easy entrance to the hive when they alight on the ground. Two small nails are driven into one side of the board (d), and a stone or brick under- neath supports it, so that there is a run without break from the ground to the hive — the floor-board being, by this means, kept from contact from the ground. A large board is used in a similar manner for hiving a swarm. The common floor-boards are not well adapted for ap- plying such a board, although with a little contriving something similar could be managed without placing the hive directly on the ground. On a warm day, after a spell of cold, the loss of young bees is considerable ; and Fig. 1. then just at a time when they cannot well be spared. The arrangement illustrated provides in the best way against such loss. I find the following a handy way of giving sugar- cake to the bees. A sardine tin has a circular hole cut out of the bottom ; this hole is placed over a rounded block 0, and the hot cake is poured in to just fill the tin. When set, the block is removed and the cake placed over feed-hold. A piece of glass then forms the cover ; the glass allows you to see when the cake is coming to an end. The saw-cut edging of the top of the tin should be removed by melting the solder in a flamo cautiously. The hole is cut with a large gouge on a wood-block ; 5x4 photo negatives that accumulate as ' wasters ' form good covers where available. An inverted cup answers for the block. — Silke. Fig. 2. IN-AND-IN BREEDING. [1589.] As a bee-keeper of several years' experience, I can quite agree with Mr. Webster and the writer of ' Useful Hints ' on the above subject. I have four races of bees in my apiary, and can now more than double the quantity of honey from the same number of stocks. My hybrid bees last season proved the most productive, some giving over 100 lbs. per colony. I have one frame-hive that contains four races of bees, and the amount of honey they collected last year was astonishing. It is very strong now, and the queen breeding vigorously. It will be a test hive the coming season. I have read Mr. Boyes' letters with interest at various times for over a couple of years, for we live in the same riding, but I do not know him personally, but this letter may form a sort of introduction to our acquaintance. I do not wish to enter into a paper war with him, but our views certainly differ in point of issue. I think if he once crossed his bees with Eastern races, he would derive the same benefit that myself and many others can prove. In conclusion, we, as bee-keepers and stock- breeders, are very much indebted to Mr. Webster and the writer of ' Useful Hints ' for their sound and practical information. — Paul Bielby, North Grimsttm, York- shire, April 9th. April 12, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 195 ffifyats ixam % Pibxs. Cottingham, April 2nd, 1888. — Up to the present date the poor bees here have had a bad time of it. High north winds, rain, snow, frost, and an occasional gleam of sunshine is the state of the weather, so that nothing is going into the hives — even when they can get out — only what we put in ourselves. I have placed a frame of wheat-flour next each brood-nest, with a bottle of syrup on the top, and a few eggs are being laid, I believe, in the middle of each day by every queen, or nearly so. I have Carniolans, Italians, and blacks, and by how they are going on now I much prefer the Carniolans to either of the others ; they are hardier, stronger on the wing, queens more energetic, and, in fact, far preferable to either Italians or blacks in every particular. — Ohas, Howes. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- E. C. P. — Obtaining Fruit Blossom Honey. — Your plan would result in the ' crowding out' of the queen. If there is a sufficiency of orchards — which we, to the best of our recollection of your neighbourhood, doubt — the following plan would be preferable : Stimulate the colonies until they become crowded with bees, then just before the trees are in full bloom, put on the racks. Before doing so, contract the body-box that the bees are forced up into the sections. T. 1). S. — 1 . Fastening Brown Paper to Tin. — Glue will do this very effectually, but we doubt whether this would stand the dampness from the food. We never use such feeders. 2. Zinc and Syrup. — Storing syrup in zinc vessels is to be condemned, but in moderately quick feeding from feeders having perforated zinc over feed-hole it is of little consequence. 3. Queen Introduction. — See pamphlet advertised in this Journal. 4. Candy. — Candy cannot be made by boiling fer- mented honey. We should make vinegar of it. 5. Echoes from Hives. — We are always pleased to receive same. G. J. D., Barnes. — 1, Transferring. — The transferring must not be done until warm weather sets in, say, middle of May. There will then be plenty of time for the bees to repair combs before the honey-flow sets in, which in your district is about the third week in June. 2. White Substance in Combs. — The sub- stance seen is mouldy pollen. This is often observed in spring time. The honey which bees usually place over stored pollen has been consumed, consequently it has turued mouldy. The bees will remove it. Rev. F. W. Pudsey. — Drone-comb. — A preferable plan to the one you suggest is : Place two frames half filled with drone-comb outside the cluster of bees, one on each side. Remove any similar remaining frames con- taining drone-comb from the brood-nest, and store them ready for use in an upper storey when the honey flow commences. Fill up the vacant space, thus caused in the centre of brood nest, with frames containing full sheets of foundation, and close up the cluster of bees by division boards. Insert more foundation when re- quired. Be careful that the drone-comb left in the hive does not contain eggs in the drone-cells. When putting on the upper storey use the Heddon excluding honey-board, and remove the two frames of drone-comb from the lower hive, supplying its place with found- ation, to the upper, having first cut out all drone-comb and brood. Hibernicus. — Solidified Honey. — We are not prepared to assert that scientific chemistry cannot supply an effectual remedy for the prevention of granulation in ex- tracted honey, but we think very doubtful that such a remedy has been applied to the honey you mention as offered for sale under the condition of ' warranted not to solidify.' Honey which has been submitted to a temperature of 200 Fahr. will not granulate as a rule. C. Howes. — Drone-breeder. — The chances are about even that the expert is mistaken, that the queeu is really an old one, or that she is unfertilised. Any of these three positions may be the correct one in the case you de- scribe. We advise that the queen remain at the head of the colony another fortnight, and if at the end of that time there is no worker brood in the hive, re- move her and unite the bees to another colony. Jo. Ro, Lo. — Box Hive. — You have no alternative but to remove the top of this hive and transfer all straight combs into a bar-frame hive. You will find ample details in last year's volume, pages 80, 112, 124, 1-54, 188, 273, 204, .315, 410, and 512. From April to September is the extreme period for transferring, and during that time no prosperous stock would bo with- out brood. Place all brood-combs in the new hive if at all straight. Fighting will certainly take place if more than one queen is left when uniting. Queens, like ladies, are any age unless you happen to know. C. Howes. — -We are pleased to note your exertions on behalf of the Yorkshire B.K.A., and wish you all success in your work. Kodoxo. — Plants to cover Wall and Fence. — Wo should advise planting Cotoneaster miorophylla on the wall facing west. As to the wire fence you mention being so much in the shade, it would be useless to plant creepers, for honey secretion. Anything might be planted, such as honeysuckle, jasmine,clematis, climbing roses, &C. ; but as the sun has not much access to the screen, little or no honey would be elaborated. T. II. Bush. — Parasites. — The parasite on your bees is, from your description, the Braula caca. It is not often found on bee3 in this country ; but in Southern Europe and in Cyprus it is very frequently met with. It will most probably die off. They are very active little creatures, and you would have a difficulty in removing them individually from your bees. A. W. C. — Moving Bees. — If the bees have not been overhauled this year, we would simply place a piece of perforated zinc over the flight-hole, and secure another piece of perforated zinc over the hole in the quilt used for feeding, and pack them securely, so that the quilts could not get removed during transit, and send them by the pantechnicon, taking care that they were not covered up by other packages or a tilt. You will find they would then travel all right, as the weather is so cold. But if the frames have been taken out and the bees overhauled this spring, then — No. 1, Yes; No. 2, No ; No. 3, Either. H. S. — 1. Flour Candy. — AVe find our stocks continue to consume the flour candy after stimulative bottle- feeding has commenced. No other plan entails as little waste. 2. Syrup in Winter. — Syrup must not be given in winter, being too watery it would induce dysentery, as the bees cannot exercise sufficiently to drive off the water. Sealed stores and candy are the only permissible foods in the winter. 3. Queens raised now. — Of no use whatever unless they mate in about 5 to 10 days after hatching. 4. Position of Cluster. — Not at all unusual. Fresh air is quite as important as warmth and warmth as fresh air. 5. Hive-maker. — ■ There used to be a maker of the name you mention advertise in these columns. D. R. Daly. — 1. Sections on Swarms. — Yes, at once, with excluder zinc between, and only starters of half an inch foundation in the frames below. 2. Preventing Swarming. — Yes. See answer to T. Nixon. 3. Posi- tion of Hives. — We would advise you to move your bees away from your cow-yard for the sake of the cows ; there might be ' ructions ' in the hot weather. The hives should, if possible, stand in a sheltered It THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 12, 1888. position, and face any way between east and south or south-west. Thanks for your appreciation of our publication. Horace. — Replacing Old Combs. — In view of the per- sistent cold weather, you can wait, say, a fortnight before carrying out your substitution. J. Walton. — Transferrin;) Bees from Bo.v. — On a mild day — if we ever get one — you should cut the combs out of the frames, and tie them in the Standard frames with about three pieces of tape each, keeping the combs close up to the top-bar. In about three days they will be fixed, and the tapes shoidd then be removed. All bees should be carefully shaken or brushed off each comb before attempting to cut it out. After you have a comb in the new hive, brush the bees into that one. T. Nixon. — 1. Preventing Swarming. — Yes, if you adopt Simmins' non-swarming system, i.e., put half-inch starters only of foundation in bottom box, raising the combs already there up into the doubling-box. Extract from the shallow super as may be advisable. 2. Sugar. — The sample of sugar will do for dry feeding, but not for syrup-making. It is known by the name of ' Demerara Syrups.' Query. — Some years ago I saw several sections at a show worked entirely in glass, which looked beautiful. Will some reader kindly tell me how they are fastened together, as I should like to work a few this year ? Also, is it a fact that honey extracted from oWcomb, or combs that have been bred in, is not so clear as that stored in new ; and, if so, why ? This is a question of great im- portance to those who have a lot of spare combs, which are given in upper storeys for extracting purposes ; be- sides which I think all bee-keepers will admit that light honey sells much better than dark, for the simple reason that it is more pleasing to the eye; therefore it be- hoves us all to produce it as cleau and light as pos- sible.— Lobdswooh. Query. —I should like to ask Mr. Broughton Carr if he finds it necessary or best to wire his 6-in. extracting frames to prevent damage in the extractor ? — J. S. W., Plumstead. Eeceived from Mr. William McNally, Glenluce, Scotland, his Illustrated Catalogue of Bar-frame Hives and Bee-keeping Appliances (24 pages.) This is a very compact catalogue of the requirements of bee-keepers, without any redundancy of pages or illustrations. Received from Mr. S. J. Baldwin, of Bromley, Kent, 'The Bee-keepers' Instructor, with a Catalogue of Appliances ' (48 pages.) This 'Instructor' will be found of great service to beginners, as it embodies the very large experience of Mr. Baldwin, and is full of sound information. The catalogue is very extensive, containing a list of all the appliances in use by bee-keepers. Received from Mr. Rice, of Norwich, a solid-wood feeder, with centre cone and saucepan lid. We consider this would be preferable to the ordinary tin-feeder, as it would tend to retain the heat of the cluster. The price has not been communicated. ^EiJusiness ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fencburch St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edet & Son, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutcbinos, A, F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C. , 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merohants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn, FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Oo., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DDRRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St.) Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street. Dublin. HANDBY. W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington.Ledbury, Herefordshire. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON. C. T„ Crawley, Sussex. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich. RDDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHINSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading, WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stbanoewatb' PBiNinia Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C, [No. 304, Vol. XVI.] APRIL 19, 1888. [Published Weekly.] €bxtaxmlf Ifatias, #t. ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. We beg to call attention to the announcement in our advertising columns relating to the Bee Department of the Royal Agricultural Society's Exhibition, which takes place at Nottingham in July next, the entries for which close on May 12th. The schedule contains several improved features, notably a class.for Appliances, in which the articles to be exhibited are definitely stated. Provision is made for lodging protests against the decision of the judges, and for all exhibits to be staged on the day previous to the opening of the exhibition. We venture to hope that this rule will be most rigidly enforced by the executive ; the delay which has hitherto taken place in the commencement of the judging, owing in a great measure to the late staging of the exhibits by a few exhibitors, has been detrimental to the exhibition. The regulations also provide for returning all fees paid for entries in the Honey Classes providing fourteen days' notice has been given by the ex- hibitor of his inability to send these exhibits. The schedule is a considerable improvement on previous years, and will, we feel sure, result in a large number of entries. COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS. If there be anything wrong in the working of these useful and valuable societies, now is a fitting oppor- tunity to discover, and to rectify, the mischief. That there is something at fault with the machinery we have not the slightest doubt. We cannot agree with one of our correspondents, that it is wiser to hide our faults. If disease exist, better use strong remedies, and eradicate it before it becomes chronic. Good cannot but result from friendly discussion. We do not offer a panacea for all the ills existing or imaginary ; but by exposing de- ficiencies in some societies, and naming topics for consideration, we may, ere the busy bee season arrives, have once more our County Associations in a position to surmount all difficulties, and sweep away every obstacle. Besides the wrongs mentioned by our corre- spondents wo know of one Society, of whom the Hon. Sec. is really the only shiniug light. A largo Committee exists (on paper), meetings are called, but the members never put in an appearance, and thus it will be seen that if the Secretary did not move, this Society would soon collapse. Then another Association has in the past accom- plished much, and bee-keeping was raised in that county to its proper footing. It possessed a hard- working Secretary, whose heart was in the work, and who treated obstacles as a pleasure to be over- come. This Association now differs from the former instance, in that it has an indefatigable Treasurer and a good Committee, but the present hon. sec, taking but a slight interest in the cause, does little to further its advancement. Then, again, we know of several other Societies, whoso Secretaries, having to do all the work, aro gradually losing heart. More enthusiasm is evi- dently wanted somewhere. Away, all ye bee- keopers that say the Associations have done you no good ! How would you have learnt to keep your bees on scientific principles 1 How would you have adopted the present system of producing comb honey in a saleable form ? How the improvement in the quality of extracted honey? How the meetings where you have met your fellow-apiarians ? How the hints for disposing of your surplus produce? How the knowledge of new and improved inven- tions ? How bee-keeping has become a national industry 1 Nay, how your very existence is owing in a thousand ways to the County Associations of whom you now say, 'They are no use.' Our bee- masters have striven in the past ; the books they have written, the rules they have framed, constitute the very essence and basis of an existence as bee- keepers. These organizations, ' County Associations,' must not, and cannot be allowed to quietly drop. During the past months most of the annual meetings have been held, and it must rest with all true- hearted bee - keepers to consider carefully the present state of affairs, to note their respective deficiencies, and to place their Societies on sound commercial principles. The bee-keeping industry will flag and retrograde if County Associations are allowed to be a thing of the past. We believe that a certain portion of the work assigned to the Societies has been accom- plished; but must this be a reason for inactivity? There is still much work before you to grapple with, 198 THE BRITISH BEE JODKiNAL. [April 19, 1888. fresh ground to break, new objects to be obtained, and advancement, when attained, will open up new schemes for attainment. BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION FOB HULL AND DISTRICT. On Friday, April the 6th, a meeting was held at the Station Hotel, Hull, for the purpose of forming a hranch of the Yorkshire Bee-keepers' Association. There was a fair attendance, and Edward Harland, Esq., who pre- sided, explained that some correspondence had taken place between the Secretary of the Y. B. K. A. (R. A. H. Grimshaw, Esq.) and some one then present, and it was thought that from the lare number of bee-keepers in Hull and its immediate neighbourhood a very good branch association could be formed. After a consider- able amount of discussion had taken place, a resolution favourable to the formation of the Association was sub- mitted and carried nem. con. The meeting adjourned until Wednesday April 25th, when it is hoped all interested in the project will attend, for the purpose of electing officers and committee. Mr. H. Harland, The Elms, Cottingham, Hull, will be glad to receive copies of rules from secretaries of various associations. C0rasp0tta*ni£. CAPE COLONY. A New Honey- Plant. — In Cape Colony, Africa, grow about sixty different species of Pt/rtea. Some of them give honey, the most from Portea mellifera, by the natives called zuykerbosch.es, zuykerboom, or tulpboom. It has so great a quantity of nectar that the same is gathered and evaporated to a syrup, which is sold and used as medicine by the natives. This syrup has a flavour simi- lar to bananas. The plant blossoms in the fall, and the flowers are half full of this nectar. I think it would be very desirable to get this plant from Cape Colony, and to try its cultivation in the United States. — L. Stachel- hausen, Texas. — American Gleanings. The Cottageb's (British) Bee Journal. — The publishers of the weekly British Bee Journal, in view of the fact that the price of the weekly at 10«. lOd. is beyond the reach of the poorer classes, decided to issue the British Bee-Keeper's Adviser, aud Cottage Bee- keeper. This is issued concurrently with the weekly, once a-month. The price is Is. Qd. a-year. The first copy is now before us, aud we feel quite sure that it will meet the expectations of the publishers. It has for its editor none other than our good friend Thomas William Cowan. — American Gleanings. The Death of Mrs. Tupper. — We note by the Prairie Farmer, that Mrs. Ellen S. Tupper, well known to our older readers, died suddenly, March 12, at El Paso, Texas, while she was visiting her daughter. At one time Mrs. Tupper was considered not only a standard authority on almost all questions pertaining- to bee-culture, but she was also remarkably successful as a honey-producer. She finally went into the supply business in company witli a Mrs. Savery, under the name of the Italian Bee Company, at Des Moines, la. ; but in consequence of financial troubles and overwork it is said she became partially deranged, since which time we have heard little or no- thing from her. An Example from Ireland — Will Others do Likewise ? — If you send me a few copies of the Bee- Keepers' Adviser I will send it to any of my neighbours who keep bees. There are very few bar-frame hives in this part of the country, nearly all straw skeps. I get the Bee Journal, and when I read it I send it round to all my neighbours who keep bees. I wish the Adviser every success.— W. J. Anderson, Ards, Caledon, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, £c, must be addressed 07ily to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," cjo Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C All business com?nunications relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley , Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). •»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. BRITISH AND AMERICAN JOURNALS.— FOUN- DATION FASTENERS. [1590.] The visits of your Journal are as regular as they are welcome. It is read by some of us -with an interest greatly enhanced because of our good fortune in having made the acquaintance of many of the leading contributors to its columns. To know the Editor, to have met with the gentleman who week after week give3 us so many ' Useful Hints,' to have conversed with such men as Mr. Grimshaw, Mr. Hooker, ' Amateur Expert,' and a host of others, is to appreciate the regular visitations of the Journal to which they are frequent contributors. The British bee-keepers are privileged above their fellows on this side the Atlantic in having a journal pub- lished exclusively in their interest, that is, the mouthpiece of no man in particular, nor the medium through which he trumpets the merits of the goods he has to sell. In this the B. B. J. differs from every bee paper published in either Canada or the United States with which I am acquainted. The publisher of every one of them has a direct interest in the manufacture and sale of bee-keepers' supplies. This may be a necessity to their existence, but it has its objectionable features. It fosters narrowness and jealousy among the rival claimants for public patron- age, which frequently show themselves in the columns of their respective papers, and are sometimes manifested by the absence of information which their subscribers have a right to expect and ought to insist upon getting. I am reminded of this by the perusal in your last issue over the signature of ' R. F. Iloltermann, Brantf ord, Canada.' The subject of Mr. H.'s letter is Mr. Eden's foundation-fastener, and appears to be called forth by a paragraph in ' Useful Hints,' published in your issue of January 5. It appears Mr. Eden contributed something on the subject of foun- dation fastening in the American Bee Journal, which referred to his own device. In referring to this Mr. Holtermann says, 'It might be interesting to know that Mr. Eden was simply working in an advertisement for his own ingenuity, and to draw attention to the subject so that it might pave the way for the fruits of his own thoughts.' All your readers have gathered from Mr. Holtermann respecting Mr. Eden's machine is found in its last sentence, where he says, ' An important feature in the machine here is an iron plate heated by a lamp. Upon this plate the edge of the wax is melted. It works well and rapidly.' I am no apologist for Mr. Eden if he has attempted to secure a free advertisement for his machine by instituting comparisons between it and others in an ordinary communication. His machine possesses merits superior to anything of the kind brought out in this country, and if he wants to make money out of it he ought to advertise it in the usual way. The strangest feature about the matter is that Mr. Eden exhibited his machine at the annual meeting of the Ontario Bee- keepers' Association held at Woodstock last January, and showed it working to the great satisfaction of every one who witnessed the work; and, although both our bee papers had a representative present at that meeting, who saw the machine in operation, yet neither of them has April 19, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 199 condescended from that day to this to tell their readers that such a man as Eden exists, or that a foundation fastener has been invented by him which does the work ' rapidly and well.' What would the readers of the B.B.J. think if they knew that something: for which they had long looked — something calculated to lessen their labour, and make a perfect job when but an imperfect one could be made by appliances hitherto available— had been invented and exhibited at one of your Board meetings, and the Editor omitted to tell them of it? What excuse would the Journal offer if its Editor conveyed the information to the people of another country, and concealed from the readers of his own Journal the fact that a long-lboked- for want had been met by a machine which did its work ' rapidly and well ? ' 'l fancy I hear you say, ' The Editor of the B.B.J, would be guilty of no such dere- liction of duty,' yet such is the position Mr. Holtermau occupies He is the Editor of the Canadian Honey Producer, that carries on its title-pago the following motto: 'Published in the interest of the Honey-pro- ducer exclusively.' But, then, Mr. II. is connected with a firm that deals in supplies, and so is the Editor of the other Journal, and this may ' account for the milk in the cocoanut.' Possibly they think they have a right to remain silent on all inventions, however useful, unless they control their sale. We have now two of the best section foundation fasteners in America. Of Mr. Alpaugh's you already know something. After seeing Mr. Eden's working, I ordered one of them, but it is not yet forwarded, fo that I shall not attempt a detailed description of it. Suffice it to say that I think it is about as complete as it is possible for a machine of the kind to be made. It works not only ' rapidly and well,' but it does its work neatly, truly, and strongly. Unlike Mr. Alpaugh's, it works on both four-piece and one-piece sections, either closed or unclosed. What more can be desired in a machine of the kind ? But there is a serious drawback to the general introduction of both machines. The price is too high. It is not every bee-keeper who can afford to pay hve dollars, 1/., for a foundation-fastener, however perfect it may be. I am pleased to learn that your Mr. Lee is working along the same lines. His inventive genius, I doubt not, will enable him to give to the British bee-keepers what Messrs. Alpaugh and Eden have produced for us. If he succeeds in producing a machine that will do the work of fastening foundation in brood frames, he will have ac- complished that which is ' devoutly to be wished,' and that for which his brother bee-keepers will owe him a debt of gratitude. — R. McKnight, Oicen Sound, Ontario, March 15th. WIRING COMBS IN SHALLOW FRAMES. [1591.] In reply to your correspondent ' J. S. W.' who, on p. 106 of last issue of Bee Journal, asks if ' I find it necessary, or best, to wire my G-in. extracting frames to prevent damage in the extractor,' let me say : — There is not the least necessity for wiring combs iu shallow frames such as I use. I extract some hundreds of these combs annually, never have a breakdown, and have never wired a sheet of foundation in my life. When combs are built in shallow frames over the brood nest, the bees nearly always attach the comb to the frame along the full length of bottom bar as well as the sides, and when built thus — as 90 per cent of such combs will be — no breakage can occur, seeing that the face of comb lies close on wire of the cage, and the strain is equal over its whole surface. The sectional boxes I use are 6 in. deep, and the frames 5^ by 14, not 6 in. as stated by your correspondent. It is important to bear these measurements in mind, because I frequently use two of the boxes as a brood-chamber, so that with eighteen frames 14 by 5^ we have a larger breeding surface than ten standard size combs give, and any addition to its capacity is, on this account, objectionable. At the present time, when shallow frames are meeting with such general approval for surplus chambers, it is quite a misfortune to find differences in dimensions creeping into use. I have used these frames successfully for the past thirteen or fourteen years, and would ex- press an earnest hope that our hive-manufacturers will adopt the 14 by 5g as a standard size, in such hives as they turn out with frames for surplus chambers. It is the best size in every respect for extracting purposes. The esteemed writer of ' Useful Hints ' also refers to these frames on p. 187 of your last number, and, while approving of their use, says : — ' We would, however, make one addition, viz., that a zinc-excluding adapting board be used between hive and surplus chamber. In the concluding portion of my article in Record, to which reference is made, these words occur: — ' Queens should be rigorously confined to their own department, and never be permitted to enter surplus chambers. Excluder zinc accomplishes this (for us) without failure, and a supply of the article is an indispensable item of our working plant.' It will thus be seen that I am entirely in accord with Mr. U. II. on this point, though he has apparently overlooked my words as quoted. — W. BnouoHTON Cvnn, Higher Ilebington, Cheshire. IN-AND-IN BREEDING. [1502.] I read your leading article in last week's issue with considerable pleasure, which was, I confess, much enhanced by finding we were so nearly agreed on all the chief features in this discussion. It, however, seemed to me that you must have somehow overlooked Mr. Webster's second article, which was the one to which I took exception. There are a few minor points, too, requiring a little more elucidation ; and, lastly, as you state that I have misunderstood the question at issue, I beg you will allow me to say a few more words, as I am most anxious to put myself right with your readers, amongst some of whom I fear your article may create the impression that I am against the introduction of fresh blood into our apiaries. To begin, let me say that I had no general objection to Mr. Webster's first article, page 02, only that I did not accept his examples of degeneration brought about by supposed isolation and in-and-in breeding, which he gave in support of his case. However, I allowed that to go by unchallenged. It was to his second communication that I so strongly demurred, and must ask your readers to judge whether I was right in supposing Mr. Webster's article was intended to favour the importation of foreign bees as a cross with our native ones or not. I quote from his letter, page 131 : ' Would our cows, our sheep, our fowls, our bees, our trees, bushes, and plants, pro, duce what they do if they had been allowed to revel in a state of nature ?' ' Has no foreign variety of tree or plant been imported to improve and has improved our own?' See. 'How have our fancy pigeons been pro- duced ? How our useful or pretty dogs, cats, rabbits ? Why, each and all of these have been produced by a judicious crossing of varieties — in every case of foreign varieties.' ' Why, then, should not we do the same with our bees?' Now, with regard to the above quotations from Mr. W.'s article, I can only say that I very much regret he did not confine himself to bees and bee-keeping instead of wandering into the wide regions of biology, for there is not the slightest analogy betwixt man's selection or crossing animals and plants with a definite object in view and natural selection or the crossing of animals and plants naturally, which with bees we cannot at present prevent. So far as his article relates to the infusion of fresh blood into our apiaries, I am fully in accord with him ; it is only to a cross of foreign blood that I object, 200 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 19, 1888. because I don't believe the foreign bees are a superior race to our own, nor is it likely they will withstand our fickle climate nearly so well. After this little digression, perhaps you will allow me to return to your article. You state, 'Our native bees can be used for cross- fertilisation to any extent without the necessity of importing a single foreign bee.' This is just my own argument, and so far from my being opposed to a cross, I stated that I was not against it ' if such could be got from a bee in all points better than our own,' but that I was ' against crossing with any degenerate race the foreigners chose to send us.' Also (page 158), 'I have driven bees thirty miles away, on purpose to get a cross.' But you see I am for crossing with a better bee, just in the same way as our raisers of stock, fruits, flowers, &c, set up an ideal of perfection in their minds, and carefully breed and select from those which most nearly approach it, until eventually they attain their object ; and I would in the same way wish bee-keepers to improve their bees, but it, unfortunately, cannot be done — not until we have a certain method of mating them, and until we get tliat for which we are groping in the dark. What the advocates for the introduction of foreign bees cantend for is simply a cross, with a bee whose charac- eristics in its native land they know nothing about ; and when such cross is obtained, what then ? No matter what new feature it presents, whether good or bad, they they cannot be perpetuated or eliminated until we discover a sure way of controlling the mating of queen and drone. Therefore, the only advantage, if any, that can be claimed for crossing with foreign bees is, that there is an infusion of fresh blood, although that blood may be from a very inferior stock to our own ; whilst I contend we can get an infusion of fresh blood from widely different districts in our own country, with the advantage of knowing their good qualities, and avoiding the spread of disease. You state, sir, ' that a good all-round bee might be produced from an admixture of Ligurian, Carniolan, Cyprian, and English blood.' Quite possible. I do not doubt it, but it would possess traits of character either for viciousness, or what not, which might take years to eradicate. Besides, have we not a good bee in our natives, both for hardiness, for temper, and for honey- gathering, which will put into the shade all the foreign bees, either pure or crossed P Let the advocates of foreign bees give their beat results, Mr. Editor, and I will give mine. You state, ' It is too late in the day to doubt the firmness of the ground on which Mr. Webster's articles are based, now that we obtain " honey by the hundred- weight" from bees, which, according to excellent authorities, have ceased any longer to be the old English or German brown bee, by reason of the numerous importations from abroad.' Surely, such a contention as this ill becomes the Editor of the Bee Journal. Are you, sir, going to ignore the benefits derived from keeping bees on modem principles, and ascribe all the benefit to a haphazard cross of foreign blood ? Surely not, I have much more to say, but I dare not; I fear I have already trespassed beyond ordinary limits, but can- not close without expressing a hope that your remarks on breeding stock, and what is and what is not consan- guinity, are not intended for me. I had hoped I had passed that elementary stage some twenty odd years ago.— F. B0YB8. CONSANGUINITY. [1593.] Under the above heading, page 101 (1498), a case is brought up of bees being ' nearly two miles in a bee-line ' distant from others, and swarming ' say a fort- night earlier than any other neighbours' bees,' these circumstances being considered sufficient proof that this must have been a case of in-and-in breeding. I should very seriously doubt — in fact, feel positive that this cannot be considered such a case. I know positively by island experiments on Georgian Bay that the queen may meet the drone five miles from the hive. Then as to their early swarming, this would not be sufficient proof that matured drones might not exist in other hives, and your bees and honey seasons must be very unlike ours if they did not have later swarms. I can say nothing very positively as to the evil or good effects of in-and-in breeding ; if not evil, why has their Creator ordained it that the queen should be impregnated on the wing ? Then may we not make a mistake by in- and-in breeding, whilst we have few strains of bees as yet which have reached that state that we cannot improve them by judicious crossing P — R. F. Holteb- mann, Brantford, Canada. CONSANGUINITY. [1594.] In returning to this subject again, I trust I shall not be accused of cacoethes scribendi if I add a short resume to what I have written before in previous letters. Our worthy Editor, having endeavoured in last week's issue to place the salient facts before the readers of the B. B. J. in the editorial (page 175), has taken a short excerpt from one of my letters, and italicised the salient point, or the offending words ; whereas in Mr. Webster's case he gives a paragraph with the gist of his article, which I do not consider fair. Taking my previous letters as a whole, I have nothing to retract ; probably, if I had more time to spare for ink-slinging, I might often word some of my paragraphs differently, but under existing circumstances I have to send off my communi- cations as first written. Now, my contention is, and has been — vide my pre- vious letters — that when a recognised writer on bee matters like Mr. Webster makes a statement, and then backs that statement with examples, the inexperienced novice in bee-keeping would accept his deductions without the customary yranum salts, and believe it as an established axiom or dogma. Though I am bound to admit that Mr. Webster, like some ' Old Parliamentary Boys ' once limned in Punch as running away after they had chalked up on a notice-board, ' No Popery ! ' he too had to recede from the position he had taken up in his article, and the examples he recorded, and admit the remote possibility of the consequences he predicted ev6r being realised. If Mr. Webster had not appended the two examples of the old woman's apiary in the ' Lone Valley ' and the one in the Pine Woods as instances coming under his own actual notice, I should not have replied to his article, but with such positive instances of alleged deterioration incident on m-and-in breeding, I felt it a duty to bee- keepers generally, and the new converts to the modern system especially, to publish two (among many similar) instances that have come under my own notice, diametri- cally opposed to Mr. Webster's ideas — instances of continued and continuing prosperity in equally isolated apiaries to those mentioned by him. Yet 5lr. Webster's ideas are lauded to the skies as axiomatical dogmas, while my instances (tangible, truthful ones though they be) are relegated — with the words I used to emphasise the actual fact — to the cold shades of pity, evidently because they happen to prove the futility of Mr. W. 8 examples and the very antithesis of his deductions. The instance I mentioned of the same strain of bees being in the possession of grandfather, father, and son, was not in a lone valley but on a hill-side, and they must have gone forth and multiplied abundantly year after year for many years, — though I do not remember stating it to be 150, but in the matter of prolificness of the strain of bees mentioned by me I would like to men- tion the cottager obtains his harvest of honey by the brimstone pit, which is a salient reason why the said bees April 19, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 201 had not peopled the hill-side, aye and the valleys beyond. Then as to the amount of 0/. cash and twenty gallons of mead, which, at a low estimate would be worth 1/. more, making 71. , as the profit in five stocks. I opine there are many bee-keepers who have the best and latest improved appliances, coupled with the best advice the B. B. J. can give them, and who have invested in the finest selected strain of foreign bees, and yet fall short of that amount of profit when they tot up accounts at the end of the year. I mentioned the farmer's widow gave the old man the second swarm, at the sale of the farmer's effects, implying that the bees were sold with the other farm stock, which is the fact — but I do not assert that no bees were kept within a radius of eight miles of the apiary, evidently the district would have been full of the same strain of bees if the men had sold one swarm per year to their nearest neighbours, without any introduction of queens from other strains from a distance. Here we leave the matter with the eddying circles of dates and distances still enlarging, like the enlarging ripples produced by throwing a pebble in the centre of a placid pocl of water. Mr. Webster fairly conjectured the time of three generations at ninety years, our Editor at 150, a wide difference between two authorities ; and we find the radius enlarging also in which a strain of bees can be kept pure and immacu- late. It seems like a waste of time to write on con- sanguineous subjects, nature appears too prodigal in our small island to allow of close in-and-in breeding if radii of eight miles are everywhere overlapping each other. Then again as to obtaining honey by hundredweights with the mongrel strain of foreign bees, I, too, have accomplished the same results witli iny English strain ; and if I was boastful I have no doubt that both my average and profit on (say) fifty to seventy stocks, would compare favourably witli any like number of stocks in any apiary in Eugland, be they Carniolan, Ligurian, Cyprian, or the Holy Land bee, or a hybridised mixture of all and sundry. I can also say, Mr. Editor, I have stolen a march on you while your hybridised strain enables you to write of hundredweights, I am able to write of honey by the ton, and all gathered by the English strain of (not immaculate) bees and equal in my estimation in every point to any race of bees existent in Great Britain to-day. I am sorry I was not more lucid or explicit in a previous letter re the grafting and budding, so that Mr. Webster may have grasped my meaning when I mentioned the ' amber heart cherry ' and pippin apple as instances and kinds it would be impossible to produce from the wild cherry and crab-apple by cultivation, and Mr. Webster's antistrophe was misapplied to me, for though I do not sit under my own vine and fig-tree I gather fruit yearly from trees grafted by myself, proving I am quite conversant with both budding and grafting. When may bees be said to be wild ? when a stray swarm locates itself in some hollow tree, or are there some strains of wild bees existent in England that refuse to be domesticated, i. e., to dwell in hives : if so, where or in what part of the kingdom are they to be found ? If our Editor is referring to a stray swarm located in some tower or roof, that took themselves to flight from (say) my apiary two or three years ago, I fail to see the advantage accruing to my bees inter-breeding with those bees beyond the occupants of hives still remaining in the apiary. — W. Woodley. [According to statisticians, the average duration of a generation is thirty years, but in an ordinarily healthy family 150 years is not an uncommon duration for three generations. Sometimes these extend to 200 years, and even beyond that term. William Peon, the founder of Pennsylvania, was born in 1044 ; his grandson, Gran- ville l'etin, died at Stoke Pogis, near Windsor, in 1844. —En.] BIRDS AND FRUIT-BUDS. [1505.] We are not much troubled with the bull-finches here, the bird-catchers are always on the look-out for them ; but we have a curse nearly as great in the sparrows, which swarm everywhere, to the great injury of all fruit-growers. When snow is on the ground they attack the gooseberry, red cur- rant, and plum-trees, pecking out the blossom-buds for the sake of the small quantity of saccharine matter which they contain, and which would develop, if unmolested, into the future honey for our bees. Not only do they do this, but as soon as the gooseberry-trees come into /lower they cut off the flowers and incipient fruits wholesale. I believe an old cock sparrow will destroy at the rate of nearly a stone of gooseberries per hour if undisturbed. Any one can see the destruction they cause by this means if they will only take the trouble to lift up the branches, when they will see all along the bearing shoots — especially such as are hori- zontal, and on which the birds can easily perch — the flower-stalks, or, perhaps, half of the young fruits, remaining, the other portion having been cut off and the sweet part eaten. I am glad to see Mr. Hiani call attention to this, as, of course, if we allow the birds to peck out the blossom- buds, we cannot expect to have the blossoms for our bees. Sparrows, I find, take my bees, too, worst of any birds we have, except the great tits (/'. major). They also destroy the crocuses, and do other mischief,—' drat 'em ! ' — F. Boyes. REMINISCENCES. [1500.] Reading the pages of our Journal the other night I determined to write an account of most of my misfortunes— all I can remember— and mismanagement of the honey bee, also known as the sting bee. My readers will "kindly remember that I was very young to start bee-keeping, and knew no oneto whom I could ap- peal in case of any mishaps; and I did have several, as you shall hear. It was about the year 1875 we lived, and had been living for several years, in a beautiful valley about ten miles from Birmingham. There was not a fence, tree, hedge, or bush, that was unclimbable, as the birds knew full well. My brother Harry and I went to the rock- shop and to school at the nearest village, three miles off, or rather town, as the inhabitants proudly called it. When we were not there we were either up some tree, or roaming about the fields and woods in quest of another egg to add to our collection, which was a very good one. According to the report of one who should know I was a fair sample of a boy ; but judging by a peculiar smile which followed after that saying, I should infer that a great deal is meant by that, and I say at once to anyone who has read Sandford and Merton that I was a wicked boy indeed. Now I have described myself let me describe our hive, which contained the first bees I ever remember. It was a large, box hive, and at one corner the bees used to hang out in a cluster every summer, while we, at the risk of a dumphng eye, used to pick off with great skill the straggling bees with a catapult, and wonder vainly what it was like inside. Every autumn on the path beneath we found some morning that it had been raining drones in the night ; never since have I seen so many turned out of one hive. Our interest increased with our years in those bees, and much more so when my father conceived the noble idea of fixing a straw hive against the wall for them to swarm into. Our old friend the gardener was told off to perform this feat. He bought one of the smallest hives I ever saw, which he made very sticky inside with beer and sugar, and, as a further inducement (?) constructed a network of sticks 202 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 19, 1888. inside ' for the bees to lodge on.' It was then placed on two iron supports some two yards from the bee box. Total abstinence principles were at once forgotten, and I regret to say many bees were soon wandering about on the path thirty feet below, trying in vain to find the entrance of their home. I fancy those bees had many a laugh over that straw skep, but it was destined to be- come very useful in twelve months' time ; for one lovely evening, as my brother and I were out gathering clover for our rabbits, we came across a large swarm, bending to the ground a stout hazel bough. Our hearts beat wildly with fear, hope, and joy. Being dusk, at first we were in doubt whether it was not a swarm of flies or wasps, but at last decided it must be bees. So, while Harry kept watch, I fled for the gardener, and finding him managed to stammer out enough for him to under- stand what was wanted. The hive that had kept such a long, faithful watch was brought to earth, and after some little delay in putting in a fresh supply of stickiness to gum their wings for a space to stop them from flying and throwing their stings away, we started with the hive, a table, a cloth, and various feelings, in which fear pre- dominated, to hive our first swarm. We arrived and watched the busy insects for several minutes, during which time my knees knocked together more than I would own afterwards. We prepared for action ; Bunn, the gardener, held the hive under them, Harry was to hit the bough sharply (it was getting dark), and I held the cloth ready. Everything was now ready, the signal was given, a very weak tap broke the stillness of the bees and of the evening, half the bees fell into the skep, the bough released of most of the weight, like a piece of elastic, shot at Mr. Bunn, who caught a great many of the bees witli his coat and hair, and who called the bees, bough, and Harry, several naughty words for some moments after- wards. When we had got our breath and our instructions afresh, the hive was again placed beneath the remaining bees, and Harry, now more used to it, knocked every bee off at one try. The hive was nearly full of bees, and so was the grass round about. Singularly, not a bee lifted his sting against us ; whether it was the sugar and beer that made them so tame, or the trembling of the hive confused them, or maybe the funny old face of Bunn peering down upon them, inspired confidence and implied that all would be well, 1 know not ; but I know we were glad to get them on the table and covered with the cloth, and then, after 'flicking' all the bees we could find on Bumi — some scores — off him, we carried them home in triumph, leaving thousands behind to their fate, and, luckily for us, to mourn the loss of their ' leader.' The hive was placed in the garden, and next morning, some hours after the bees had started work and well marked their position, we put up a stand the other side of the garden, and got the hive on it and a milk basin to cover all. There they worked splendidly, and were soon clustering outside for want of room. But even now we were not content. It was tantalising to think of all the wonders going on beneath one inch of straw and nothing to be seen. But a bright idea struck us, which was to cut a hole in the crown and put a piece of glass over it. This we did, and were delighted with the extensive view of comb obtained. We now would gaze by the half-hour at about seven cells, and as many bees, who were not in the least afraid of us, but by their expression seemed to say, ' Our time is not yet come to make you run.' Strange as it may appear at first sight, that hive was the innocent cause of many a terrific fight between Harry and me, during one of which our collection of birds'-eggs, the result of many a hard climb, was knocked over and smashed. The necessity for this warfare was, that I con- tended we ought to go shares in that swarm, having both clapt eyes on it at the same moment, but my brother, in virtue of being older than I (some sixteen months), claimed it as his. After awhile, being unable to decide by force, I tried persuasion, which was successful, for he promised to make an artificial swarm and let me have it. We learnt by heart the instructions contained in a book by the Rev. J. G. Wood, which happily my father had bought. Then being quite prepared with veil and gloves, &C, and having chosen a dark night so that the bees could not see to sting — we found afterwards that they can feel to sting quite well enough for all practical purposes — about ten o'clock we went to work. With fear and trembling we approached the hive, and having blown in a little smoke and a great many sparks from a piece of rolled-up rag, we turned the hive over, and im- mediately put an empty one over it, wrapping a towel round the junction. Now we know bees are wonder- fully knowing creatures, and I firmly believe they took advantage of our youth, for we could not get them to run up. It may have been because we gave a few taps and then ran off to extract the stings (there was a leak in that towel) and then back again to give a few more, only again to bolt, so giving the bees thinking time. Enough to say we never got that swarm. True there were some hundreds of bees and drones in the upper hive, which were put on a new stand, but they returned next day to the mother bee. Well, I was not going to be outdone by such a small insect, so I drew out of a secret recess one pound, the result of much self-denial, and straightway went to a bee-keeper, six miles off, and bouglit with the money a very weak stock. It survived the winter, and in the spring by feeding at the entrance every night with syrup in a spoon, I got them very strong. About this time I came across the picture of a bar- frame hive, and was so struck with its advantages that I at once went to some expense to get a very wide piece of wood to make one. I thought it must be a good depth, so secured a piece one inch thick and sixteen inches wide, then made a box with a groove at the top for the ends of the frames ; these latter were 15j in. depth and 10 inches wide. When it was made I thought about it all day long, dreamt of it at night, and even in church my thoughts would wander to it. I pictured myself taking out the frames, watching the queen egg-laying, and all sorts of things. How many times I took the frames I cannot say ; but by the way, I could not get the frames to hang true ; but it did not matter, because that hive was destined never to see a bee inside it, the only wonder is I did not break it up for fire-wood. Why ? Because I came upon a book by A. Pettigrew. I read it once, I read it twice, in fact I read it until it was im- printed deeply in my memory. I made all haste to in- crease my stock; three swarms were bought at different times, two were off an old man, who liad more than twenty rotten old skeps, on stands nt such an angle that anything else would have rolled off them. Three long weary miles I had to carry them. The other one was from a cottager who had hived them four days before I got there, of course all the combs broke down and killed a lot of bees, but fortunately not the queen : they after- wards got very strong. In the meantime Harry had taken a very nice super of honey and drone-brood off his hive ; so, to be equal with him, I determined to drive a stock and take the honey. Having selected a very dark night. I did my best to get them out, but did not succeed ; they forced me to retreat, for they had found a breach in my veil, and formed into a false swarm on my throat. I brought away a lot of stings as a trophy, and my relatives spent some time in collecting them. When this was done, they used the greater portion of a blue rag, part of a bottle of ammonia, and several onions, which were very successful, for the stings had little or no effect on me at all, although as a rule one is enough to close both eyes. I have driven scores of hives since then, but never again at night. Well, seeing that was a failure, I next sent them to sleep with smoke, while I appropriated the April 19, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 203 side combs of honey ; but I evidently did not give them enough, for they came very much awake before I had finished, and stored their stings away in me right and left. The next day there was a great commotion amongst those bees, for all the hives in the neighbour- hood were kindly helping them to clear the honey up, and they did it fairly well, for no honey or bees were left in the hive by the next evening. But before this 1 had tried Nutt's Collateral system : on both sides of a strong stock an empty skep was placed, connected with the stock by a wooden tunnel; it was rather exciting work cutting the side holes, and in the end we suffered for nothing, as they never took to them. Some time before this Harry was seized with a splendid idea, which was to take the honey out of the box hive. He mounted a ladder, drove all before him with burning sulphur, and took out all the honey he could reach, which was about twenty pounds, then nailed it up again ; and there those bees are to this day, I believe. His old hive gradually got weaker, and at last died out ; and, luckily for me, his interest in bees died out with it. But my chapter of accidents is not finished yet. That same summer, one June morning, I hived a cast, covered it up, and some weeks after left home for a month. Coming back one. hot day in August, of coarse I was anxious to see how they had fared, so I turned the hive up, and was pleased to find it full of comb and very heavy. I turned it over to replace it, when out fell the bees and combs in a soft mass, something like currant pudding ; here was another hive killed. I began to doubt the saying that bees were so profitable.' I stood afar off behind a hedge and watched them ; if any one had passed by wanting bees I should have sold at an enormous sacrifice. At this time my advice to the poor clergy would have been — ' Don't keep bees ! Don't keep bees ! ! ' I ■went about with a dejected countenance, and sitting on the grindstone handle wept aloud as I thought what a ' delusion and a snare ' bee-culture was. But there was a fascination about it I could not withstand — yes, before long, I began to look forward to another year ! Little did I think how different it was to be for me and the bees, for that same autumn my uncle, a well-known and successful bee-master, hearing of my troubles, sent for me, and from that time my trials were all over. Thirty stocks were at my service to practise on, sections and scores of other things to be examined, also a large exhibit to get up and mind at the show. There I pored over, read, and re-read several volumes of this most interesting Journal, besides several books on the same subject. There I met that great man, Sir. A. Pettigrew, whose book at one time gave me such pleasure and caused me no end of stings. He lived just by, and was rather ' put out,' I thought, because my uncle had joined the ' new-fangled ' party, for Mr. Pettigrew had started my uncle with the barn hives. But this pleasant time came to an end at last. With my pockets full of sketches of all kinds of appliances, and with a bar-frame hive, which my uncle had very kindly given me, in the luggage van, I hied back home a happier boy. That winter 1 made several hives, sec- tion crates, and a lot of other things. I carried an almanac about with me, and struck out each day as they came. The time went very slowly, but May came at last, when I transferred most successfully aU my bees into the bar-frame hives. After awhile I took nearly a dozen sections, as well as extracted every bit of honey they had, and fed them up with syrup. Driven bees were added, and several new stocks made; and every year since I have been more and more successful ; my take of honey increases, and my customers take it all. Lastly, every one is much interested and astonished at my annual exhibit of honey and appliances at our village flower show — not the village, I regret to say, we used to five near, but one not two miles from Birmingham, so that I am unable to astonish the readers of the Journal by any great take from oue hive. My best stock in 188(3 yielded sixty-two pounds, and in 1887 fifty-six. Perhaps later on I may give an account of my success, but I hope even the foregoing lines, faithfully recording my adventures with the honey-bee, will be enough to save some from giving up in despair, and others from doing things that ought to be left undone. By joining the Warwickshire Association, I now write five letters behind my name ; the cost is only one shilling each letter, not taking into account the other advantages. Let every bee-keeper take in the British Bee Journal, it is generally most amusing and always interesting; and in conclusion, I say, follow the French bishop's advicf to his poor clergy — ' Keep bees 1 Keep bees ! ! ' — Louds- wood, M.W. B. K. A. WAR! PE3TILENCK!! FAMINE!!! A CHAPTER OF FAILURES. AY An. [1697.] ' Please will you come to look to my bee, ?' Being district adviser, this was part of my duties, so I went ; and before 1 tell you what I found, 1 will tell you the history of the stock under consideration. Last autumn the bees were given to the party that addressed me as above on conditions that he ' took them up.' Consequently, he borrowed a neighbour's horse ami spring cart, drove five and a half miles, gave them the necessary amount of ' bumping' and driving, packed the bees into three empty straw skeps and returned horn.-. The road was the usual parish lane in a country where flints abound, consequently the bees had a fair amount of jolting, and arrived homo looking pretty black, with a large amount of them dead through over-gorging and suffocation. The best queen was selected, and the hive bees placed with her, and crammed on seven bars well supplied with sealed food. My experience of driven bees when united at home in this way is, that they invariably ' ball ' the queen given them, but if united on the spot, they accept the one given them without question. Whether this was so in this case, I am unable to certify ; certainly she was alive later on when I helped pack them up for winter, and she had bred a goodly number of young bees. But I noticed what I never care to see under such circum- stances— a few queen-cups, or undeveloped queen-cells. Spring came, and the owner, to be on the safe side, gently fed them a little syrup, and then the war commenced ! He had no opportunity of seeing them during the day, but being suspicious, he called on me for advice. ' The wife says this hive and the next to it are always busy when others scarce work at all.' Exa uiu- ation told me that evidently early in spring this queen had succumbed to stimulation for breeding. Robbing had ensued, a gentle resistance at first, eventual surrender, and take common cause with the assailants and accept the ' fortune of war.' Query. — Are driven bees when carried long distances and submitted to excessive nervous (?) exhaustion worth the candle ? Pestilence. This was an application for advice from another party. Not a labourer, as in the last case, but a professional man. He had kept bees for years, and one year got twenty-five well-filled sections from one hive, but only once, and then only from one hive. He is a good sort of fellow, he has a try at everything, and is good at nothing but his profession. Carpentry ! His greatest achieve- ments are done in putty, certainly not in wood. Painting ! If you saw his work you would imagine he laid it on with a trowel. Gardening! He has a greenhouse, but he always has to buy his bedding-out plants, because the 204 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 19, 1888. heating apparatus that he fixed himself never will work. Poultry ! He buys sittings of the most farnou3 breeds, and you should see his fowls penned up ! You would imagine his last investment was in those famous American patent eggs, which not only could not be distinguished from hens eggs when cooked, but would hatch out chicken, only they had the serious fault that they are always featherless. It will not be difficult for you to believe that his bees were no exception from his general lack of thoroughness. When I first knew him, he owned half-a-dozen stocks ; by degrees they dwindled down to one. For the past three years he has done his best to keep them alive ; he has united 'driven' bees to them each autumn, each spring he has given them a good cake of candy. Yearly have the snows and rains of winter soddened the hive and the winds of spring blow through them. The quilts are well daubed in propolis in patches — happy hunting- ground for wax-moths. The dummies never did fit, and a handful of miscellaneous pieces of rags does yearly the duty for winter packing. This spring has seen the end of the ' one ewe-lamb.' Mildew, dysentery, and the webs and grubs of the wax- moth, have done their work. Our friend — a fair represen- tative of a large class of subscribers to our county Associations — is no longer a bee-keeper. His pets have succumbed to Pestilence ! Famine. ' Well, "A. E.," you are fast in talking about others. Do you never get a failure ?' Come home with me into my garden, I will tell you one or two little tales. You see the hive at each end of the row ; each of them con- tains a home-bred Carniolan queen, the gift of my friend John Walton of Leamington. He was good enough to give me two last Jul}'. How blithely I introduced them ii la Simmins. I had recommended it to others, having .always been successful since I followed the half-hour starvation plan. But you tiiould have seen my look of mingled astonishment and disgust when I found one was dead and the other ' balled beyond all hopes of re- covery. Friend Walton doubled his gift by sending me two more, which I caged, and succeeded in getting them accepted all right. That is confession of failure number one, but I have not done yet. I was especially careful to give these two hives ample sealed frames of food, so that nothing should pre- vent them from doing well. I packed them up snugly for winter, promising to work them on the ' let-'em-alone ' principle in spring. During their winter flights, I noticed a good sprinkling of Carniolan blood, more in one hive than the other. The other stocks I looked too and fed where necessary, but comforted myself that these two * Waltons ' were all right. A few days since I noticed a few bees crawling out of one of them. This alarmed me. Bees were flying around the entrance also. I found on examination that the hive was one mass of crawling, helpless bees. I did not remove the frames, nor break up the cluster, but I put three fire-bricks in the kitchen oven, and proceeded to warm a pint of syrup. About a gill of the syrup I gently poured down between the combs, one hot brick I placed outside the dummy in the place of the cork-dust cushion, and two bricks I put on the top of the quilt over the frames, placing three more bricks in the oven. When the first set of bricks were cooled down, I replaced them with hot ones, and placed a feeder full of warm syrup in position. It was 7 p.m., but they soon began to 'hum,' food and heat were doing their work. At 8.80 p.m. I placed on the last set of bricks for the night, amidst the inquiry as to whether the bees ' had caught cold and wanted hot bricks to their feet and chest. Would a linseed or mustard plaster be of service ?' Next morning I found quite a pint of dead bees, a disposition to rob on the part of the neighbouring hive, and to ball the Carniolan queen on the part of her famine-stricken subjects. They will pull through with care, and will be united to the first swarm I get. But a few hours more, and I should have to record a loss on the score of Famine ! — Amateur Expert. PORCHES. [1508.] I beg to thank 'Yorkshire Novice' for his hints. I have already tried what he recommends, but the result of the experiment did not give me satisfaction. I tried porches 21 in. by 4i in. and placed 4 in. above the entrance. The first improvement I made upon the porch was to deprive it of its roof. The next improve- ment was the removal of its sides. My experience is that porches give shade just when it is not required. They retard the bees in getting to work in the morning ; they are the homes of spiders and other insects. The fewer angles about a hive the better. In very exposed positions side protection would be of advantage. I have two alighting-boards hinged on to the floor-boards, but I prefer them disconnected, although they serve as partial shades from the snow. If the alighting-board is 6 in. from the hive it acts well as a snow-shade ; in my ca*e it is too near the hive ; the sun's heat passes on to the hive. A perfect snow- shade would be a piece of wood, say 2 ft. square, with two iron spikes attached to it to fix it in the ground, and placed one foot from the hive. The air in front of the hive would in this case be kept at such a tempera- ture as to prevent the bees flying. The expert of the Essex Bee Association paid me a visit yesterday. He examined four colonies ; one he pronounced ' very good.' I mention this because they were wintered on twelve frames iu a 6-inch hive with a 0-inch hive below. They have never been touched since September, beyond placing a cake of candy over them in January. — Ii. T. Shea, Little Wakcriny Vicarage, Rochfurd, Essex, April 14. BEES IN NORTH WALES. [1590.] Seeing several accounts of different associations I thought I would like to give you a little account of the North Wales Association, which I am afraid is going to collapse. I have heard nothing of it for two years, for which I am very sorry indeed. Having a few days' holiday during Easter week, I thought 1 would take a walk and see some of my brother bee-keepers. I made my little tour not three miles from my own home, and visited over thirty bee-keepers. I fnund many of them willing to join an association. Most of the stocks were in fair condition, with exception of a few that had died through the want of food. Having six stocks myself I thought it was time for mo to be looking at my pets. On Easter Monday, April 2. I found them in very fair condition, with the exception of one, and that was a hive I had robbed a great deal. I took eighty-two pounds of honey from it last season, it having swarmed on the 20th of May ; I made an extra- ordinary swarm of it. Having seen a great deal of talk about the Ligurian bees, I do not think they possess any advantage over the common English bee. One disadvantage they certainly possess is that a good swarm costs 21. as against 15s. for a common one. I hope that in the course of a few years the North Wales Association will be second to none in the country. O Wales ! why dost thou sleep ? — J. D. W., Wrexham. NOTES FROM MALTA. [1000.] April 12th. — First natural swarm yesterday in almost a gale of wind, but hived successfully, to the great astonishment of the native gardeners, and this morning they filled six frames. Supers on four hives, and one April 19, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 205 obliged to be tiered up, some of the sections being sealed over. I expect another swarm next week. Wax-moth pretty nearly defeated. — ' Malta.' STINGS. [1001.] I desire to put on record a few facts on this sub- ject, drawn from my own experience while in the bee-busi- ness. I always worked with my bees bare-handed, merely guarding against bees passing up inside of my sleeve. In the course of a year I received many stings on my hands. When I began keeping bees I dreaded a sting very much. It was not only painful, but usually followed by swelling which often lasted over twenty-four hours. After a time I ceased to dread them, and noticed them as little as pos- sible, and they seemed to be less painful, and scarcely ever caused swelling. If during the day I received a number of stings I would feel drowsy in the evening, and desired to retire early. At least, 1 imagined that my drowsiness was caused by the stings. I also thought severe stinging caused a burning, itching sensation in my eyelids, and it seemed to me that each year I could notice this soreness in my eyelids increasing. Once a bee-sting made me sick and faint. I was stung in the small of my back, the bee stinging through my shirt. It caused me intense pain, and I grew sick and faint, and with difficulty reached the house. The day was sultry, and I was very warm at the time, and there- fore I could not say how much of my illness was owing to the sting. After an hour's rest I felt all right. My wife often assisted me in my apiaty, and frequently re- ceived stings with no serious inconvenience ; but one day as she was busy about her housework a cross bee darted at her and stung her on the neck. She complained of intense pain, and soon became so ill that she had to lie down. Her whole body was somewhat affected, as a rash came out all over her body. Her sickness lasted probably six hours. One day I was taking off combs to extract. My little daughter, then about twelve years old, was blowing the smoker for me. She was well protected, but in some way a bee crawled inside her hat and stung her, when she suddenly dropped the smoker and made tracks for the house. About half-an-hour later my wife called me to see the effects of the sting. She had been stung on the neck, which was somewhat swollen ; but the most swell- ing was about her eyes, which were swollen so much she could scarcely see. She also seemed drowsy, and after a couple of hours' sleep seemed as well as usual, but her eyelids were still somewhat swollen at bedtime. She has had frequent stings since, but none produced anything like a similar effect. I remember being in the house of a physician one evening when he returned from visiting his patients. He said he had been called into a house in the village to see a boy who had been stung by a bee, and was surprised to find him quite sick and his body covered with a rash as though he had scarlet fever. The boy's parents were alarmed, but the physician told them the lad would be all right by morning. My experience has led to the con- clusion that the effects of bee-stings are not always the same. The anger of the bee, the amount of poison in- jected, the place stung, and the condition of the system, all have an effect. If a person is stung, and the sting proves troublesome, he need not infer that it will be always so, and thus be deterred from ever looking at a hive of bees. The effect of the next sting received may be quite different. — W.D. Ralston {A merican Gleanings.) VENTILATING HIVES DURING THE WINTER. [1602.] Three winters ago I purchased a hir» (wooden box) of bees from an apiarian, who was selling his stock pending his removal to a distant part of the country. On going to see the bees prior to purchasing I found all his boxes, eight in number, thoroughly venti- lated, the doorway being left open to its full width, and a four-inch square opening in each crown-board, only covered by a piece of perforated zinc ; the hives were in a small wooden bee-house open to the front. This starvation state of affairs of course elicited from me a few questions as to the cause of such apparent careless- ness for his bees, when I was informed that such had been his practice for a number of years. Some years ago he had been in the habit of keeping his bees free from ventilation during the winter, but not unfrequently he had the mortification of losing his bees. As a last resource he seems to have adopted a directly opposite plan, by ventilating them in a manner above described, and, singularly enough, he never afterwards lost a hive. Without, then, seeing the reasons for this success, the facts were too plain to admit of doubt ; I therefore adopted his plan, and up to the present have been favoured with similar success. Many bee-keepers of the old style of skep without opening at the top (and there are a goodly array of them in this neighbourhood), have seen my hives, and their greatest cause of wonder seems to be that the bees are not perished. My experience so far indicates that bees kept in a comparatively dry atmosphere by thorough ventilation will come through the most severe winter in our climate in a better condi- tion than wheu ventilation is prevented. I may here say I think it i= advisable to ventilate early in October, but not continue it longer than the middle of January or the commencement of February, although I have ventilated until the middle of March ; and after this the hive so ventilated, without being fed, has sent out its first swarm only second in the neighbour- hood, the first being thrown off only a day or two earlier from a stock which had been fed during the whole of the spring. There is also another point worthy of notice — namely, when ventilated they require a considerably less quantity of food. As an illustration of this — I, and a friend near, at the beginning of last winter had each a hive very similarly situated in most respects, except that mine had only twelve pounds of honey as their winter stock, while his had upwards of twenty pounds. I ventilated mine in the manner before described; whilst my friend, I •uppose out of kind consideration for his favourites, added a bell-glass over the perforated zinc by way of making comb-side a little more congenial. Before our bees were able to provide for themselves a fresh supply, in the following spring my friend's stock was bankrupt, he having to eke out their supply by feeding, while mine paid more than twenty shillings in the pound, and tent out a prime swarm three days earlier than his. Numerous instances have come under my own observa- tion during the last two winters of hives perishing (in one case seven) through the severity of the frost, while the hives through want of ventilation have been saturated with moisture. — W. Johksom. STARVATION IN THE HIVE. [1003.] Among the common class of bee-keepers a good per cent of loss occurs every year from starvation. Some colonies perish while there is yet plenty of honey in the hive, but the greater part of the loss is from colonies that have run out of stores. Beginners in their anxiety to increase their number of stocks are too apt to try to winter colonies that are too light in stores, but with those of greater experience there is less excuse for loss from this cause. Guessing at the amount of honey by lifting the hives in the fall is an uncertain guide. Even weighing does not in all cases give a correct idea of the amount of available winter stores on hand. The depen- dent and helpless condition of the bees when their stores are exhausted requires that an abundant supply should 206 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 19, 1888. be on hand at all times. To put away light colonies and depend on feeding them as their supply of food becomes exhausted during the -winter is a poor plan and should not be encouraged. The bee-keeper who has to resort to feeding in the midst of winter is in an unenviable predica- ment, and when such condition of things is the result of a neglect to make the necessary prepartion for winter at the proper time he deserves censure rather than sympathy. The variableness of winter, too, is such that sometimes much more than the average amount of food is consumed, and it may therefore happen that colonies which appar- ently had plenty at the beginning of winter are found al- most at the point of starvation in early spring. It is im- portant that a close watch be kept at this season and not let such colonies perish after having come through the hardest part of the winter, and thus become a total loss. A few pounds of food may bring them through until natural stores can be gathered; and if in all other respects in a healthy condition, they may prove among the most profitable stocks in the apiary, and all the trouble and expense will be amply repaid. Whatever form of food is supplied the relief must be given before they have reached the stage beyond which their case is hopeless. A few pounds of honey in small frames, laid on top of the brood frames immediately above the cluster, and so arranged that they can have free access to it, have always given good results in my experi- ence. After putting on the honey, they should be covered up snug and warm, and, if much benumbed, a little artificial warmth judiciously applied by placing a warm brick in the upper storey, will have a very beneficial effect in reviving them. This method of warming the hive when there comes a pleasant day after a long con- tinued cold spell may save many a colony that is too numb and weak to get out for a cleansing flight. One or two warm bricks wrapped in a cloth and laid in the upper storey will have a surprising effect in cases where they otherwise might not have vigour enough enough to get out. But a little help of this kind enables them to cleanse themselves and rearrange their position in the hive. My experience in thus giving relief with artificial warmth lias always given good results, and more extended experiments may show that many a colony may be saved in this way.— H.D.STEWART,(^Hienc«n Bee-keepers' Guide.) ) BniNE for Soaking Diiting-boards — Use salt brine, weak or strong, warm or cold, for soaking the dipping boards and the wax will not stick to them. It matters not about the condition of the boards —whether rough or smooth, of soft or hard wood, nor whether the edges are sharp or square. Temper the wax-sheets in warm brine-water before running them through the machine. Try this, and it may in the future help you to dispense, in a measure, with lye, starch, washing fluid, and all other lubricators. Brine water is both inexpen- sive and unobjectionable; besides, it is precisely what the bees like and should have.— M. M. Baldridge. Hives with Top Entrance. — I observed one of your correspondents asks if a hive with top entrance has been tried ; it is twenty years since I first tried it and I still use it with satisfactory results. 1 find the bees winter well in it, and with careful management very seldom swarm ; in using sections the bees enter at once the section holder on the top, so no occasion to pass through the hive to get at them. For a small apiary, I can recom- mend them.— G. F. Perkins. Feeding. — Mr. Simmins has told us of a very simple manner of feeding, — dry sugar, if rendered into paste with a little honey all the better, on a piece of cheese- cloth over the cluster pressed down hard between the frames, ready at hand for them to make use of at once, reminding us of the system up in the North of an inverted basin full of dry sugar on top of a skep, with a piece of perforated paper over the hole. — J. R. Fowell. Crimes ixam % Jjto. Meldon, Morpeth, April 4. — I have been keeping bees on the bar-frame principle for some years. I have thirteen stock hives all right after the hard winter we have had here. On March 26 I had to cut seven of them out of a snow-wreath five feet deep, after being embedded a week, one an Italian, the queen I got in October. She is all right, as I see the young bees ap- pearing on a fine day. I got a recipe out of the B. B. Journal in 1885, and made some mead in March 1880, of which I enclose a sample. Will you please let me have your opinion of it? During the summer, a friend of mine came to play at cricket, and being rather hot and the mead good to take, it made him forget his Blue Ribbon. — Geo. Brittain. [Having Blue Ribbon proclivities, we thought it advisable that the sample of mead should be submitted to a connoisseur in honey drinks. His reply is, that the mead was very good, and he thought a few glasses a- day would be beneficial to his system.] Longford. — My first swarm of bees for this year on April 6, rather early, but it it was through some men having felled an elm-tree, and finding a stock of bees in it asked me to get them out that they might get the honey, thinking there would be a good lot of it; but we are all subject to disappointments, so were they. After sawing the bole, above and below the nest, I gave them a little smoke. I got the combs out as best I could, four or five of them, the longest about three feet. I shook them on the ground and let them run into a small straw hive, with a little honey in a section tied to the top. There would only be one or two pounds of honey, no pollen or brood. I brought them home and put them into a nucleus hive on three frames of honey and pollen, and started them as my first swarm of this year, and they are now (April 10) going on all well. Such a change in the weather! — all stocks busy taking in pollen. — J. Wilson. Cheriton, Hants, April 13. — ' This is the first spring morning ; neighbour Harfield's bees are out as though they are going to swarm, and I counted no fewer than eleven butterflies in the lane,' remarked a gentleman to me this morning. On returning to my small apiary of nine stocks, I find the musical hum — than which there is no sweeter music — in pleasing plenty. Well, ' better late than never,' saith an old saw; and I readily adopt it, waiting for the fruition of my hopes. Thousands of tiny labourers are going to and fro, in the act of finding their food stores, but the modicum of pollen adhering to their legs is indicative of floral paucity. — Aged Amateur. South Cornwall, April 14. — Young bees are flying, and there are solid patches of brood almost ready to be hatched, but not on more than two frames in a hive, as far as I have seen. There does not appear to be a graduated succession of grubs and eggs. Milder weather has set in and hopes are reviving. I regret to say that Ihave lost a stock — dead, all dead — leaving pounds of honey, and with, I should have thought, ample protection, in a house in which two others are doing well. But too often 'there is no accounting.' — C. R. S. Honey Cott, Weston, Learning ton, April 16. — Friday and Saturday last were grand days for the bees, which made them go off to the woods to fetch the pollen which was brought in in large quantities. In looking over hives on Saturday night, I found, what appeared to me, new honey in the cells, in stocks that had not been fed and that had no chance of getting any that had been fed to other stocks; as I have often proved before, stocks that have been wintered in temporary i-inch hives have sur- vived and appear as healthy and well as others that have double walls, thus in my case seeming to point contrary to what ' U. H.' said awhile back about cheap and nasty hives. It appears to me the chief thing is, for them to be kept dry and have plenty of food. — John Walton. April 19, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 207 NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspond dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of issue, q*ieries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt oj their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended-to, and those only of personal interest will be ansieered in this column. H. W. Harris. — Honey Plants. — All the plants you name are grown for the production of honey. Buck- wheat is an annual and may he sown from April to July; the same may he said of mustard and borage. Mustard secretes honey of rare quality. Borage is a good all-round honey plant, as it may be grown in any out-of-the-way place, dry banks and ballast hills may be profitably used by growing borage on them ; it is not affected hy drought as most honey-secreting plants are. Catmint and figwort are both herbaceous plants. The seed should be sown in March or April in the open ; when the seedlings are large enough to handle plant two feet apart, Phacelia is an annual, and may be sown from March to May, and again in September to stand over the winter; these autumn-sown plants flower from March to May ; sow where the plants are to remain. Phacelia is an excellent bee-flower. O. B. T. — Perforated Separators. — These have been tried, and found to be either of little advantage or a serious disadvantage ; in the latter case, when made from excluder zinc, the sections are finished with waved surfaces. Honey-flow. — Drone Brood. — Your bees are in a very unsatisfactory condition, having a drone-rearing queen. At this season, and with so little brood, no such thing as a drone capping ought to be seen. If you examine more carefully you will perhaps find that all the brood capped over have these cappings ; if so, destroy the queen and unite with another stock. B. L. Richardson. — Site for Apiaries. — Anywhere much further south than your present abode. Heather gives little return. There are in the Midland or Southern Counties plenty of districts where large crops of honey can be obtained, but little heather. Wo know of one district where there are acres and acres of heather, and have painful experience of moving our bees to it — our expenses vastly exceeding our takings. Mid or West Berkshire is a fine county for bees. We know of one bee-keeper in West Berks who, last year, took over 400 lbs. from four colonies — all he had. Scotsman. — 1. Observatory Hive in a Shop. — For each shop there should be two observatory hives, with crates conveniently arranged for transit. One hive will be at home in readiness to make an exchange every fortnight more or less. For further particulars see Simmins' Modern Bee Farm. 2. Cloth underneath Feeders. — Common glue will answer; but it is not desirable to place such material under the stand where the bees cluster and are annoyed by its presence. Open feeders, if we understand you to mean those of wood tongued at the joints, should always have such parts painted with white lead when putting together. M. Ormond. — Xadiring.— Your plan of placing standard frames beneath the smaller frames now occupied by bees and brood, would probably end in both hives being utilised as brood-chambers. When honey begins . to come in freely, place a hive with standard frames having full sheets of foundation, on the stand of your present hive, setting the full hive beside it. Place a board, covered by a sheet, sloping to the entrance of the new hive. Take out each frame from the old hive and shake, or brush off with a goose-quill, the bees on to the board, when they will all run into the new hive, wedged up a little in front. Cut out all drone-comb and drone-brood from the old frames and replace them in the old hive in the same position as before, and cover up warmly. Now put a sheet of excluder-zinc on the new hive, over the bees, and set the old hive • upon it. The bees will rebuild the combs in the upper •¥• hive, and as the young worker bees hatch out, they will join the colonj' below, and the upper hive will bo used for storing honey only. The operation is very simple, and should be performed on a fine evening when all bees are at home. J. Stradlinq. — Dwindling. — If the bees in these hives would not cover more space than three sheets of note- paper, you must uot expect to get much honey from them. Move these three hives gradually near to each other, and unite, reserving one queen only, and that tlio youngest and most sprightly in appearance — probably the one having most brood in its hive — and destroy the other two, unless you have use for them. In uniting cage the selected queen under a pipe-cover cage, on a brood-comb, in the centre of a clean empty hive, and place all other combs from the three hives, which con- tain eggs and brood with bees on both sides of this centre comb, alternating them from each hive, and close up with division-boards covering up warmly. Brush out any few remaining bees from the other hives on to a board sloping to the entrance, and they will run in. Perform the operation on a fine evening. On the following evening release the queen, and you will have one good colony out of three weak ones. Feed above with honey or syrup. Cheshire. — The sample of comb submitted, in its transmission through the post, has been compressed together into an agglomerated condition, from which it has been impossible to extract a single bee entire. The only portions removable were heads, with occa- sionally a thorax attached, and these were in a condition so dry as to be wholly unfavourable to microscopic examination. There are, however, no symptoms of disease; the comb is very old, and it is desirable that it should be replaced by foundation. C N. Parkin. — Reducing Thick Combs. — If your frames are seven-eighths of an inch wide on the bar, shave the combs down level to the bar with a sharp knife that has got well warmed in hot water. R. Driver. — Ei cited Stocks in Sleeps. — Short of personal examination, we should say robbing has been going on, and in the melee a queen has been thrown out. If you are quite sure which stock is queenless, you might let her run in at the hole in the top of the skep ; but most likely she is seriously injured. We should strongly advise you to have all your bees in frame-hives, then any necessary examination could so easily be made. Have the mice got into your skep ? Do not mind writing again if you think we can help you. Several lieplies to Queries postponed to next week. ^Business directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merohants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark, Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchurch St. Burtt, £. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester, Edey & Son, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford, 208 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 19, 1888. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Newhboob & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webstee, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Eoad, Beading. Ween & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merohants' Quay, Dublin, Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepebs' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenohuroh St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Bakeb, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B. , Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F. , Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour A Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins, S., Bottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Nbeiqhoor & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. cfe 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Oo., 23 Paternoster Bow, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents :— ABBOTT, BBOS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Fort Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DURRANT it Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street. Dublin. HANDBT, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire. McNALLT, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON. C. T., Crawley, Sussex. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wlgston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKIN, P., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHINSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY, A. I)., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, I,., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. THE late Hon. Sec. Northants B. K A. having having left behind him FIFTY STOCKS OF BEES in NEW COWAN HIVES, has the same for Disposal, as well as some First-class Appliances. Send for List. Ad- dress Lamport Gilbert, Irlams-o'th'-Height, Manchester. a 3891 OVERSTOCKED.— Carniolans and Ligurians, 1887, IMPOBTED QUEENS, 30s. per Stock; QUEENS FIBST GBADE. English from £1. Numerous Hives, New and Secondhand, from 5s. each. Address E. Jackson, Welwyn, Herts. A 3897 OIX DOZ. of Splendid HONEY-PRODUCING O PLANTS (Centaurea cyanus), Carriage paid to any Address, for One Shilling. Will produce thousands of blooms this year, and are also grand for Bouquets and Cutting. Address S. Cooper, Halkin House, Belgrave, Leicester. a 3872 NEW FOREST HIVE. BEST AND CHEAPEST in the Market- Fitted with Oak Legs, Double Walls, Slides and Porch to Entrance, and Improved Association Frames. Complete, 9/- eaoh. J. SHEBING, The Apiary, FOBDINGBEDJGE. (189) The A THOUSAND COPIES OF BEE CATA- XI LOGUE, with any Pictures, can be produced by above. (Cheaper than Printing.) Send Id. stamp for Samples of Work. Prices from 21s. 1000 Copies of any Writing, Drawing, Piece of Music, &c, quickly made. THE WORLD TYPE WBITEB, price 42s. Sole Agent for the Bee Trade : G. STOTHARD, Welwyn, Herts. a 389G Ninth Edition. Seventeenth Thousand. BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE BOOK: CONTAINING Management of Bees In Modern Moveable Comb Hives, and the Use of the Extractor, By THOS. WM. COWAN, F.G.S., &c. With numerous Illustrations. Price Is. 6d. ; or in clotb, 2s. Gd. Houlston & Sons, Paternoster Sq.; J.Hdckle, Kings Langloy, Herts ; and all Hive-dealers and Secretaries of Bee-keepers' Associations. Tliis work has been translated into the French, Danish, Swedish, Russian, and Spanish Languages, and should be in the hands of every Jiee-keeper. VOL. XV. or Jljhe British JBee Journal, FOE 1887. EDITED by THOS. W. COWAN, F.G.S., F.R.M.S., Containing nearly 600 pages, with numerous Illustrations, and Completo Index. Bound in Cloth, price 10s. Cloth Cases for Binding, Is. each ; post free, Is. 3d. KENT & CO., 23 PATEENOSTEB BOW, LONDON ; J. HUCKLE. KINGS LANGLEY, HEBTS. The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World. THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL Established in 1861. Prioe 6s. 6d. per annum, post free. T. G. Newman, 925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A. London Agents: Messes. GEO. NEIGHBOUR & SONS, H9 Reoent Street, W, J ^tAA^' British Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stranqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cimbridge Circus, W.C. [No. 305. Vol. XVI.] APRIL 26, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (Stittaxfol, Itofiues, &t. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS ASSOCIATION. The; next Quarterly Conversazione and meeting "I County Representatives will be held on Thursday, May 19th. PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY. Preventing Sagging of Foundation. One of the great obstacles to the use of full sheets of comb -foundation has been from its stretching and sagging which caused it to become wavy, and the re- sulting combs would not be always just within the frame. The tirst sheets we used, of German manufac- ture, were so fragile, that it was difficult to fix them in the frames. However, by persevering, we managed to secure straight combs from full sheets, which were in those days the wonder and admiration of all who saw them. The sheets were obtained from Messrs, Neigh- bour, who were the only importers of them at that time; but subsequently we obtained a pair of type- metal plates, which enabled us to make our own of much stouter material. The imported sheets were generally very brittle, and often had incipient cracks, causing the sheets to drop down when the weight of the bees was upon them. To secure them in our frames we split the top bar in two, and after inserting the flat part of the foundation with which these sheets were always provided the two halves of the bar were screwed to- gether. We tried brads, but found that the jar caused by the hammering would crack the foundation near the top bar. The frame was then placed between two frames of brood, with the result that every sheet would be worked out perfectly straight. Unless this pre- caution were taken it was foimd that the foundation was not strong enough to hive a swarm upon, but by placing a frame of foundation and a frame of comb alternately the weight of the cluster was so distributed as not to affect the foundation. This difficulty has been overcome by the use of much thicker and stronger sheets of from four to six square feet to the pound. When a swarm of bees is placed in a hive tilled with frames of foundation, the heat generated causes the wax to soften and the weight of the bees pulls the sheet down, which causes the cells to be elongated and distorted. For this reason it has always been recommended to use thick sheets and to allow for the stretching ; they were not brought down nearer to the bottom bar than within about three-quarters of an inch. Besides the sagging there is also the wavyness of the sheets to be- guarded against. This is caused by the bees working at different parts of the sheet at the same time and drawing it out unevenly, and always results when there are more frames of foundation than the bees can comfortably cover. To remedy these defects many devices have been tried. For some time we used the Cheshire foundation-fixers, and although we obtained straight combs with them, there were so many objections to them, and we found them such a nuisance, that we were forced to give them up. In the tirst place, they were expensive, as it required at least six for each frame, or sixty for a hive of ten frames. Then the foundation had to be secured in the usual way by means of molten wax to the top bar. After a couple of days the fixers had to be removed, and in doing so, even with the greatest care, the cell-walls close to the points were broken causing the bees much extra labour to repair them. Then where the points pierced the foundation the bees would gnaw away the wax in their endeavour to remove the obstruction and cause holes in the combs which were never tilled up. Such things are all very well when there are only two or three hives, and the bee-keeper has nothing better to do than to be constantly fussing with his bees, but when hives are kept for practical purposes and time is an object, the bee- keeper must find more simple and practical methods. Various substances have been tried embedded in the wax, such as paper, silk, thread, calico, wood, and glass, which have been used with more or less success ; but it was Cap- tain Hetherington who conceived the idea of introducing wire into the wax-sheets. For this purpose the foundation was made with a flat midrib so that the bases of the cells were flat and the wire was embedded in the midrib during the process of manufacture. The wire used is tinned and runs in parallel rows about one inch apart. This foundation, known by the name of ' Van Deusen foundation,' is readily accepted by the bees and is not liable to stretch. Captain Hetherington uses no other, and when we visited him we were delighted to see with what regularity his combs were built out, and to have ocular proof on a large scale that the brood suffered in no way from the wires. This foundation may be fixed with molten wax in the same way as described on pages 185 and 180, or the top bar may have a saw kerf down the middle (Fig. 1), and the wax-sheet inserted into this. The simplest method of 210 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 26, 1888. inserting the wax-sheets into such top bars is to drive two nails into a hoard about one inch apart, allowing them to project three-quarters of an inch. The heads are cut off and the ends filed flat like a brad-awl. Place the frame with the top bar downwards, so that the Pig. 1. nails enter the saw-cut; then give the frame a slight turn so as to open the slit to allow the foundation to enter easily. Turn the frame back until the nails nearly touch the foundation and pull up the bar, when it will be found that the top -bar will grip the foundation securely. This plan can also be adopted in fixing or- dinary foundation, and its only objection is the waste of wax, but for rapidity it cannot be excelled. The foundation is now secure at the top but is loose at the bottom, so that new combs require great care in manipulation. Captain Hetherington has, however, hit upon another device, which makes the combs built within his frames as solid and as secure as if the wires had been attached to the top and bottom bars. This he accom- plishes by using thorns, which are put through the bars of the frames. Ordinary thorns from blackthorn or acacia, about one and a half inches long, are selected and holes are bored through the bottom and side bars at intervals of about two inches apart. When the founda- tion is in its place the thorns are driven through the holes, so that the projecting point of every alternate one touches the foundation on one side and the others on the opposite side. This effectually prevents wavy combs, and when these are built out the thorns become em- bedded, so that even rough usage will not loosen the combs. Many will prefer to use natural-based founda- tion, and this can be firmly fixed by wiring the frames. There are various ways of doing this, and in Fio-. o we give the method most generally adopted. The "frames £ ^ Fig. 2. have to be wired with No. 30 timed wire. The top and bottom bars are pierced with small holes, and the frame placed over a guide-board similar to that used in fixing wax foundation ; but it must fit the frame well, other- wise, when the wires are drawn up, the bottom bar is likely to bend. Pass the wire W through the holes, as shown in Fig. 2, and draw pretty tightly. Turn down the ends and secure them by means of pegs of wood driven into the holes. Lay down the guide, and place on it a sheet of foundation, then over it put the wired frame so that the foundation touches the top bar. We may now embed the wire, and it can be done simply by using the flat end of a bradawl and forcing the wire into the wax-sheet. Even an ordinary wheel pastry cutter has been used successfully, but by either of these methods the wire is only forced into the wax and not completely covered by it. Where a number of hives are kept much time may be saved by using what is known as the ' Woiblet spur- cmbedder.' It is essential for the proper use of this instrument that it be hot, for if used cold it is no better than the bradawl and the expense of getting one may be saved. The wheel is made of brass, and is of such a substance as to retain a certain amount of heat. The circumference has twenty-six teeth, a little more than one -sixteenth inch apart, and each of these teeth has a V groove on the outer edge. The wheel is heated in the flame of a spirit-lamp, the V groove is then placed on the wire, and the wheel ran rapidly along it from one end to the other. The heat melts the wax at each point, which cools as fast as the wheel travels forwards, and the wire will be found covered with wax. There is no necessity to fix the foundation to the top bar if this plan of wiring be adopted. We would caution those who are going to use this style of embedder to get a proper instrument, as there are some in the market perfectly worthless. We have been shown one made of tin working on a pin driven through a piece of wood. We need hardly say such a thing could not be heated without burning the wood, and even if it could it would not embed the wire properly. We were also shown another made with a wheel about li inches in diameter, and teeth | of an inch wide instead of ^.t, and § inch from point to point. We may say such an article is about as useless for the pur- pose as the one with the tin wheel. With a proper instrument we know of no method more rapid or more effective for fastening foundation. Another way of wiring the frames is shown in Fig. u, Fig. 3. where the wires stretch diagonally from one side bar to the other and cross each other in the centre. The foundation is placed between the wires so that there are two on each side of it. In using wires in this way the foundation must be fixed to the top bar. In America, where the frames are rather longer than ours, an up- right support of wood is used about the centre of frame, but we have never found this necessary. We have used shallow frames for extracting and also the Carr-Stewarton frames, but never found any necessity for strengthening the foundation in any way in these ; and Mr. Carr recently sent us a specimen of one of his shallow extracting combs, which was beautifully worked out within the frame without auy strengthening whatever. Wiring large frames is a saving in wax and an economy of time in manipulation. USEFUL HINTS. W'eatheb. — Thunder-storms, copious showers, and a higher degree of temperature, are causing the meadows and corn-fields to assume a brighter green than hitherto. The fruit-trees are showing well for bloom, and after the long and dreary winter Nature is putting on a brighter garb. But there is a lamentable lack of forage for our bees. Literally, there is nothing within reach of our own save a few willows, and until the elms blossom, and the fruit-bloom opens, our bees will return witli empty sacks and unladen legs. Many a hive around us is now tenantless, and we shall expect to hear that the loss of bee-life during the late inclement season has been excep- tionally large. Feeding must still be carried on, or bees will starve, their stores of late having rapidly disappeared. April 26, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 211 Robbing should also be strictly guarded against, the bees showing a strong disposition to pilfer wherever a chance is offered ; hives, in consequence, should be examined at evening only, or most certainly loss will accrue. Sparrows, we are inclined to think, are the worst of all the enemies of the feathered tribes to our bees. The destruction wrought by them is almost past belief, where they congregate in abundance. Our house and outbuildings are covered with ivy, and although the net has been freely used, and from twenty to thirty sparrows taken on many a dark winter's evening from their favourite roosting-place, yet we have abundance left. The nests are destroyed once a fortnight all the summer through, aud yet the sparrows are as numerous as ever, fresh immigrants, we suppose, taking the place of those removed. Fruit-buds disappear beneath their piercing ken, and depredations are committed on all sides. During our boyhood every parish beadle was deputed to purchase adult and callow birds and e00.] We sometimes affect righteous indignation toward those who adulterate honey. No words are caustic enough to express onr wrathful ebullitions. But did it ever occur to you that the possibilities of such nefarious practices are greatly enhanced by the poor quality of unadulterated honey, especially extracted, often found on the market ? Probably more injury has been done the bee-keeping interest by putting upon the market poor honey — unripe, sour, thin, or detestable in quality — than by commercial adulterations. I only pretend to voice my own con- victions when I say that the extractor, regarded by many as the greatest invention in modern apiarian ap- pliances, has done the industry more harm than good. It is an easy matter to concoct a mixture, independent of the aid of bees, that will taste better to the average pur- chaser of sweets than some of the so-called honey got with the aid of the extractor. When a novice first gets an extractor and finds how easy it is to ' sling' honey, he is, perhaps, anxious to astonish his neighbours by his wonderfully superior bee-lore.' He is after large yirldx with no thought of quality. He extracts early and often — a3 the trained ward politician in the next precinct votes. Instead of honey, he extracts nectar. Instead of a rich, oily, aromatic delicacy whose fragrant memories will linger long after the joy has passed, he has some April 26, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. :i7 sweetened water that will hasten to convert itself into vinegar, as if ashamed to attempt to counterfeit what it can never equal. If nothing but the best were sold, it would be im- possible to imitate it successfully. Honey is considered a luxury in America. Luxuries for the table must appeal to the eye, or the taste, or both. If we want our honey on the tables of the rich it must win its way there on its merits. It must be proved in the same manner as the pudding — in the eating. Honey that is good enough to go into the dining-rooms of the wealthy will find its way into the kitchen of the labouring man — for there is nothing too good for the working man in this country to eat. His taste is educated. He lives more royally than royalty itself a hundred years ago. We can no more deceive the taste of the poor than the rich, and the former, or at least the middle class, are among the best customers. Now if we want to cater to the taste of the consumer, we must produce such an article as will please when bought. The time was when honey was honey, and little was known of the different grades. Not so now. The successful honey producer of the future is to be the one who not only sells nothing but a ripe article, but who puts it in such attractive packages as the buyer delights to take home with him when he has company to tea. — EtKiKNK Secor, Iowa (American Apiculturist), FIXING FOUNDATION. [1010.] In perusing the Journal, April 12th (p. 19.3, No. 1585), 1 find a friend's description of the way he fixes foundation in frames, which I may state is very similar to the plan on which 1 have constructed my frames for the coming season. I beg to forward you particulars of the slight difference, for insertion in Journal, if you think it likely to be of any benefit or worthy of consideration. In the place of the two strips of wood f x f, length of inside of frame, I take two strips of wood jj wide, and $j thick by l.'Jj long, bevelled on one edge at an angle ^__^ of about sixty degrees; one of Z/^ "1 those strips I fix firmly to the / ■ inside of the top bar with the bevel inclining to the bar. Then place the frame flat on the bench and insert a piece of wood 7$ x 13 inches, and g stout in thickness, inside the frame ; on this place the foundation, taking care that the upper edge is brought well up to the top bar, then take the other bevelled piece and press the foundation firmly between the two and fasten with half-inch wire nails. The bevel acts similar to a wedge, and holds with a slight pressure, very firmly. The sharp edge of the bevel should be slightly taken off or rounded to prevent cutting the wax. I should be pleased to know if the method I have endeavoured to describe in the hope that it may be of some benefit meets with your approval. Thanking you sincerely for the great assistance I have received through the medium of your valuable Journal, which is weekly anxiously looked for. — W. HonNF.n, 30 Cumberland Street, Ski i>ton-in-Craren. HIVING SWARMS. [1011.] Now that the swarming season is approaching, I think that the following remarks may prove acceptable to the readers of the Journal. In most of the modern works on bee-keeping the advice given to those about to hive a swarm is, first, to place a straw skep under the bees when they have settled, and then either shake or sweep them into it. For several seasons I have adopted what appears to me a far simpler and more advantageous plan. It is to reverse the old order of things, and sus- pend the skep by means of a strong cord over the swarm, taking care that the branch on which the bees have settled comes in contact with the inside of the skep. In a short time the bees will be seen going up into their new home. The advantages I claim for my plan are, total absence of anything which irritates the bees, as the old plan of shaking or sweeping generally does, and that all danger of crushing the queen is done away with. I do not use a smoker at all during this process, but let the bees take their own time about going up, which I find they do in about half an hour. Sometimes it is necessary to shade the skep if the bees have swarmed on a spot much exposed to the sun, as there is a chance of their going off on a second excursion if very heated and allowed to remain so. I trust you will find space for these remarks in your valuable paper. — Edmund J. Joxes, Ysgiibor-Fmvr, Penderyn, Abenlare, South Wales, April 18th. DRIVING BEES. [1012.] I am quite a beginner at bee-keeping, and if it is not trespassing too much on your space, I should like to relate my first experiences of driving last year. I commenced with a stock and a swarm in the spring of 1887, and made up my mind when the autumn came, and with it my holiday, that 1 would devote part of my time to driving condemned bees, so as to gain a little experience and increase my stocks. August duly arrived, and I started away about the middle of the month to spend a fortnight or so, as is my custom, under the parental roof in one of the eastern counties. I soon found that I should have plenty of work to do, as then' were any number of skeps in the neighbouring villages, and no sooner had my fame ('?) got abroad than the cottagers were sending up nearly every day to say, ' Would I come and take their bees ?' My father caught the bee-fever of me, and I was very glad, as in him 1 had an able pupil and assistant. We, first of all, started to get hives put together, and in a short time we had several in readiness. They were made square with single walls to take standard frames, and so far have answered admirably. My first venture was in our own village. The sexton had three hives, and, as he was getting some- what aged, had determined to give up keeping bees, so I had permission to take the lot. I started operations, my pupil taking his turn at the drumming, and we had a very successful drive, the bees going up splendidh, and we put the three lots together on one of the old stands, fed them, using one of Simmins' frame syrup feeders, and left them. In about a week all the combs were drawu out, stored, and sealed. The next bee-da v was at a farm-house about two miles off in the nex't village, so I requisitioned a donkey and cart, and having got skeps, &c, together, started off with a boy to act as coachman. Here I found I had got somewhat a big job on, seven skeps to drive out of a total of eight, and my former assistant not present. To get it over as quicklv as possible, as it was rather late in the afternoon, 1 pressed the boy into the service. He 'worn't' afraid of bees, and we soon had them tied up securely in our erupt v skeps. I despatched my coachman home with the load, took the honey out, and then sat down to a substantial tea with my friends in the farm-house. This was a fair illustration of the succeeding days' driving, of which we had several, and drove in all about thirty lots without a hitch of any kind. We made of these eight stocks, and it was arranged that I shouM send four to my own home and leave the others behind. We thought matters over, and as we had no experience, and no advisers at hand, we had to make arrangements for the railway journey in the best fashion we could — and we evidently went wrong somewhere at this stage. Two hives were selected, the bees of which had been driven about a week, that had comb extended and syrup 218 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 26, 1888. stored, and the frame we fixed at top with wooden blocks, so that they could not move out of position, and the lids to all were arranged with a strip of perforated zinc let in along the centre for ventilation. These hives stood the journey very well, but the other two we selected contained bees that we had driven the day before my return. They were sent off in the morning by passenger train and arrived before I did in the after- noon, when I at once unpacked them, to find much to my disappointment that the contents of these two were thoroughly mixed up with broken foundation in a heap at the bottom of the box and dead as door-nails. Will some experienced bee-keeper kindly advise me the best way to pack driven bees for a railway journey, so as to be prepared for a similar campaign next autumn ? I forgot to say we varied our performance one day by trying to drive some bees out of a hollow tree. In this we were unsuccessful, as they would not leave ; so we contented ourselves by taking out as much honey as the openings we could make with a chopper would allow us, and this weighed fifty pounds. The bees had been in , the tree for years and were a very savage lot. We got plenty of stings for our honey. — W. J. S. ONE SIZE SECTIONS- OVERSTOCKING. [1618.] Every producer should of course study the wants of his own market, and govern himself accordingly. If two-pound sections are received with more favour by his customers, two-pound sections are the ones for him to use, no matter if one-pound bring a higher price in other markets ; and so with other sizes. But to a great extent it lies largely in the power of the bee-keeper to decide upon one size or another of section, just as may suit his convenience, without protest from his customers. Anyone who has tried having different sizes of sections in his apiary at the same time need not be told that the nuisance is something like that of having different hives and frames in the same apiary. One year as a matter of experiment, I tried sections of five different sizes or widths, and part of them remained unfilled to annoy me for two years afterward. If there were no other reason for uniformity there is a strong one in this, that supply dealers and manufacturers are more apt to have on hand a standard article, and if the bulk of bee-keepers use a section of a given size, manufacturers can make them up in large quantities at a lower price. They will feel safe in working ahead of the demand and getting a stock on hand. Whatever in this direction is for the interest of the manufacturer results in a lighter demand on the purse of the bee- keeper.— Dr. C. C. Miller (American Apiculturist). Lectures on Bee-keeping. — On April 27th, at the invitation of a lady whose unobtrusive work is well known and appreciated in the parish of Upper Hatherley, Cheltenham, the schoolroom was filled with upwards of 200 people, bee-keepers and their friends, to hear a lecture by Mr. Slade, Hon. Secretary Gloucestershire B. K. A., on ' Apiculture, and how to make Bee-keeping profitable as well as interesting.' The lecture was illustrated by about :-ixty slides, with the limelight, showing the bee scientifically, and bee-keeping at home and in other lands ; also diagrams, and hives, supers, extractor, wax- melter, and appliances used in bee-keeping. A table was laid out, exhibiting cakes and confectionery, from George, of Beading, honey drops from Huntley and Palmer, specimens of English and foreign honey, and chocolate, honey creams and tablets, from Messrs. Fry — all kindly contributed by the various manufacturers, which were much appreciated and enjoyed by those present. Bev. Mr. Griffiths opened, and closed the meeting with a few kind and encouraging" remarks. A similar lecture was given on the following Tuesday at the Workmen's Hall, Silver Street, Worcester. 'Reminiscences:' A Correction. — In the article last week entitled 'Reminiscences' (No. 1.596, p. 201), there is a mistake which should be rectified. It is said : ' The first hive I ever saw was a large box hive.' Whereas it was not a hive at all, but a large box spouting, or cor- nice running all along the front of the house, and about thirty feet from the ground. This will explain ' The bees hanging out at one corner; ' ' Placing a straw hive against the wall to catch a swarm ; ' ' Getting up a ladder, taking the honey out, and nailing up again.' — Lordswood. (Btfyatz from % l|te. Wehcijn, April lQth. — The weather is very trying, and everything is very backward, though I had drones on the wing from a very strong hive oil the 0th. — Geo. J. Buller. North Leicestershire. — Beautiful weather here last week, and bees flying and gathering pollen well, but the wind has shifted to east, and all is at a stand again, except feeding. — A. E. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspond dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letterst queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of issue, q-ieries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt oj their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. F. T. G. — Moving Stock. — -Leave perforated zinc un- covered. It does not matter which time of day, morning or evening, so long as, if you elect the morning, it is early morn. W. B. — 1. Rearing Queens. — Unless you have capped\ drone brood now, it will be unwise to attempt queen- ' raising, and your better plan would be to wait the young queens you anticipate at swarming time, either • uniting the queenless lot to another, or purchasing a queen for them. 2. Clipping Queen's Wings. — If they really persist, in spite of every precaution, then of course clip the queen's wings. 8. We believe Mr. Simmins sends out queens now with a guarantee of safe introduction. 4. Cross between English Drone and Carniolan Queen. — The first cross between Car- niolan queen and black drone is excellent for honey gathering, but temper suspicious. Enox. — 1. Commencement of Honey Flow. — When you see the top cells of combs becoming elongated with white new wax. 2. Doubling. — See Cowan's Bee- keeper's Guide Book. ;j. Strengthening Stock. — Com- mence stimulative feeding at once and shortly give a frame of brood from your strongest stock to weakest, so equalising the colonies. Treat the colony deprived of its combs as a swarm; you may get a little surplus from it. 4. Lee's Sections. — Full sheets of foundation can be fastened into other makes of sections, but in all the foundation is seen from the outside ; this is very little, if any detriment. 5. Cleaning Floor-boards of Hives. — This should be done now. Lift hive off floor- board and place it upon a piece of calico, damped with weak carbolic acid solution, then scrape floor- board, afterwards replacing hive. Take floor-boards away quietly from other hives ; little disturbance will ensue. 6. Honey Harvest. — Your main crop would be from sainfoin and clover. Unless your bees are very strong the fruit blossom will be too early. 7. Cultivating Plants for Bees. — It does not pay to cultivate plants specially for bees, the land in England being far too valuable, but if honey-producing plants can be grown that are useful as feeding stuffs for April 2G, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 219 cattle, &c, it will pay to plant them. In oar own flower garden we plant ' bee flowers ' as we must have flowers of some sort or other, and therefore discard all mediocre honey-producing ones. If we had a farm we should not plant red clover, but a honey-producing variety. Malta. — Supers and Swarms. — When a stock swarms, remove the parent stock to new site. Place the swarm on the original site, put queen-excluder on the frames (which should have starters only), take the supers off the stock, and place them on the swarm. J. W. Barker. — Drone flying on April 8th. — We ' should say the stock referred to is queenless, and should advise a close examination on the first mild day. (See ' Echo ' from Welwyn.) Be very careful not to chill the brood should there be a queen. Wood Green. — Skep not Filled. — Considering the weather last season, your bees did as much as could be expected. Feed about quarter of a pint of syrup every evening. You will hardly get much of a honey flow in your locality till the limes come on in July. J. F. Cleeve. — Bees vacating Hive. — During spring it is not an (infrequent occurrence for colonies to vacate their hives and join others near. This is frequently the result of shortness of stores, but in your instance it is not so. The cause cannot always be traced. No doubt the colony was weak — strong tines never do so if they have plenty of stores — and the smell of the paint (turpentine) drove them away. S. W. It. — 1. Queen Nursery. — Any appliance manu- facturer who is acquainted with the American system of queen-rearing would make you one. They are frequently used in America. 2. Removing Queen before placing Nursery in Position. — There is no necessity to do so. 3. Virgin Queen Introduction. — 1 They can be introduced direct with even greater ease i than when fertilised. John Bainbridue. — Bees fixed in Combs. — During the winter a portion of the cluster has got separated from the main body, and has been prevented by the cold from joining them. They have thus, after consuming the stores near them, died from starvation and cold. T. D. M., Anwell, Burma. — 1. Apis dorsata. — We are not aware of any successful attempt to domesticate these rather pugnacious bees, but we shoidd like to have a good try were we situated as you are; probably they would resemble the Cyprians in resenting smoke. Quietness and nerve would be essential. — - "2. Apis Indica. — We should think your stocks are queenless, judging by our Apis melliflea, or it may be you gave them so much food that the queen has nowhere to lay. Remove a centre comb, and the bees will soon build another, that is, presuming you have no foundation to put in. Do not fail to favour us with the opportunity of helping you in the future. Any notes on bee life and culture in your far-distant home would be appreciated. H. I. A. — 1. Wiring Frames. — You can use a centre bar as you suggest, but we should certainly prefer to remove it after getting the wire threaded in. There is no need to strain it so tight. — 2. Transferred Bees. — Unless the weather becomes very much warmer, we should certainly wait the period you name before dis- turbing this stock. You put enough foundation. Enquirer. — The shrubs and trees referred to are not of much use as honey producers, but some pollen is gathered from them. W. F. A..— Prevention »f Swarming. — For preventing colonies from swarming when arranged on the tiering- up principle, consult our Guide-book, p. od, or our pamphlet on Doubling and Storifying. Constant Reader. — Best Hybrid. — Try a cross be- tween a Carniolan drone and a black queen. This makes a good honey gatherer of robust constitution. R. Curtis. — Stock not Working. — On the first mild day examine this hive closely, and. note whether you can see the queen, whether there is any worker brood, and how the stock is for strength, and write to us again. Bee-Kay. — Uniting. — Bring the hives to be united close together, about a yard a-day, reckoning only those on which the bees are flying freely. When the weather is suitable unite the lots, placing a piece of glass before the entrance so that the bees may note their new location. If you fancy one queen more than another the worse queen should be removed at the time of preparing the hives for uniting. W. 0. Thomas. — Syrup. — We should not advise using syrup made last year, it would make ' assurance doubly sure ' by making it afresh. Syrup should now be given rather thinner in consistency ; and in average weather a quart weekly will generally be sufficient to keep a strong colony advancing. II. W. T. — Spring Dwindling. — Spring dwindling is often attributable to too early and frequent manipulation and stimulating by giving food irregularly. The queen being in the condition you represent, it would be de- sirable to procure another stock and unite. By judi- cious feeding, and attention and care, a pi ipulous colony may be created by the arrival of the principal honey harvest. Ellis E. Crisp. — Bacillus depilis. — The bees have not reached us, but from your description we are inclined to consider that the bees are affected with Bacillus depilis or Oaytoni. We advise you to raise the hive slightly from the floor-board by means of small wedges, so that a current of air may pass beneath the combs. Feed also on phenolated syrup, and do not open the hive or attempt to manipulate. Under this treatment the colony may soon recover. Wanted, a list of the honey shows or fairs, with dates and places of meeting, to be held in England during season 188S, with classes 'open' to the United King- dom.— Yirgin Honey. Received from F. M. Atwood, Rileyville, Saline Co., Illinois, his Catalogue and Price-list of apiarian supplies in general. Received from Messrs. Abbott Brothers samples of honey labels. These are lettered 'Honey,' 'Pure Honey,' ' Heather Honey,' ' Irish Honey,' &c. These labels are very pretty, and the designs neat and appropriate. They will be found effective for their purpose. There is a large variety of them for selection. Well-designed labels add much to the attractiveness of honey. ^Business ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Bortt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester, Edet & Son, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hdtchinqs, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, If., Huntington, Hereford. 220 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 26, 1888. Meadows, W. P., System, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C. , 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Boad, Beading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, P., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins, S., Bottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neiohbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON, C. T„ Crawley, Sussex. 55P.SHtAW' c-' Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J„ Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. W-r£H?NSHAW! A-! Newcastle, Staffordshire. IX225LEY' A- D-i 2o Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. THE late Hon. Sec. Northants B. K. A. having left behind him FIFTY STOCKS OF BEES in NEW COWAN HIVES, has the same for Disposal, as well as some First-class Appliances. Send for List. Ad- dress Lamport Gilbeiit, Irlams-o'th'-Height, Manchester. a 3891 NEW FOREST HIVE. BEST AND CHEAPEST in the Market.— Fitted with Oak Legs, Double Walls, Slides and Porch to Entrance, and Improved Association Frames. Complete, 9/- each. J. SHEBING, The Apiary, FOBDINGBBIDGE. (189) MILOTUS ALIBI. AMERICAN CLOVER. Free Packet of Seed to all who send 2d. in Stamps to W. D. Slade, Hon. Sec. Glos. B. K. A., 12 Promenade Villas, Cheltenham. Larger quantities to Agriculturists. Terms on application. Ninth Edition. Seventeenth Thousand. BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDEBOOK: CONTAINING Management of Bees in Modern Moveable Oomb Hives, and the Use of the Extractor. By THOS. WM. COWAN, F.G.S., Ac. With numerous Illustrations. Price Is. bV. ; or in cloth, 2s, 8rf, EouLSTOU & Sons, Paternoster Sq.j J.Hucklk, Kings Langley, Herts; and all Hive-dealers and Secretaries of Bee-keepers' Associations. This workhasbeen translated into theFrench, Danish, Swedish, Russian, and Spanish Languages, and should be in the int nth of every nee-keeper, VOL. XV. of Jljhe ^British jBee Journal, FOE. 1887- EDITED BY THOS. W. COWAN, F.G.S., F.R.M.S., Containing nearly 600 pages, with numerous Illustrations, and Complete Index. Bound in Cloth, price 10s. Cloth Cases for Bindiug, Is, each ; post free, Is. 3d. KENT & CO., 23 PATERNOSTEE BOW, LONDON ; J. HUCKLE, KINGS LANGLEY, HEBTS. The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World. THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL Established in 1861. Price 6s. 6<2. per annum, post free. T. G. Newman, 925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A. London Agents: Messrs. GEO. NEIGHBOUB & SONS, 149 Begent Street, W. The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the renowned C. F. H. Gravenhorst, Brunswick. DEUTSCHE ILLUSTRIERTE BIENENZEITUNG. Sample copies sent on request. Also, ' DEB PRAKTISCHE IMKER.' Compendium of Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst. Fourth en- larged and improved edition, with fifty-two new original Pictures, and a frontispiece. Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched ; well bound, 5 marks. C. A. Schwetschke & Son (M. BRtHN), Brunswick, Communication* to the Editor to be addressed ' Stiunqewayb' Pbiniinq Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 30G. Vol. XVI.] MAY 3, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (Sbitaxhl, |tottas, #t. FIRST-CLASS CERTIFICATES. The annual first-class examination will take place on Thursday, May 17th. Candidates intending to competo are required to give notice to the Secretary on or before Saturday, May 12th. ARE BEES WORTH KEEPING? In some form or other the title of this article will be crossing the minds of the majority of our readers during the present season of apicul- ture. This subject can be viewed from so many and distinct points that, starting with such a wide basis, the enumeration of a few of the subjects of interest may prove of pleasure as well ns profit. First, we have the man who keeps bees for pleasure, eager to possess himself of any new race, anxious to try any fresh invention. Apiculture to such is a hobby, but this apiarian is of great use to the cause, as, money being of no object, his facilities for proving novel ideas enable others to know if tli is or that appliance possesses any real merit. Secondly, we have the experimentalist, who loves his bees as a study, ever striving to advance science and acquire some fresh knowledge concerning the natural history of these most industrious insects, useful in a thousand ways to man. In these ranks from age to age have been found men who have devoted their lives and fortunes to the cause, teaching us the anatomy of the boe, pointing out the wonderful adaptation of this part of the insect for certain work, and that part for the advance- ment of the wonderful economy in nature, showing us the loving forethought of the Great Creator who fashioned all things, however simple or complex in their construction, for an all-wise purpose. From such men we know the habits of bees, their diseases and cure, their methods of collecting honey, and their power of transmitting pollen from flower to flower, insuring the fertilisation of blooms, pro- viding for us a larger harvest of both grain or fruit than could have been obtained without their instrumentality. Thus true philanthropists have given to the world the results of their tedious experiments and laborious observations. Thirdly, we have the agriculturalists and fruit- growers, who keep bees, not with the primary object of obtaining honey, or because they are particularly fond of bee-keeping, but because thoy have learnt from the experimentalist that no bees mean no fruit. It is now becoming a reoognised fact that where fruit is cultivated to a large extent ami bees are not kept in the vicinity an apiary must of necessity be added to the garden ; and, profiting from the experience of our bee-masters, these apiaries have been made to yield profitable results in honey harvests. Fourthly, we come to the class who form the greatest number of our bee-keepers, viz., those who keep bees to increase and help out their incomes ; those are recruited from all classes of society : and we are glad to see the cottagers, profiting by the experience of their neighbours and the teaching of the Associations far and near, arc now swelling the ranks of the advanced apiculturalist. To this fourth section of those who keep bees a few words of advice may here not be out of place. If you wish your bees to pay, and if you intend them to succeed, conduct your apiary on strictly commercial principles, leave the proving of new hives and new ideas to those who can afford it and have the time ; depend upon it if they are worth anything you will soon hear of it. In the present day, with County Associations, shows, and Bee Journals, you can with patience reap the experience of others' experiments. Be careful, but do not have a hive because it is inexpensive ; such may prove ' cheap and nasty.' Take full advantage of comb-foundation, and do not neglect feeding when necessary, as such a principle would prove false economy. Have only such appliances as are of actual service, avoiding such things as you can do without, as, if your bees are to pay with the present competition, the strict- est economy must be observed. A word here as to the width of section. Much is said and written about 1 J and If inch sections. Before adopting these widths, be sure that they are the best. Our experience is rather in favour of the two inches ; they are, without doubt, the favourites for selling honey in ; many shops absolutely refuse to have anything to do with the narrower. Two or four bee -ways are a matter of opinion and choice, as right-augled and parallel frames are ; both have their strong advocates, as well amongst scien- tific as with practical bee masters. Fifthly, and lastly, we come to the man who 222 THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 3, 1888. makes bee-keepiug a speciality, devoting his entire time and attention to their management, making apiculture his sole source of income, either by selling swarms and queen-raising, or working his apiary exclusively for the production of honey ; or else, when circumstances permit, he may include all three in his scheme. We have thus briefly traced the five different reasons ' why people keep bees ; ' from which it is easy to reply that bees are worth keeping. As a hobby and a study the pursuit will ever abide ; but as a source of income the industry must ever con- tinue to advance. Large apiaries are the rule in America and Canada, but with our changeable climate we do not consider that such undertakings will be greatly adopted by us. Apiaries of from ten to fifty hives will pay in the British Isles when worked as aids to incomes. Honey is steadily taking its right place as a household requisite : it was, of old, considered man's proper food. Some authorities inform us that Pythagoras the philo- sopher used to be contented with honey and the honey-comb and bread. BRITISH HONEY COMPANY. We very much regret to announce that we have received a circular intimating that a meeting of the above Company will be held at Charing Cross Hotel on May 10, when the following resolution will be proposed, ' That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot, by reason of its liabilities, continue its business, and that it is advisable to wind up the same voluntarily.' ASSOCIATIONS. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Meeting of the Committee held at 105 Jermyn Street on Thursday, the 26th ult. Present — Rev. Geo. Raynor (in the chair), Rev. F. T. Scott, Rev. R. Errington, Captain Campbell, J. M. Hooker, W. O'B. Glennie (Treasurer), and the Secretary. Letters were read from Captain Bush, Rev. E. Clay, Dr. Bartrum, and the Rev. J. L. Seager, regretting their inability to be present. The finance business and the Secretary's correspondence having been considered, the Exhibitions Sub-Committee reported that they had held a meeting previous to the General Committee Meeting, and had resolved that the following arrangements be made in respect to the awarding of prizes to members of the B. B. K. A. at the county shows of the affiliated Associations :— (1.) That priority be given to those counties which had made the earliest application, subject to suitable arrangements. (2.) That two classes be arranged, one for comb honey in small sections, and one for run or extracted honey, with two prizes of 12s. Gd. and 7s. Gd. in each class. (3.) That the exhibits be subject to the B. B. K.A. Exhibition rules where they applied. (4.) That no competitor be allowed to take more than one prize in each class. (5.) That an entrance-fee of one shilling and sixpence be made for each entry, the entrance-fees to be handed over to the funds of the County Association. The report of the Exhibitions Sub-Committee having been considered, it was approved and adopted. In the absence of Dr. Bartrum, who had placed the notice on the agenda paper, it was resolved, ' That copies of the reports of the quarterly meetings and papers read feu forwarded to each member.' A meeting of the Educational Sub-Committee, called for the purpose of considering some modification of the rules relating to third-class examinations, could not take place. Only one member was present, the remainder being absent through illness. The next meeting of the Committee, also the quarterly meeting of County Representatives, will take place on Thursday, May 17th. LOWESTOFT BEE-KEEPERS* ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the members of this Association took place at the Public Hall on Thursday, April 20, when the following report was presented by the Hon. Sec, L. Wren : — ' The committee are again able to present a very satis- factory report and balance sheet for the year 1887. ' There are now forty-five members against forty-six last year- The year closes with a balance in hand of 0/. 12s. 6d. ' It was resolved at the last annual meeting not to hold an exhibition during 1887 ; but in lieu thereof the mem- bers to have two visits from the expert, viz., spring and autumn. In accordance with that resolution, the expert visited the apiaries of members during April and May, examined 159 stocks, giving advice and assistance where required. The visit was repeated during September and October, when 102 stocks were examined and put in order for the winter. ' It has been a long and trying winter for bees, and many stocks have died, some from starvation, others through old worn-out queens. All stocks need great attention just now where they are strong. Much food is consumed in rearing brood, and it will be some time before the bees will gather sufficient to supply their daily needs.' The report and balance-sheet, showing a balance of 6/. 12s. 5d., were unanimously approved and adopted. The following committee for the ensuing year were unanimously re-elected: — Rev. T. A. Nash, Rev. C. T. Scott, Mr. S. Cox, Mr. R. J. Colman, Mr. J. L. Clemence, Mr. G. S. Everitt, Mr. K. Rix, Mr. L. J. Peto, Mr. F. Morse. Mr. L. Peto was also elected chairman for the year. Mr. L. Wren was re-elected as honorary secretary, expert, and treasurer. It was also thought advisable that in connexion with the Blundeston and Corton Horticultural Shows prizes should be offered for cottagers, and it was resolved there should be two classes of prizes as under : — 1st. For the best exhibition of honey in the comb, taken without destroying .the bees. 1st prize, 5s. ; 2nd, 2s Gd. 2nd. For the best exhibition of extracted or run honey, in clear glass bottles or jars, taken without destroying the bees. The honey should be exhibited in a saleable form. Any exhibitor destroying the bees to take the honey will be disqualified. The proceedings then terminated. MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.— SOUTHGATE BRANCH. A general meeting of the Southgate Branch of the Middlesex B. K. A. was held in the Village Hall, Southgate, on April 25th, 1888. Chairman, Mr. H. Matthews. The Hon. Sec. and Treasurer (P. P. Ilasluck) reported that up to date 6/. 10s. Gd. in subscriptions from sixteen'mombers had been received, of which sum 0/. 9s. Gd. had been paid over to the Provincial Secretary, leaving Is. in hand. The show for the N. E. division of the county was held in the grounds of P. P. Hasluck, Esq.,The Wilderness, Southgate, on the 20th August last. In spite of the bad weather the attendance was fair. South- gate branch was well represented at the show, and the B. B. K. A. medals were awarded to Mr. J. II. Bolton and Mr. P. P. Hasluck respectively. The autumn tour May 3, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 223 conducted by the expert-in-chief to the B. B. K. A. (Mr. S. J. Baldwin), was, on the whole, satisfactory. Three cases in all of fnul brood were reported, of which one was so far advanced that the expert recommended its destruction ; his suggestion was carried out. The Association appears to bo making way in the district, and the Secretary has strong hopes of a considerable addition to the number of members during the coming season. ESSEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Spring Visits.- The expert is working, as weather allows, near home, but has been constantly stopped by the continued cold and wet. Distant journeys are left last for the sake of longer days. Cottagers' Apiary Competition. — Xotes will be taken on spring visits of the stocks in cottagers' apiaries, so that results may be judged on autumn visit for the prize of 10s. offered by Mr. Ed. Durrant for the best-kept cottage members' apiary giving largest returns in com- parison with the number of hives kept. Hives for Cottagers. — To encourage labourers and cottagers now using skeps to purchase bar-frame hives, Mr. Bovill has generously placed a sufficient sum at the disposal of the Association to enable the purchase of six hives at 12s. Gd. each, to be delivered to cottage members recommended by the expert as sufficiently advanced in bee-keeping, and unable to purchase unaided. The cost to be repaid by an3'one who takes a hive, as he can make it out of the honey produced in the hive so purchased. A recognition, in the shape of a section or bottle of hone_y, to be made yearly by each purchaser as long as any portion of his amount remains unpaid. County Show at Ilford, June 28-29. — F. H. Meggy, Hon. Sec, Chelmsford. ^(cttcu dtxterg. [7.] What is the best thing to do with queenless colonies in spring ? Should they be united to those having queens ? In the afternoon of a fine day, on which the bees have been flying, move the queenless colony close up to another having a queen, for the purpose of their being united. Give both a little smoke and jar the hives a few times. After waiting a minute or two to allow the bees time to fill themselves with honey, take off the quilts or covering, remove the frames of comb with the bees on them from the queenless colony, and alternate them with the frames in the other hive. Any bees remaining on the sides or bottom of the hive should be shaken on to the frames before putting the quilts on, when a little more smoke may be given at the entrance. A feeder filled with syrup can be put on for a few days. If the queen is a valuable one, and the bees are bad-tempered, she should be caged ; but this is not generally necessary. — John M. HOOKER. United. Yes. — John II. Howard, Holme, Peterborough. If a colony lose its queen in March or April unite the bees to the next hive, and let the hive stand midway between the original position of both hives. The uniting had better be done as follows to prevent fighting : — Shake both stocks of bees into a straw skep, or on a wide board or cloth, in front of the hive you intend them to occupy, and as they run in together sprinkle them with some very thin syrup with a few drops of peppermint in it ; it is also a safe plan to cage the queen for twenty- four hours. But if a colony should lose its queen in May and there was a fair lot of bees, I should give them a frame of brood containing eggs from a good working stock and let them raise a queen, — W. Woodley. Queenless colonies in spring should be united to moderately strong colonies which possess queens. — H. Wood, Lichfield. If the queenless colony in spring be a weak lot it should be united to another stock having a queen, as they are hardly worth looking after. Or should the colony be queenless and still strong in bees, at end of April or be- ginning of May a frame of brood may be given to it from another stock to hatch a queen, provided, also, that precaution be taken to have drones flying at the time for successful mating. In most apiaries will be found in spring one or two stocks having a young queen with few bee?. When a stock is found to be queenless, these small lots with queen may be united to queenless colonies ; this I believe to be the best way.— William McNally, Glenluce, Scotland. Unite by all means.— Wm. N. Griffin. Unite them to other stocks near, except they are very strong in bees ; then, if any queens be obtainable, give them one by caging from twenty -four to thirty -six hours. — John Walton, Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington. Either unite to those having queens, or unite two or three queenless colonies after introducing a queen. — W. B. Webster. If queenless recently, I should regard it as no great evil, particularly if bees covered four frames ; give a frame containing eggs from queen whose good qualities have been proved, and proceed in usual manner with cells. It frequently happens that stocks are queenless earlier; if strong, should proceed as above and protect the nucleus by artificial heat. Do not regard uniting early in year as advantageous, and only practiso it as a last resort. By this method I have queens now ready to fly, and can thus practise ' select ' rearing. — John Edey, St. NeoU. I think so.— W. E. Burkitt. This depends upon circumstances. If the colony is large enough to cover four or five standard frames, and a nucleus headed by a last year's queen is available, unite the latter to the former, caging the queen for twenty- four hours. Of late years I have wintered nuclei of three and four standard frames, and find them very useful at spring. Colonies, populous and headed by young queens, when put into winter quarters well pre- pared, will rarely be found queenless at spring. Failing a queen, union with another colony is the only alter- native.— George Raynor. Nothing is gained by uniting strong colonies. Take a queen, if good, from a weak lot, and then unite latter stock to one near it, should the weaker lot not stapd near the queenless hive. — Samuel Simmins. Jforcip. THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA. The usual winter losses of bees in the Northern States cause many apiarians to turn their thoughts to Florida, believing that in this sunny land, where flowers are blooming the entire year, there would be a field open for the enterprising apiarist which, if occupied, would result in satisfactory returns for the trouble and expense that might accrue in removing to so favoured a locality. There have been good reasons in the past for the inquiring mind to dwell upon this subject, as the apicultural journals have contained numerous reports relative to this and other localities, as especially favoured by nature for the production of honey. Believing there are other localities in the State that are suitable for establishing apiaries with a fair prospect of success, it is not necessary in this article to make any reference to them, but rather confining the subject to the locality 224 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 3, 1888. embraced in the mangrove district of the eastern coast of the State, of which New Smyrna has long been con- sidered the centre. With the exception of St. Augustine, it is claimed to he the oldest town in the State, and one of the last to receive the benefits derived from railway transportation, and as a consequence has been deprived of its share of emigration compared to other portions of the State. Previous to the freeze of January, 1886, this locality was considered to be a most desirable location for securing large yields of honey. The mangrove nourishes for miles up and down the river, and in the season of its blooming the amount of honey secreted was sufficient for thousands of colonies. The bee-keeping industry began to attract the attention of specialists, quite a number of whom possessed flourishing apiaries numbering from fifty to two hundred colonies and over. After the freeze, which killed and blighted from seventy-five to ninety per cent of the mangroves, a feeling of despair secured a firm hold on many of the bee-keepers, and they either sold out or removed to more promising localities. To those who remained the future proved anything but encouraging. The lack of honey to subsist the colonies upon caused many to die of starvation, and a general indifference to the result was common. Bees have been shaken upon the ground, the honey extracted, and the combs melted into wax in order to secure a portion of the amount invested in them by their owners previous to removing. The result is, there are at the present time but one-third to one-fourth as many colonies here as were in the fall of 1885, and to the best of my know- ledge, no one is relying on their apiaries exclusively for a subsistence. There are individuals here who desire to dispose of their apiaries ; others who realise if the im- pression goes abroad that apiculture is a failure, it will prove disastrous to the disposal of their real estate. It is from persons of this character that the misleading reports emanate that are seen in the Northern bee journals. The season of '87, like the year previous, has proven a failure, the colonies barely securing sufficient to winter upon, but not a few of the bee-keepers have ex- tracted at the rate of from fifty to eighty pounds of honey per colony. The result at present is the bees are either starving or are being fed at much trouble and loss to the owner. While this is transpiring, the Northern bee- keepers are reading of a third of a crop in this locality, of nine barrels of honey from forty-five colonies, and reports of a like nature, which are intended to mislead for reasons mentioned above. Possibly many who peruse this article may inquire in what way does apiculture differ in Florida from what it does in the North, and if the absence of winter is a benefit to the apiarist ? Replying to the first, can say so far as my opinion on the subject is concerned, The only feature that is identical in both localities is the instincts of the bee. Of the second, the best interests of the colonies are only secured by the constant vigilance of the apiarists during the winter months. The climate, the humidity of the atmosphere, the variety, time, and duration of the blooming of the flowers, must be familiarised. The fact that colonies require about thrice as much honey to keep them in an active condition, the necessity of strong colonies to secure surplus, and, unless they are destroyed at the close of the season, the increased amount of bees are of but little value except to consume honey. The pre- valence of the musquito hawks renders queen-rearing extremely uncertain at times ; the moth- worm, active at all seasons of the year, makes the preservation of combs ex- tremely difficult. The ease with which robbery can be started during a dearth of honey, and the persistence of the bees in keeping it up, are among the many objection- able features of the profession. Our honey is also liable to ferment if not given the best of care, and the result is sometimes the bursting of the barrels while undergoing transportation. Another great detriment is that our best grades of honey, known as ' mangrove ' and ' pal- metto ' honey, are classed in the Northern markets as Southern honey, which reduces it to the level of the strained product of Georgia and other Southern States, greatly to our disadvantage. Had the interests of Florida apiculture been taken into consideration by the representation of the national society during the past four years, instead of seeking to promote personal aggran- disement, a better state of affairs could have been re- ported, notwithstanding the many disadvantages under which we have laboured during a portion of that time. It will be seen that with the many desirable features of this location, among which are an enjoyable climate, the natural food resources of the country, and an almost perfect exemption from diseases, there are objections here as well as in other States. Honey production in the Northern States is more profitable and requires less labour than in this locality, and there is not the least doubt that it is so over the entire State. Our home market is comparatively nothing to what is possessed by the apiarists of the North, except in some favoured localities near the large cities. The winter problem, or the loss of colonies, is not taken into consideration as in the North, if the colonies have not been deprived of their stores, and the ambition to secure a large yield of honey has ruined many a promising colony of bees. The future prospects of this locality appear to be good, as the new growth of mangrove secreted a small yield the past season, and it is expected the yield for 1888 will enable all to secure a full crop. Through the solicitation of a number of the- more prominent apiarists of this locality, the North American Bee-keepers' Society have been induced to appoint Pro- fessor G. W. Webster of Lake Helen as tho Vice- President for Florida for that Society for 1888. Having an extended apicultural experience in the State of Iowa, and also in this State, coupled with his reputation as a botanist of distinction, fits him to a great degree for the position which he now holds, and all interested can vest assured that no visionary or misleading article on Florida apiculture will emanate from his pen. The above description of our honey interest and the condition of affairs pertaining thereto, are as near the true facts of the case as circumstances will warrant in asserting at the present time. — John Y. Detwiler, New Smyrna, Florida, January £th {American Oleaninys). JOTTINGS BY AMATEUR EXPERT. ' MgI Sapit Omnia.' ' What a time since we saw that ! ' ' X-tractor ' will say. The truth to tell I have two or three things to write about, so I thought I had better ' run up the old flag ' and do it. The first is ' honey boards.' I need not assure our faithful monitor ' Useful Hints ' that I had seen the article written by Mr. Heddon to the C.B.J, that he (' U. II.') has classified as ' amusingly satirical,' nor that I know a good quid per quo for Mr. Heddon. Unlike ' U. H.,' I took that article as intentionally offensive, and on principle I answer such witli silence, however much I should have enjoj'ed to break a lance with our ' inverlible ' friend over the water. But I started to write about ' honey boards,' not about Mr. Heddon, and what I should like ' Useful Hints' to tell us is, why he wishes us to use honey boards? By our present methods of working with young queens at the head of our colonies, and expansive hives allowing lis to give room as required, I can get sections without the queen attempting to lay in them without a queen-excluder far easier than I could do with the zinc in position. I do not get two per cent of my sections laid in without an excluder, and am never troubled with pollen in sections, consequently May 3, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 225 I consider it scarce worth while to give the bees un- necessary trouble for the sake of what, under the circum- stances, can only be classed as a ' fad.' I get more brace-combs than I like. If ' U. H.' can tell me how to still further reduce them, I shall be pleased to listen if be thinks he knows of a more excellent way than I have tried, and accord to him the thanks he will merit. The next is the word ' blizzard.' ; Useful Hints,' on page 16;J B.B.J. , gives the Americans the credit for coining the word on the strength of Nuttall'a Dictionary. ' Right here ' let me aay that a very large number of the quaint, and to us, witty expressions, used by our cousins over yonder, are simply very old English ones, long since forgotten by most ' Britishers,' whose language is being so constantly affected by importations from the Continent. In reading, as I often do, newspapers published in small rural towns in the States, the similarity of many expressions used in rural districts of the States to others used in West Cornwall often strikes me, living as I did for many years in ' West Barbary.' (West Barbary, allow me to explain, is that portion of Cornwall lying west of Truro, and witty, humorous expressions is the hall-mark of a native.) Rural districts, far removed from the centres of civilisation (P), are always the last to be affected by change, and phraseology is no exception to the rule, especially previous to the days of School Boards. I do not claim the word ' blizzard ' as a Cornish one, but here is what a correspondent writes about it to Nvtes and Queries : ' The word " blizzard " is well known through the Midlands, and its cognates are fairly numerous. I have known the word and its kin fully thirty years. Country folks use the word to denote blazing, blasting, blinding, dazzling, or stifling. One who has had to face a severe storm of snow, hail, rain, dust, or wind, would fay on reaching shelter that he has " faced a blizzer," or that the storm was " a regular blizzard." A blinding flash of lighting would call forth the exclamation, " My I that were a blizzomer ! " or, " That wor a blizzer ! " " Put towthry sticks on th' fire, an' let's have a blizzer" — a blaze. " A good blizzom " — a good blaze. " That tree is blizzared — blasted, withered. As an oath the word is often used, and " May I be blizzered " will readily be understood.' A Bee-keeper in Prison.— Here we must ' haul down the flag' to the Yankees. We have 'invented' nothing like that as yet in this fossilised old country. Mr. L. A. Clarke, of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, U.S., is in prison for contempt of court. A neighbour indicted his bees as a ' nuisance,' and Mr. Clarke was ordered to remove them beyond the corporate limits of the city. He refused, and was put into ' durance vile.' Mr. New- man, the editor of the American Bee Journal, who is also manager of the North American Bee-keepers' Union, is making strenuous efforts to raise 500/. to defend the case. If this is a sample of local government in the ' land of the brave and the home of the free,' save us from such local government ! The B. B. J. of last week and the American Bee-Hive for April came by the same post. I looked at the Bee- Hive first, and on turning to the B. B. J. discovered that the scraper illustrated by our friend the ' X-Tractor ' is shown in the Bee-Hive also, but the latter has the advantage of cheapness. This is what the Bee-Hive says : — ' We are using a scraper for scraping separators, hive bottoms, &c, made by drilling a hole in the centre of a mower " section," and putting on a handle with a screw. Try it, and you will cry, "Eureka !"' A section that is worn out for mowing will answer the purpose admirably. Almost every village smith throws quan- tities of them annually on the scrap-heap, so no one need be without a scraper ; or, failing to get one there, come and fetch one from the scrap-heap under the ' chestnut- tree ' of — Amateur Expert. €axx£$$avfomtt. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith, illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, £c, must be addressed only to "The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," cfo Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C All business communications relating to Advertisements, £c, must be addressed to Mr. J. Ruckle, A'iugs Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). *»• In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS. [1614.] The Secretaries of County Associations have no light duties to perform to keep the Sooieties going, and I am sure we are all greatly indebted to them for the labour aud time they bestow in the interest of apiculture. In these times of apicultural aud general depression it is most difficult to got the support that the societies have a right to expect, and there is great trouble in getting in subscriptions and keeping up the number of the members. In addition to this, it appears that in some counties the secretaries are complaining that they cannot get their managing committees to attend' the meetings, and that they have to do all the work themselves. 1 feel that I am guilty of not having attended tho meetings of the committees of the county of which I am a member, and I am sorry that this is so. I will tell you the principal reason, and it is not unlikely that others have been absent from similar causes. In my case the meetings have been called by the secretary — very properly no doubt — at towns which are at a con- siderable distance from me, the journey there and back taking up a whole day ; this, the railway fare, and other expenses, are more than I can afford. It is difficult to see how this can be obviated, as the committee are generally chosen from different parts of the county : some on account of the known interest they take in apiculture, others on account of the position they hold in the district; and wherever the meetings are held, the majority would have a considerable distance to go. This will, I think, be the case in all the counties, and I would suggest that as soon after the appointment of the committees as convenient, the secretaries should send a letter to each member of the committee for the purpose of ascertaining, first, the day in the week that would be convenient, and the particular day preferred, and the time of day ; second, what places or towns they could attend, and which they would prefer. The secre- taries would then be able to select the day in tho week and the place most convenient to the majority, and in this way would, in all probability, get a better attendance. This is the way the meeting of the committee of the British Bee-keepers' Association is arranged. — John M. Hooker. THE DRONE. Our Poor, Slandered Drone asks for his DiY in Court. [1615,] ' Virgil, who was a great poet, but not enough of a practical bee-keeper to know a laying from a virgin queen, was the first writer of much note to have his fling at me. To him I was only an idle knave, born to con- sume the fruits of others' labours, and deserving no better fate than death, by ignominious expulsion from the industrious commonwealth. Ever since he so grossly libelled me, to compare one to a drone is the most ortho-' dox form of denunciation for laziness, gluttony, and what has beeu called " general cussedness." ' 226 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 3, 1888. Now I am proud to say to this Court, that I can dis- prove every charge brought against mo by simply proving that, to the best of my ability, I fulfil the ex- press object for which I was born. Surely no creature can do an better than this, and excuse me for thinking that few men do as well. CHARGED WITH LAZINESS. If any of my enemies had authority to call the roll of my demerits, he would surely begin by accusing me of being too lazy to gather any honey. But an expert in points of this kind could remind him that if he examines my proboscis, he will see that it is much too short for sipping nectar from the opening flowers. MAKES NO WAX. I am free to admit that I make no wax, but even Cheshire himself, whose microscopes have fairly turned me inside out, will tell you that I have not a single wax- secreting gland, and am also without those plastic, trowel-like jaws, which enable the worker-bees to mould the wax into such delicate combs. GATHERS NO POLLEN. Now do not insinuate that I might at least employ some of my leisure time in gathering pollen ? Can you not see that my thighs have no basket-like grooves, in which it could be packed, and are quite destitute of the hairy bristles by which the workers hold the pollen in place ? ACCUSED OF BEING A LAZY COWARD. No doubt you have often denounced me as a big, hulking coward, that leaves to the women the whole defence of the State. Are you not aware that I have have no sting to fit me for acting on the offensive? Would that I had one proportioned to my bulk ! if only that I might make proof of it upon all who berate me for not accomplishing impossibilites ! I am not at all ashamed to admit that I spend the most of my time not given to eating, either in sleeping, or in what you are pleased to call listless moping about the hive. Has it never occurred to you that if I should try to assume the restless activity of a worker-bee, I could be nothing better than a meddlesome busybody, perpetually interfering with the necessary business routine ? I guess the silly meddler who would put me up to such nonsense ought more than once to have had n dish-cloth pinned to his rear, to teach him not to bother the women in their work ! MISUNDERSTOOD. I am sorry to number Shakespeare among those who have misconceived me, by calling me ' the lazy, yawning drone.' But as one of my maligners have likened me to Falstaff, I may be allowed to quote in my own defence what this great braggart, when accused of cowardice, says of himself to the Prince : ' Was it for me to kill the heir apparent? Why, thou knowest I am as valiant as Hercules; but beware instinct; the lion will not touch the true prince. Instinct is a great matter; I was a coward on instinct. I shall think the better of myself and thee during my life. I for a valiant lion, and thou for a true prince.' I lie not, like the fah-e knight, when I say that what you call my laziness is a matter of pure nstinct. With all your boasted reason you seem to have en- tirely overlooked the doctrine of the conservation of forces. You upbraid me with consuming so much of the precious honey, to the gathering of which I contri- bute nothing ! Well, if I mado a single uncalled-for motion, would not that necessitate an extra consumption of food? What better can I do, then, than to keep as quiet as possible ? There is nothing either inside or out- side of the hive which calls for any other line of conduct nntil the young queens are on the wing, and as they do not sally forth until long after noon, why should I go abroad any earlier ? I can assure you that if bridal excursions were in order as many hours in the day as the flowers secrete honey, no worker would ever be earlier to rise, or later to go to bed, than myself. MISREPRESENTED. I, an idle, lazy, listless lounger, forsooth ! Does any one wish to witness the most perfect embodiment of indefatigable activity ? Let him then look at me, when at the proper time, with an eager, impetuous rush, and a manly, resonant voice, I sally from the hive ! See with what amazing speed I urge, what our old friend, Samuel Wagner, called my 'circumvolating' flights ! For aught you know I may cover greater distances in describing these vast circles than the busiest worker in the longest summer day. There is great need, then, that I should be abundantly provisioned for such exhausting excur- sions, and if is only a law of nature that on my return from them all that I carried out with me should be found to have been used up. If you taunt me either for the full or the empty stomach, I merely ask you if you have never heard of honeymoon trips among your own people, which began with extra-full purses, to end only with uncomfortable light ones ? SAVAGE DELIGHT OVER MY DEATH. To cap the climax of your abuse, what savage delight you take in seeing the workers drive me from my plea- sant home ! And how glibly you can moralise over what you call a righteous judgment upon a life spent in gluttony and in glorious ease ! Just as if you did not know that the whole economy of the bee-hive is founded on the strictest principles of utilitarianism. Is not a worker-bee, when disabled by any accident, remorse- lessly dragged out to die, because it can no longer contribute to the general good ? Even so exalted a per- sonage as the queen-mother herself, as soon as it is plain that her fertility is too much impaired, she has a writ of supersede/is served upon her, in favour of one of her own daughters. Knowing well the law under which I was born, I urge nothing against being put to death when Shakespeare's ' pale executioners' deem the day of my prospective usefulness to be over. Truly the sword of Damocles is suspended over my head, and from the hour of my birth till that of my death it may fall at any moment. Many bitters are thus mingled with my sweets. I have time to mention only one more. While I know that most of the young queens come safely back from their wedding excursions, I cannot help sometimes foreboding the worst when I see that no drone ever returns to tell us of his experience. APPRECIATED BY BONNER. I will close my defence by reminding you how the good father of the great Scotch bee-keeper, Bonner, showed his appreciation of our persecuted race. It was his custom to watch every year for the first flying drone. Its cheerful hum so filled him with delight, as the happy harbinger of approaching swarms with their generous harvest of luscious sweets, that he. called an instant halt on the work of his busy household, and devoted the rest of the day to holiday feasting. The patron of the drones ought forevi r to bear the honoured name of ' Saint Bonner.' THE DECISION OP THE COURT. Sir Drone: — This Court having heard your defence, declares it to be a true and manly one, all those to the contrary notwithstanding, who would further injure you by calling it nothing more than crafty, special pleading. It only regrets its want of power to punish adequately your slanderers. But, alas, my worthy fellow ! you must not expect too much from this acquittal. Re- member how difficult it is for Truth to overtake a Lie that has got a start of only a single day. No doubt the May 3, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 227 time -will come when those who have been stigmatised as the ' LAZY FATHERS OF THE INDUSTRIOUS HIVE ■will be held in due honour by the world ; therefore con- sole yourself with this bright hope for the future of your race, while you protest against the lies that have had so many centuries the start of your true story, that you may well despair, in your short lifetime, of ever over- taking them. MORALS FROM THE DRONE'S PLEA. It were easy to draw more than one good moral from the drone's plea, such as, ' Do not give even a dog a bad name, unless you are quite sure he deserves it ; ' but the moral which I think at the present time can hardly help suggesting itself to well-read bee-keepers, may be very fairly styled the MORAL OF THE I'ROF. WILEY SCIENTIFIC-PLEASANTRY LIE. It is only too well known, to the sorrow of most of our large honey-producers, that some years ago Professor II. W. Wiley, an entomologist in the service of tho Government at Washington, published substantially this statement, viz. : That honey-combs, after being manu- factured, rilled with glucose, and sealed over, all by human skill, so nicely as to escape detection, are largely sold as genuine bees' honey; when the bees have had nothing to do with a single step in tho whole cheating process. This absolute falsehood having got a good start, as coming from a scientific man (/), has widely, at home and abroad, prejudiced the public against buying the purest honey in the most beautiful combs. Many times have 1 heard the above story spoken of as either undoubted truth, or have been asked if it were not the truth. It has been refuted again and again, and large sums of money have been offered by responsible parties to any one who will produce even a small specimen of such a man-made product ; and yet the story is constantly appearing in print in America, Europe, and not long ago even in Australia. It has found its way into a periodical of as high repute as the British Bee Journal, and it sometimes seems to have a greater vitality for mischief than when it first started out on its hurtful career. Professor Wiley, when called to account for fabricating such a story, thought it a sufficient excuse that he meant it only as a ' scientific pleasantry.' Could any one wish him a harder task than over his own signature to try to stop the march of such an inexcusable utterance ? Could there be a stronger condemnation of his conduct in this matter than the words of Holy Writ? — 'As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows and death, so is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport ?' Prov. xxvi. lt>, 19, — L. L. Langstroth, Dayton, 0., March 8th. been a bee-keeper for a good many years and my father before rae, and I venture to assert, a hive of bees could not support themselves from peach and plum blossom, if they had not other stores ; even if bullfinches do harm, they make up for it during the rest part of the year. I do not wonder at the birds coming when he had a call bird to allure them, doubtless many visited him that would not have done so; if he had some small bells in the trees and attached string and set them ringing when the birds came they would soon haue decamped, or better still, could not nets be used to prevent mischief. I sincerely hcpe and trust no bee-keeper will follow his example to destroy the poor birds, but to rather copy the example of the great and good Lord Shaftesbury, who thought it not beneath him to feed them during the hard, frosty weather. Who being dead, yet speaketh to us all, lessons of kindness and love. — T. Hill. BIRDS AND FRUIT TREES. [1G1C] 1 was truly sorry to see the letter from J. Hiam on ' Birds and Fruit Trees;' the gentleman is not content with destroying bullfinches himself, but wishes others to do the same. I am happy to know there are some human members of Parliament who are trying to put a stop to the catching of wild birds during breeding season. I read in the Old Book that God made the firmament and the fowls to fly in it, and God pro- nounced all very good, which must include birds as well. Now some men seek to destroj- the beautiful plumaged songsters, which enliven the fields and woods of merry England, but I may venture to say in my humble opinion, that the country woidd lose one of its sweetest charms were our little feathered friends absent. Mr. Hiam goes on to say the blossom of peach and plum trees have been a great loss to his bees. I have LOCATING THE APIARY-BEST HIVE-BEST BEES FOR ALL PURPOSES— WINTERING BEES— SPRING MANAGEMENT. [1G17.] Nearly all, if not all, the older bee-keepers have laboured under the disadvantage of having com- menced the pursuit of bee-keeping at the place where they were located at the time they received the first stroke of the ' bee fever.' This made the business of bee-keeping very uncertain with many of them, to say the least. Let me illustrate this point. My location has a good white clover range for bees, and this is the main source for surplus in all the older states; but my location is surrounded by a closely cultivated district, and a nice state of husbandry. All weeds are cut from the pasture lands and waste places, and my bees are deprived of fall pasture except from heartsease (smartweed) which nourishes onlv in wet seasons. Hence I must feed my bees in the fall more or less, and this is a heavy draw on the profit side of the account kept with the bees. Some years ago I advised a friend of mine to start an apiary "at his place— he lived but seven miles from me— as he had about the same white clover range that I had and the hills about him were covered with the little white and purple asters which would supply his bees with winter stores. He took my advice, and time is proving that his location is twenty' per cent better than mine on account of the waste lands about him which abound with fall honey-producimr flora. Let us pause here aud take the ' hint' that the difference in a good and a poor location may make all the difference between success and failure. THE HIVE BEST FOR ALL PURPOSES. My views on this subject are not radical. The bee- literature of the past clearly shows that men have succeeded well, and equally well, who have used hives that differ as much in construction, as any of the new hives differ from the old ones and from each other. These facts are a broad 'hint' to the honey producer, that the difference in hives is not so great as many pro- fess to believe. Any good moveable frame-hive, by the application of a little ingenuity, will give satisfactory results. I will not consume space by discussing this point here, as a description of my favourite hive ha3 already been given in your pages. If the hive is light and substantial, and capable of being ' tiered ' to the best advantage, without giving too much room at one time, no other hive, no matter how costly or complicated, will beat it. The 'tiering up' sj*steni is essential to the largest yield of the best quality of honey, and I believe the best way is to tier above the brood department of the hive. THE BEST BEES FOR ALL PURPOSES. It is generally conceded that Italian bees are the best bees for' all purposes. But as it requires time and money to keep the race pure in any vicinity where there are 228 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 3, 1888. Mack bees we are induced to say that Italians and the first cross between them and black bees make a strong working apiary. But all subsequent cross with hybrids should be avoided. Such crosses have never failed to be inferior to the first crosses, in my apiary. WINTERING BKES ON SUMMER STANDS. To winter bees safely on the summer stands the apiarist should study the climate of his locality and prepare his bees for winter to suit his climate. But there is one condition in wintering bees that is common to every place, and that is plenty of winter stores. This I discovered years ago when transferring bees from box- hives. I found that plenty of honey in the box-hive means a strong colony of bees, and light stores always brought through the winter a small colony of bees. Bees do not waste and dwindle away when surrounded with an abundance of honey as they do when their stores are limited. We may take a 'hint' here and have strong colonies in the spring, if disease does not overtake our bees in their long winter confinement. SPUING MANAGEMENT OF BEES. I want my bees to have such a bountiful supply of stores that they do not have to be disturbed in the early spring till they begin to gather honey and pollen from the early bloom. After this no harm will come from any necessary manipulation. All upward ventilation through absorbents or otherwise should be prevented as soon as spring breeding commences. Bees will manage aii3' accumulation of moisture at that season of the year. In fact they need water to carry on breeding and must have it, if they have to carry it from a distance. The surplus cases should go on the hives as soon as the weather will admit with safety to the bees, for if bees once get the habit of cramming the brood-chamber with honey they will lose much valuable time in starting work in the surplus cases. I suspect that bad management along this line is at the bottom of the complaint of those who ' can't get their bees to enter the surplus cases.' Bees are governed more by ' habit ' than any of the domestic animals with which we have to do, and they must be watched closely. When bees get in the habit of storing their honey in the surplus cases they will neglect the brood-chamber in the fall; for this reason I confine my bees to the brood-nest at the close of the heated term so as to have the brood-chamber supplied with honey, if there is a fall flow. EMPTY SECTION COMBS BBOUGHT OVEB. Quite a number of persons have complained that the empty sections when used again do not give them first- class honey. This trouble can be overcome by shaving the combs down till the cells are about one-half inch deep. If managed in this way the sections will be first- class every time. The job is easily and rapidly done by a Binghani uncapping knife if kept hot by immersing it in hot water. TAKING SUBPI.US HONEY. I am never in a hurry to take surplus honey from the hives, if I have a supply of surplus cases. By the tiering-up plan I keep the honey at the top where the finishing process can go on without the bees soiling the combs. Honey managed in this way will ship better and look better in the market than if it was a little ■whiter at the start by reason of being taken from the bees the moment it is sealed. And its superior quality will compensate for the slight difference in appearance. Oood quality will win in the end. HOW TO BUILD UP A HOME MABKET. Perseverance is the main factor in accomplishing this desirable end. Some small circulars sent out by the apiarist, explaining the manner of taking pure honey from the comb, and some directions about its management to keep it fresh and free from fermentation, how to reduco granulated honey to its natural or liquid state, its different uses for cooking and table purposes, its healthfulness, &c, should be delivered, one to each family in the circuit of the ' home market,' and above all, samples of pure honey taken from the comb, should be left with every family that is not acquainted with the article in that shape. If the name ' extracted honey ' is good enough for you, you can put that ' hifalutin ' name in your circulars, but it will be a ' mill-stone ' about the neck of your enterprise, so far as your home market is concerned. If such is not the case your experience will differ from mine. A smart boy can be trained to sell honey in and out of the comb, from a light spring waggon provided with all the neces- sary conveniences for handling and weighing the honey. He should be directed to leave some honey at every new home he enters and fails to make a sale of honey. A circular should be left at each house he visits. In this way hundreds of dollars can be taken in, at prices enough better than city market prices to pay the extra expenses of disposing of honey in this way. After the home market has been well established, the spring-waggon system will not be necessary, except to widen the busi- ness and to deliver orders for honey in the towns, &c. — G. W. Demabee (American Apiculturist). JOTTINGS UN SECTIONS AND FOUNDATION. [1018.] Glass Sections. — I noticed a question a week or two back anent glass sections exhibited a few years ago. As the querist probably referred to an exhibit of my own at one of the British Bee-keepers' Annual London Shows, I may inform him that they were formed of four pieces of glass, the sides two inches wide, and the top and bottom pieces one and three-quarter inches, to give bee-space, and were held together by narrow strips of gummed paper. The foundation was fixed by warming the top piece of glass and pressing the edge of starter on it, not making it so hot as to make the wax run. Dividers were used as for the ordinary wood sections. Both sides of sections were afterwards glazed, the squares fixed by narrow strips of paper. It would be advisable to work them in a well-made crate, and wedge up tight, to insure that they were quite square when filled. I remember I sold the dozen for 21s., or about Gd. each more than the usual wood sections at that time (but then we did not get our sections made from such nice white wood as we do now). Possibly, it would pay to produce a few for sale in an aristocratic neighbour- hood, or to give away as presents to grace the wedding breakfast-tables. Speaking of sections, I have just received by post a sample of Blow's new patent grooved sections, which for utility, neatness, and strength, cannot be surpassed ; in fact, it is the ne plus ultra of sections for those who wish to use full sheets of foundation. I do not know if Mr. Blow has any special frame or block for holding the sections while inserting the foundation. My idea would be a long trough with rectangular sides, about four inches high. Fold three sides of your sections, leaving one side or top unfolded, place the section in the trough or block, say long enough to hold six, insert the sheets of foundation, then close down the top piece, and with a tap of the hammer drive the toothed ends together. It has everything to commend itself to bee-keepers who have a large apiary; it is strong and rigid when folded, and although not quite so large (inside dimensions) as the ordinary section, the wood being a little thicker to allow of the grooving, yet, if we get sections without the numerous popholes, the grooved sections in the future will contain more honey; at the same time, will be stronger for transit and handling. And now a word to foundation-makers. I hope the makers of foundation will keep abreast of the require- ments of bee-keepers, and supply foundation of a size that will cut up into sheets to fit sections without so May 3, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL 229 much waste as we have been accustomed to in the past. Take the usual size, viz., stock size, as an illustration. Now, it. has been a mystery to me why super foundation should be cut as though it was intended to be put into supers or sections same size as t lie standard frame. A bee-keeper using full sheets in his sections will have a strip off each end to waste in each sheet, or if he cuts Lis sheet into eight squares he will moat likely get eight nice little pieces of honey-comb hanging' from top of section independently of any attachments to the side. This happens more especially towards the end of the honey season, notably when the limes are in bloom. I myself have t iken time by the forelock and have had my stock for the coming season cut 12 iu. by 8 in. full, so that I can cut up without waste (a'ld I should like to mention that I have never seen a finer lot of foundation than Messrs. Abbott have made up for ine this season). Now, I think a good size would be 12 in. by 8 in. or Sill, by S in., so that we should not get any WttSte foundation, costing the bee-keeper 2s. Sri. to 3d. per lb., and when remelted have to sell again a; wax at Is. 3d. per lb. Taking into consideration the prevailing low prices for honey the last year or two, it behoves bee- keepers to work on the closest lines of economical management if they have any wish for a fair margin of profit for their labours at the end of the year when they make up their annual account. — W. Woodley. THINGS I HAVE LEABNT. [1010.] Of course I had learnt most of these things in print before, but only during the latter part of the past winter and the early spring has the knowledge been hammered into me by experience. Having a faint hope that the repetition of a few familiar hints may be the means of inducing a beginner or two to take means to avoid disaster in his early bee-keeping career, I give a list of my lessons. First lesson. — That if the bee-keeper wish to avoid the risk of starving his stocks he will take care in autumn that each is provided with not less than twenty pounds of stores. I am ashamed to confess what this lesson has cost me. Second lesson. — That late breeding is prejudicial. One of my stocks bred largely as late as December, and succumbed, I believe from exhaustion, in January. Third lesson. — That it is unwise to winter weak stocks. If other beginners feel as I do then they are very loth to unite, especially if they be ambitious to build up a considerable apiary. I think I may define a weak stock as one that does not crowd at least four frames. Fourth lesbon. — That it is worse than useless to give, even in April, a frame of brood to a very weak stock. I did this in the second week in April, and a few days afterwards found the weakling defunct, and a full frame of brood sacrificed into the bargain. I ought to have known better. I have now ten fairly strong stocks — the best with brood in six frames — and trust that I shall so succeed with them during the coming season that I shall be warranted at its close, in relinquishing my present name of — "Welsh Novice. TOOL FOR UNCAPPING COMBS. [1620.] Seeing in the Journal of April 26, a tool for uncapping combs for the purpose of stimulating, re- commended by ' X-Tractor,' I should like to describe a stimulating tool which I think will beat ' X-Tractor's.' My tool can only accomplish one thing, so in this respect it is inferior to ' X-Tractor's.' But I think there are few tools, which can be used with comfort for more than one purpose. The tool is made thus : Cut a piece of tin, 1b long by j wide, cut teeth ] deep, and J apart. Nail the tin to the end of a piece of J wood, 8 by 1£. Shape the wood into an elegant handle. The comb need not be removed from the hive when stimulating, it. only requires to be drawn a little apart from its neighbour. — R. T. Shea, Rochford, Essex. FROM A JUNIOR BEE-KLEl'BR. [1021.] I have often wondered whilst reading this Journal that we do not hear more from its junior readers (and I should judge from answers to 'Useful Hints' problem in December numbers that there are a good few). Darcy R. Grimshaw bravely broke the ball, but no one else had the pluck to back him up (self included), I propose, instead of ' Children's Column,' we call it 'Junior Column,' in which the sayings and doings of junior bee-k:epers shall ba inserted. I hope to hear soon how ' D. K. G.' has been getting on with his humble bees, and whether he has been successful in wintering of them. Stimulated by ' D. R. G.'s' letter (956, page 207) last spring, I searched everywhere, but could not finl a nest of humble bees. Shall try again this year. I saw the first humble bee this year on April 10th ; it was black, and was working on the polyanthuses. I have been rather unfortunate with my bees this year, having lost three stocks out of six, through loss of queen and consequent dwindling, two being last year's queens and the other an old one. The other stocks are doing well. I am the only bee-keeper in this district, and all 1 know about bees I have learnt from this Journal and other publications. — FnEF.STONE (age 10), Odd Down} Bath. THE SO-CALLED TRUMPETER IN XESTS OF HUMBLE BEES. Nearly two hundred yeara ago (168">), the Dutch painter and able observer of insects, Mr. Van Goedart, re- ported having noticed that colonies of humble bees had a trumpeter among them, who every morning climbed up to the top of the nest, whence he summoned the other humble bees to their work by constant humming. Having become acquainted with a great many peculiari- ties among hymenoptera that live in communities, especially bees and ants, which resemble social arrange- ments of human beings, it would hardly have surprised us to find among them something similar to the vigilant trumpeter of our barrack yards. But from the time of Van Goedart to the present day, all endeavours to hear the trumpeter again proved futile, and, following the example of Reaumur, people pretty generally began to look upon Goedart's statement as a fable. Recent observations made by Professor Dr. Edward Hotter, of Graz, however, have fully confirmed the fact, that several kinds of humble bees, which build their nests under ground, have a watchman who calls the colony in the morning to their labour. In his work on the humble bees of Styria (1st part, Graz, 1882), which is now being published, and which contains most charming descriptions of insect life, this excellent observer of insects relates, how last year he had pre- sented to him a three-storied nest of Bombus aryillaceus, containing about 160 workers, which he placed in a box, provided with an entrance, and having a cover of smoked glass, in which the humble bees continued their work uninterruptedly, a couple of hours' journey not having disturbed them in the least. The very next morning at half past three o'clock, Professor Hoffer heard a peculiar loud humming in the box, and after carefully removing the wooden lid which covered the glass roof, he observed a so-called ' small female ' stauding erect on the top of the comb, its head, however, turre 1 aside, and beatiug its wings with all its might, the humming which this caused being apparently increased by the air forced through the breathing tubes. The small creature continued this music till nearly half-past four o'clock, i.e., for about three quarters of a hour, during which 230 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 3, 1888. time the humble bees came out of their nest one after another, and flew off into the fields. And this went on every morning, the trumpeter rose from its nest at the same hour, and continued humming, sometimes uninter- ruptedly, for a whole hour, until it fell down completely exhausted. After lying quietly on the ground for a few minutes, it recovered sufficiently to be able to crawl into its nest again. Professor Hoffer, who, of course, was highly delighted with his discovery, was able during the following days to invite his family and various friends interested in humble bees to this wonderful morning concert. One of his visitors, Mr. Zirtsch, afterwards discovered a trumpeter in colonies of liombus lapidarius. It is probable that only those humble bees which build their nests underground have such a trumpeter, and among them perhaps it is only to be met with in large colonies. The ancient observer of insects being thus completely vindicated, Professor Hoffer determined to find out what would happen if the trumpeter were removed. He therefore caught it and pinned it on a card for his collection, and on the following morning everything re- mained quiet till eight minutes past four, by which time a few humble bees, tired of waiting for the customary signal, began to crawl out of their nest. At the same time, however, another ' small female ' crawled up the side of the box and commenced humming just as loudly and continuously as the previous trumpeter, whose duties the little creature henceforth discharged regularly every morning. It will be seen from this that the life and doings of humble bees are deserving of a little more attention than has hitherto been bestowed upon them, and that like ants, in which Sir John Lubbock takes such a great interest, they are well worth a place in our study. Their whole behaviour is most amusing, and they are not by any means so ill-natured as their hot-tempered relations, the wasps and hornets. Huber assures us that he himself had seen them carrying their good nature so far as to allow some bees which paid them a visit to carry away the last drop of honej' they had. — Translated from the Garteniaube, No. 51. (gkjjoxs from % J)ilKS. North Leicestershire, April .'10. — To-day is splendid day for bees, and they are well at work carrying in pollen from the willows. Nectar, however, is so scarce that robbing is going on in all directions. Saturday last was an excellent day, making the sixth nice day this spring. Neglect of feeding means at present death to the strongest of stocks. Two more fine days and all will be changed. — E. P. Honey Cottage, Hawes, North Tories, April 30. — The weather so far has been very unfavourable for the bees. When I wrote my last ' Echo,' February !), the weather was, to all appearance, promising us an early season, but about February 11 a change came for tho worst, snow began to fall, and until March 25 never a bee was able to fly, and ever since then it has been so cold that I have never been able to examine a single hive, because during the few fine days that we have had the bees have been so inclined to rob that it has not been safe to open any hive, and the evenings have been so cold that to open them then means to give them a chill. Of course, I have taken a look under the corners of the quilt to see how stores are, hut have never lifted a frame. I am feeding those that are anyway running short, and I have artificial pollen near at hand ready for them when they can get out. There is not a flower to be seen in the fields, even the willows are not out yet. The only flower to be seen is that useful bee-plant, Arabi's Alpina.— Joun Wharton, NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Queries. — I have six stocks of bees : — Nos. 1 and 2. — Old stocks in straw skep ; strong. No. 3. — -A last year's swarm. The owner, in attempt- ing to move them in October, lifted the skep off the stand, and left the bees and honey behind. I drove the bees out of the honey, and had them for my trouble, together with the hive, and about one-quarter of the comb, which was not disturbed. I am feeding them, and they are doing fairly well, though not a strong lot. No. 4. — A stock driven rather late last autumn, and put in a frame-hive. Very weak. Feeding them with syrup. No. 5. — Last year's swarm, in bar-frame hive; strong, and have plenty of stores. No. 0. — Late swarm of last year, in skep ; not very strong. I feed them. Question 1. — Should you advise me to transfer the bees from the straw hive to bar-frame ? and when ? Question 2. — I live in a fairly good honey district, woods all round ; clovers and sainfoin in abundance. I do all carpentering myself, and can get materials at as cheap a rate as any one. Would it pay me to increase my stock ? and to what extent ? I have nearly 600 acres of land, so it would not be necessary to have them all in one place. I have troubled you with a fairly long rigmarole, and to sum up : I took the bee-fancy into my head rather last season, and 1 want your opinion as to whether it would pay me to go in for them strong. I fear the difficulty would be to dispose of the honey. Hoping I have not trespassed too far on your kindness, I beg to sign myself — COTSWOLB. Replies. — 1. Your object being to establish your bees in frame-hives, we would advise you, instead of trans- ferring in the old way, to proceed as follows : — Allow the bees to remain in the skep in the position they now occupy until they swarm, or until they show signs of swarming, when you can make an artificial swarm if you prefer it. In either case, put the swarm into a frame-hive, each frame having a piece of comb-foundation about two inches deep fixed to the top bar. Kemove the skep to a new position, and put the hive containing the swarm on the old stand, with the entrance as nearly as possible where that of the skep was, so that any bees that are flying may return to and strengthen the swarm. (.S'ee anncer to ' Malta,' page 219 in our last number.) On the twenty-first day after the bees swarmed, the brood in the skep will have, with the exception of a few drones, all hatched out, and there will be a young queen ready to lay. The bees should now be driven, and put into a frame-hive prepared with foundation as before, and in order to build it up quickly, it should be fed with a quarter of a pint of syrup every evening. In this way, you will obtain two good colonies with good, new combs, and some honey and wax from each skep. The combs should be taken out of tho old skeps, the honey extracted, and the old combs melted, and the wax separated from debris. 2. Your district being a good one, it would pay you to increase your stock, but we would not advise this being done too fast, until you have had the experience that this year should give you. If those in skeps are treated as above, and those in frame-hives swarm, we think you will (if a novice) have quite enough to attend to for this season. You should get a strong hive with standard-sized frames from a good maker as a pattern, and those you manufacture should bo all exactly alike. —J. M. H. Reply to Query by ' Lorbswoob,' tage 196. — I made a crate of glass sections and exhibited them at South Kensington show some years ago, the same year as the Princess Christian was to have distributed the prizes. I afterwards let my bees fill them with noney, and exhibited them at our local Flower Show. May 3, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 131 Perhaps these were the ones ' Lords-wood ' saw ; they were made thus : — two pieces of glass about 6 x .'J for the sides, two pieces I J x 3 for ends, these four pieces were fastened together with coaguline, the ends between the sides, the top was 2x6 and not fastened on, but had a very narrow strip of glass fastened on at each end so as to just fit in- side of ends and sides, and which kept the top in its place. To get at the honey it was only necessary to pass a knife round sides and ends, and the honey would then lift out with the top glass, and by having a spare top the same sides and ends coidd be placed on the hive at once.— W. T. Joyce, Farnborough, Hants. Amateub. — 1. Hive carrying in Pollen. — Sometimes, but very rarely, pollen will be carried in, but if so, it is in much smaller pieces. 2. Means of knowing when a Hive will Swarm. — Not as to the particular time the swarm will leave the hive. 3. Colony covering Three Frames. — x'es, with proper care and adding brood occasionally. A L. Y. M. — Moving Bees.— It is a very bad time now to move thein so short a distance, but if they must be moved do so at once — there will be much greater losses if you move them later on. Cannot you arrange to allow them to stay until winter ? Gabdener. — 1. Hunger Swarm. — You could not have stopped the fighting. The stocks, no doubt, were strengthened, but we have no means of knowing how many entered or were killed. 2. Centipedes. — They will not injure the bees or honey. St. Ivian. — 1. Spring Treatment of Colony. — Your treat- ment has been very good. Feed slowly until fruit- blossoms, and between them and the time of white clover blooming. 2. Wired Foundation.— Yea ; but by wiring ordinary foundation into frames by means of the Woiblet Spur Kmbedder it costs much less, and is more effective. 3. Fixing Foundation in Sections. — ■ There are various methods of doing this. See adver- tising columns, also notices in this issue. 4. Drones. — Examine the colony you saw drones issue from a fortnight ago. We should look upon such an early appearance with the greatest suspicion. If it is very strong it will be all right, but if weak in numbers, the queen is a drone-rearer. Are you sure they were worker larvae on the floor-board ? Drone larvae reared in worker-cells are very small, and may by a novice be mistaken for worker. N. — Drone-rearing Queen. — The queen sent is a Carniolan. We should say that during the winter the introduced queen has died, the one received having been reared from eggs left by her, but no drones being about, has failed to get fertilised. Fbnest. — Rack left on all Winter. — Remove rack at once, and clean up for use when honey flow comes on. If there are any sections with honey in them, uucap and place behind dummy board for the bees to clear out, as if they are allowed to be completed this season, the honey of last season, already in the section, will be darker, making what is termed a ' piebald ' section. Thos. Gilholm. — The piece of comb consists of very old comb, but there is no foul brood. It would be advisable to use comb-foundation. Hobebt Dbiveb. — The queen was not among the bee3 forwarded. The bees are black bees. We are sorry you have been so unsuccessful in wintering your bees. If you desire to have a Carniolan stock, you cannot do better than proceed in the manner you suggest. Wilson. — The piece of comb forwarded is sweet and wholesome. Many of the cells are pollen-clogged, and a few of them covered with mould, but of foul brood there is not a trace. The bees have most probably lost their queen some time ago, and gradually dwindled away. The vitality of a superstitious idea is very great. Clutha. — 1. Artificial Swarm.— Refer to replies to 'Cotswold'; you wiil find there instructions which will meet your case. 2. Sta}>ks. — Staples are used for equalising the space between frames. Metal ends, or broad-shouldered frames, are now used for the same purpose. T. Nixon. — By the time the queen is hatched there is every probability of her being fertilised, as there should then be plenty of drones flying. Fawkiiam. — 1. Cross-built Combs. — You will find it a tiresome job to put the stock straight. Your only plan now will be to lift out the whole of the frames as they are after having driven the bees up into a spare box or skep ; then quickly cut out the combs and fasten the straightest, and also all with brood, into the frames with tape ; then shake the bees back into the hive, cover up warm, and feed gently. In three or four days the tapes may be cut and removed. 2. Stock- ing New Hives. — You cannot do better than purchase swarms from a reliable dealer. Try a cross between Carniolan drone and black queen. Beceived from Mr. J. H. Howard, of Holme, Peterborough, a section with foundation, as produced by the block figured in his advertisement. The block is secured to a table re- ceiving a section cut as illustrated, and on the centre-bar the full sheet of foundation is guided into the three grooved sides of section, and the upper half of section top rail (cut at an angle of -to degrees) is brought into place by the hinged door of block. We are highly pleased with the wax foundation used in section. Beceived from Mr. W. B. Webster, Binfield, Berks, a section with wax inserted and a block for keeping the section perfectly square. The method invented by Mr. Webster for fixing whole sheets in sections is very effective. The foundation is gripped securely on top and both sides, and fills the section so perfectly that the existence of ' pop- holes ' or sagging will be well-nigh an impossibility. The means whereby these results are obtained are : — -Three sides of the section are in halves, the third side having sufficient pliability to form a hinge ; upon pressing these two halves apart, after folding the section, they form jaws, within which the sheet of foundation is placed : it is then put iuto the block, a board, part of the block, is pressed upon it for the purpose of holding it firm and true ; two little tin staples are then squeezed or knocked in, rendering the whole secure. Beceived from Simmins's Bee Company (Limited) their Catalogue of Bee-keepers' Appliances (48 pages). This is a well-arranged catalogue ; it is divided into various depart- ments: viz., Queen and bees, hives and implements, and the specialties of Mr. C. T. Overton, whose business has been purchased by the Company. It also contains a list of flower-seeds for bee pasture, besides a large amount of practical information. Beceived from Doctor Angelo Dubini, of Milan, his catalogue of bee appliances with price list, together with an illustrative sheet of his manufactures. pSusiness ^Directory. « ■» » HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bkos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Bdrtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester. Edex & Son, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadhau, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. G., 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston, 232 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 3, 1888. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. When & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abboii Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Hone? Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edet & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour* Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Nbeiohoub & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keefers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B. , Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents :— ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Malion, Minorca. AFPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, Cm Bewdley, Worcestershire. DURRANT u Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBT, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON, C. T., Crawley. Sussex. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wlgston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKIN, r„ Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHLNSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLET, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 Highgtreet, Lowestoft. The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the renowned C. F. H. Gravenhorbt, Brunswick. DEUTSCHE ILLUSTRIERTE BIENENZEITUNG. Sample copies sent on request. Also, ' DER PRAKTISCHE IMKER.' Compendium of Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst. Fourth en- larged and improved edition, with fifty-two new original Pictures, and a frontispiece. Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched ; well bound, 5 marks. C. A. Schwetschke & Son (M. Bruhn), Brunswick, SPECIAL NOTICE. -«l A large Stock of HIYES and APPLIANCES READY FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY. C-A-T-A-ZLiOG-TTZE POST IFIRIEIE. HENRY F. ROW, Steam-power Hive Factory, BRAITJTR.EE. ESSEX. THE SOLID WOOD FEEDER Is made on the principle of the ordinary Tin Feeder, but Wood being substituted for the objectionable Metal is more conducive to the comfort of the Bees, and does not rust or corrode. Price, post free, 2/-. Address — J. J. BICE, 16 Wensum Street, NORWICH. GUIDE-BOOK PAMPHX.ETS.-STo. 1. DOUBLING AND STORIFYING FOB Extracted and Comb Honey, and the Prevention of Swarming. By T. W. COWAN, F.G.S., F.R.M.S. Post Free, Threepence Halfpenny. J. HTJCKLE, KI1TQS X, .A. 1ST (3- LEV. GUIDE-BOOK PAMPHLETS. No. XI. HOW TO MAKE AN EXTRACTOR, AND A BELLOWS SMOKER. By T. W. COWAN, F.G.S., F.R.M.S. Post Free, Sixpence Halfpenny. J. HTJCKLE, KI1TGS LA.1TGLEY. PUBLICATIONS OP THE BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATING BEE-CULTURE and the Relation of Bees to Flowers. Drawn by Frank B. Cheshire, F.B.M.S. Approved and recom- mended by the Science and Art Department. 8s. per set. MODERN BEE-KEEPING. An Illustrated Hand- book for Cottagers. Forty-fourth Thousand, con- siderably enlarged and revised. The soundness of its information, the simplicity of its instruction, combined with cheapness, make this Handbook invaluable to all intending Bee-keepers. Price Id., post free. WINTERING BEES. By Thomas W. Cowan. The most complete work on the subject of Wintering published. Third Edition. Price 3d. BEE-HIVES AND HOUSES. By the Rev. George Baynor. Second Edition (enlarged). Price 6(7. QUEEN INTRODUCTION. The Ligurian Queen Bee and her Introduction to Alien Stocks. By the Rev. George Raynor. Second Edition, enlarged and fully Illustrated with engravings of the various Cages in use. Contains full descriptions of the different methods practised in this and other countries by Chloroform, Caging, Direct Introduction, &c. Price 3d., post free 3 J<(. THE MANAGEMENT OF STRAW SKEPS. Designed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best results at the least possible cost. By attention to its teachings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more profitable source of income than hitherto Price Id. Ditto in Welsh, Id. Per dozen, 9d. Address: J. HUCKLE, Secretary, Kings Langley, Herts. British Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Strange-ways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 307. Vol. XVI.] MAY 10, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (Bbitaxml, Itotkes, fa. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Quarterly Meeting and Conversazione. The next Quarterly Conversazione will be held at 105 Jerrnyn Street, on Thursday, May 17th, at six o'clock. Members being desirous of introducing subjects for discussion, or to submit new, improved, or interesting appliances, are requested to com- municate with the Secretary not later than Monday, the 14th inst. County representatives will meet at 149 Regent Street, at four o'clock. The Quar- terly Conference of the County Representatives with the Committee of the B.B.K.A. will take place at 105 Jerrnyn Street, at five o'clock. The Committee have decided to forward copies of the Reports of the Quarterly Meetings to each member of the Association. Royal Agricultural Show. Entries for the Bee Department of this Exhi- bition to be held at Nottingham in July, close on Saturday next, the 12th inst. Prize Lists will be sent on application to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Laugley. ADULTERATION OF HONEY. We have long been aware that American dealers adulterated honey, hut we must confess that we were not prepared for the revelation made in the Bee-leeper's Magazine for April. It appears that the Dairy Com- missioner of New Jersey has had honey purchased in different towns in the State, and has had it analysed. Out of thirty-one samples of honey put up by packing- houses, only six were found to be pure ! AVe reprint the list furnished by our contemporary, and commend it to the careful study of every bee-keeper. We have never suspected bee-keepers to be guilty of adulteration, and •we are glad to find, as of course we expected to do, that every sample supplied by bee-keepers was pure. "\Ve have very good reasons for complaint against American honey-dealers, for did they not flood our British markets with adulterated stuff, to the great detriment of Ameri- can as well as our own bee-keepers? It will he still within the recollection of many of our readers that in 1870 Messrs. Thurber & Co. imported into England a large quantity of honey. They exhibited it at Kilburn, and certainly up to that time no single exhibit of such magnitude, or presented in so saleable a form, had been seen in London. AV. Hoge, who was their honey-man at that time, said there were ten tons, but although there was not even half this quantity, the exhibit was a tine one, and gave a good idea of the capabilities of America in the production of honey- The market for American honey was riow open, and prospects ■were most brilliant ; but it was not long before Thurhers, through Hoge, introduced adulterated honey, and, not- withstanding the attractive labels, the British public soon learnt to look with suspicion on any honey hearing the name of Thurber. The British Bee-keepers' Associa- tion also did good service to bee-keepers in having honey supplied by dealers analysed and publishing the results. Hoge left Thurher's, and started business on his own account with an office in the City, a honey refinery (?) at Islington, and all the paraphernalia necessary for the sophistication of honey. lb' advertised extensively, and his honey was to be seen in many shop-windows; and had lie dealt honestly in pure honey, probably his career would not have been such a short one. Adulteration, however, proved for him too great a temptation, and when analysed, of all the samples of honey emanating from Hoge's establishment under various names, there ■was not one pure. We do not wish to enter into details of how he imposed on the credulity of the public by assuming what he was not, and why he and his fraudulent exhibits were turned out of the Health Exhibition ; nor how he imposed on his country- men a story of which there was not a word of truth, pretending that he had got his honey on the Queen's table, and how this story, with various additions and variations, made the tour of the American papers. Knavery may serve a turn, but honesty is the best in the long run. Probably Hoge has found this out now in Ids wanderings no one knows where in America, and his firm have lately paid a first and final dividend, a most remarkable one, of '65 of a penny, or 21. 14.«. 2d. in 1000/. ! We mention these facts merely to show the harm that adulteration has done and the reason that American honey is now a drug in the British market. Bee-keepers, both here and in America, have reason to cry out against these adulterating practices of dealers and should decline to supply them with honey. We have before us a letter written to us a few years ago by Hoge & Co., asking in to supply them with our honey, and they said they were 234 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 10, 1888. prepared to give us our own price. Suspecting the pur- pose for which it was intended we declined to sell to them at any price. We hope others will do the same, and thus induce shop-keepers to purchase direct from the bee-keeper, instead of through a dealer. The list is rather an instructive one, and is worth a careful study, as it makes clear two very important points. First, it will he noted that in most cases the adulterated honey is labelled in such a way as to make one suppose it was pure and something extra good. For iustauce, No. 57, ' Choice comb honey,' No. 62, ' White clover honey from the apiaries of Central New York, warranted pure,' No. 78 is also 'warranted pure;' and one, No. 00, has actually the audacity to state 'Pure orange-blossom honey ; is absolutely pure, no glucose,' and yet this is found to be adulterated. The gaudy label and the warranty therefor of an American honey-dealer appear to us in the vast majority of cases very much like a badge of its impurity. The second lesson is that honey in the comb is also adulterated. By referring to Nos. 57 58, and GO, it will be seen that these are all comb honey, yet they are adulterated. Where does this adulterated comb honey come from ? Not from respectable bee-keepers, of that we are quite sure. We have the authority of Mr. Shippen Wallace, Ph.D., for the fact that this comb honey is adulterated, and it is therefore produced. How ? That is the secret. Shall we be also told that this is a Wiley lie, or is there any other explanation than that this adulterated comb honey is manufactured on some of the adulterating farms by feeding bees ? We are glad to notice that notasingle sample of honey purchased of bee-keepers was adulterated. Further comment is unnecessary. The Bee-keeper's Magazi?ie has done bee-keepers good service in exposing this adulteration, and, in a vigorous article condemning the practice, winds up with the following remarks, which we commend to our readers : — ■ ' So long as Messrs. F. G. Strohmeyer and Co. continue adulterating honey, they should be shunned by all bee- keepers who have any respect for themselves or their pocket-books. The same is to be said of Messrs. M'Caul and Hildreth, and the rest of the gang of adulterators. They should be made to feel that they are outraging the rights of the bee-keepers of this country, and for the few paltry dollars they may make in this nefarious trade they are ruining hundreds of bee-keepers, and rendering hundreds of others poor, with their families perhaps, in want.' Mr. A. Todd, whose kindness to us when at Phila- delphia we shall never forget, cried out, and truly, against this practice, and said the competition was so great that there was very little chance of making a living by dealing only in pure honey, but that rather than adulterate he would give up the business. We are glad to find that he has been true to his word. This is what the Bee-keepers Magazine says : — ' It is a lasting monu- ment to our friend, the late Arthur Todd, that, amid all the adulterating dealers about him, he stood aloof, and never soiled his hands with the dirty business, and that when he preached " Deal in pure honey," he also practised it.' We subjoin the Report referred to from the Bee-keep- ers' Magazine. ANALYSIS OF HONEY. The forthcoming report of the Dairy Commissioner of New Jersey will contain notes on the quality of strained honey as usually sold in bottles and jars. Forty-two samples of bottled honey were analysed, and it was ascertained that out of thirty-one samples put up by packing-houses only six were pure. The samples purchased in small towns and villages, representing strained honey put up by farmers, wTere all pure. Below is a table of the samples analysed and the result of the analysis : — STRAINED HONEY. 1 W *°™ o* Laid. Result of Analysis 57 Pater son .... Wm. Thompson, Wayne Co., N.Y., Adulterated 58 ....McCaul A Hildreth Bros., N.Y. City, 59 56 60 Wm. Collins, Worcester, N.Y., 'choice 61 Jersey City. J. V. Sharp Canning Co., Williamstown, Pure 62 » Wardell A Wataon, Brooklyn, N.Y., ' white clover honey from the apiaries of Central New York ; warranted puro ' Adulterated 76 Newark J. T. Dunham, ' Buperior quality of - 77 Thnrber, Whylaud A Co., N.Y., 'pure 78 Hoboken .... E. A. Walker, Greenpoint, L.I. , * superior 79 Jersey City. Wm. Collins, Worcester, N.Y., 'choice 80 Hoboken.... E. A. Walker A Bro., 135 Oakland St.,1 Brooklyn, N.Y., 'choice honey' Adulterated 81 Charles Israel & Bro., N.Y., 'choice 82 C. G. Leslie A Son, Pittsfield, Mass.] m Hoboken .... 84 Geo. D. Powell, * choice extracted North- Newark 85 Wm. Thompson, Wayne Co., N.W., 86 Hoboken .... E. F. Watson, Brooklyn, N.Y., 'pure California honey from groves of San Adulterated 87 McCaul ft Hildreth, New York, 'choice Adulterated 88 Code, Elfelt A Co., Sau Francisco, ' extra 89 Frank Charters, New York, ' white] 90 F. G. Strohmeyer A Co., New York, * pure orange-blossom honey ; is abso- Adulterated 91 Wm. Thompson, Wayne Co., N.Y., 92 Andrew Jackson, Deposit N.Y., 'pure Pure H16 Pure 1417 Sleeper, Wells, A Aldrich 1418 ,. 1424 Pure 1425 way 1429 „ 'Wm. Collins, Worcester, N.Y Adulterated 1431 1432 1434 Wm. E. Johnson, Moorestown, N.J. ... Pure 1435 1436 1W 143S 1439 „ lArthur Todd. Philadelphia jPuro 1440 „ 'W. Collins, Worcester, N.Y 'Adulterated 1441 „ IGifEord A Stiles, State honey iPnre 1442 ,, 'Philadelphia Pickling Co., ' virgin1 -Bee-keepers' Magazine. USEFUL HINTS. Weather. — After several days of boisterous wind and most ungenial weather we are enjoying calm and sunshine, of wrhich the bees are making the best use. Fruit bloom in abundance is bursting forth, and willows, elms, poplars, furze, &c, are now affording forage. Let us hope, then, that at last the trying winter is past, and a plentiful honey-yield is approaching. But of many a colony, alas ! it may be said, Mortua est. Bacillus depilis. — On all sides we hear of colonies dead, colonies queenless, colonies diseased, Bacillus depilis being very prevalent. For the latter disease we have found the best treatment to be plenty of ventilation May 10, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 235 below and feeding on salicylised syrup. This should be done immediately the disease is discovered — by the number of dead bodies, bloated, black and shiny, being cast out — otherwise in a few days the population be- comes so reduced, that death or gradual dwindling speedily follows. With the exception of the loss of a few weak colonies and of several aged queens — which ought to have been superseded before going into winter quarters — our bees have passed through the winter well, under enamel cloth and free from dampness or mouldy combs, the entrances being kept at full widtlt until the time of pilfering arrived. Queen Wasps have not appeared at present in our locality. We have not noticed a single specimen, which is somewhat remarkable at this advanced period. The absence of queens now does not, we fear, forecast the absence of their offspring throughout the Bummer. Feeding on thin syrup is still carried on vigorously in our apiary, and is thankfully and freely accepted by the bees. Apparently, they prefer it much to winter stores of candied honey, and are actively clearing out the latter. Pollen is now abundant in the fields, and with water and syrup supplied at home the bees have all they can want, and will amply repay the expenditure, we trust, by the future storage of surplus honey. Natural SWARMING, if the weather continues bright and warm, will soon commence; and forward colonies, especially if surplus cases are not in use, should be carefully watched. Our own practice, as we have before stated, is to allow natural swarming, and to place surplus eases on the swarms which occupy the position of the parent colony, a part of the latter being used simply as a nucleus for queen-rearing {vide 11. B.J., vol. xv. p. 204). By these means we keep up a sullicient supply of young queens of superior quality — raised under the swarming impulse — for superseding old ones, and have a few over for our friends at the minimum of trouble and expense. The average yield of honey under this system will also bear comparison witli most other systems. Of course there is no forcing swarms, the bees being allowed to follow their own instinct, surplus cases being placed on all colonies, as a rule, when they are sufficiently populous, at the commencement of the honey-flow. To those who prefer artificial swarming, we say, consult Mr. Cowan's book, p. 80, last edition. Hives and Super Cases should now be held in readiness with foundation inserted. The best hive we consider to bo one containing two similar equal and interchangeable chambers, each capable of containing ten standard frames and two division-boards or of taking a case of sections, with substantial roof, and four stout legs nut splayed. Splayed legs are so apt to be kicked by the manipulator, unintentionally of course, that the temper of the bees, especially if they chance to be Cy- piians, is not improved thereby. Two additional boxes, each taking ten frames of 11 x oi inches outside dimen- sions, are also very useful and desirable when working for extracted honey, or as a divisional brood chamber by those who prefer a deeper frame than the standard for wintering upon. In all cases we advise the trial of an excluding honey-board between brood chambers and surplus compartments. Really good Sections, iu our opinion, will always hold their own against extracted honey, lint to combs intended for extracting neither drones nor queen must be almitted, if we desire to produce a first-class article. Last season we worked several cases of sections, both 1-lb. and L'-lb., in hanging frames, whose four sides were two inches wide, entirely covering the four sides of the sections, which being crowded into the frames were thus kept clear of propolis, and when finished were as clean and white as when first inserted in the frames. The frames were suspended in a plain four-sided case, just as we suspend brood frames in a hive, with a bee-space below them, and slotted dividers between the sections. The method proved successful, and we hope to recur to it again. Experts. — We earnestly exhort experts to be very cautious as regards spreading foul brood. We always advise cottagers to destroy diseased colonies by burning hives, combs, bees, and all surroundings. Calvert's car- bolic soap, used by the medical profession, and sold in small tablets in tiny tin boxes, is useful for washing the hands after manipulating foul brood. The clothes like- wise should be disinfected, which may be effectually and cheaply accomplished by dredging over them a little of the Government Carbolic Powder, sold by all chemists in tin cases, perforated at one end, and holding about a quart, for sixpence. A cheaper and better disinfectant cannot be procured, and it ought to be used in every apiary. Weak Colonies. — If a very weak colony, possessing a young and fertile queen, be made to exchange places with a strong populous colony about midday, on a fine warm day, when the bees are at full work, it may quickly be metamorphosed into a strong and prosperous one. The only caution necessary i-; to cage the queen of the weak colony until the following evening when she may be liberated without any fear of being attacked. There is no more simple and easy method of equalising colonies at this time of the year than this. If the hives are similar in appearance and construction there need be no fear of failure, but under any circumstances we have never known the plan to fail. ( Ii.i.a 1'oDRiDA. — Honey-boards. — Friend ' Amateur Expert' wishes to know why we advocate the use of honey- boards. In our last 'Hints' we said, that over the slatted honey-boards last season we had obtained sections which were simply perfection, and moreover the bees entered the crates and worked through the perforations as freely did as those colonies over which no excluder was used. That, to our mind, was sufficient reason for advocating further trial. We also suggested that non-success in the use of excluder zinc, in this country, had arisen from laying the zinc sheets upon the top bars of brood frame-, instead of using the slatted boards, and allowing bee- space above and below them. This was our own expe- rience, and we have in time pa-t condemned the use, under the former conditions, of excluder zinc, as loudly as any one. Our experience differs from that of ' A. E.' as to the amount of brood and pollen liable to be deposited in sectional and other supers when exclusion of drones and queens is not practised. In moist seasons, when the population increases fast, and honey comes in slowly, we have repeatedly seen sections filled witli brood, and pollen placed around it; and although 'A. E.' gives it as his experience that less than two per cent of his sections are defiled by brood or pollen, nevertheless, he lias, in days gone by, mentioned the case of a ' leading light ' in his ' adopted country,' who said to a friend, ' Come and look at my super, the bees have filled it and sealed it over in no time. Splendid ! it is fit for the show ! ' ' Yes,' said the friend, ' it is the handsomest specimen of drone brood I ever saw ; all the sections are complete; I hope you will get first prize, you deserve it.' (II. B. J., vol. xiv., p. 188). So then sometimes, at least, the instinctive yearning for drone brood leads to defile- ment of sections. Wherefore, if, as our American cousins say, and as our own experience points in the same direc- tion, bees work sections of superior quality, and, to say the least, as quickly, over excluding honey-boards as they do without excluders, why should we debar our- selves from the use of these? Surely not because our American friends succeeded where we ourselves have failed. Additional reasons — to those we gave in last 'Hints' — in favour of ' excluders,' we venture to think are, (a), exclusion of drones from congregating in sections, and to a certain extent discolouring them; (6), pieven- tion of the building of drone-comb in sections, which 236 THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 10, 1888. frequently takes place, even on the thinnest worker foundation, and spoils the appearance of the sections ; (c), prevention of the discoloration of the central sections, immediately over the centre of the brood-nest, by the ascending heat, and the close clustering of the bees. With regard to the last objection, we rarely take off an ordinary case of sections without finding the central ones of a dirty brown colour, unless ' excluder ' has been used. This, however, is not the case where the ' Raynor- divisible-seetion-cases ' are used ; and we are bound to say that in them we have never met with a single instance of deposition of brood. Nevertheless, in future practice our intention is to place these divisional cases on the excluding honey-boards ; so convinced are we of the certainty of thus obtaining more perfect sections than when the admission of drones and queens to super cases is allowed. Indeed the testimony of such ardent and experienced bee-keepers as Mr. W. B. Oarr, and others, together with the foremost apiarists of America and Canada, should not be lightly esteemed, or quietly ignored, without a full and fair trial. Superior sections, the case with which they are removed from the brood- chamber, and other advantages enumerated above, induce us to forecast for the slatted excluding honey-boards a great future in the production of comb-honey. Restriction of the brood-chamber — sufficiently large, of course — solely to the raising of brood, without expansion or contraction after the honey flow sets in, and storage of surplus above it, with an intervening honey-board, and tiering up, as required, both for comb and extracted honey, we believe will be the ' system of the future.' Blizzard may or may not be an Americanism, but Nuttall certainly givesit as such. As ' A. E.' states, there are no doubt many obsolete English words, or words whose meanings have been entirely changed in the old country still in use in the United States, e.y., the words 'sick 'and ' sickness,' which still retain the old signification in the U. S., while here they have been superseded by ' ill ' and ' illness,' the later usage of sick and sickness conveying the idea of nausea only. To the derivation of the word ' blizzard,' suggested by the correspondent of Notes and Queries, we prefer our former suggestion of Blinkard, Blidzard, Blizzard, meaning a 'Blinder.' We were born, bred, and educated, during the first quarter of a century of our life, in a Midland county, and freely mixed with all classes— high and low, rich and poor, educated and uneducated — in three or four Midland counties, having keptup acquaintance with the localitiesformorethanforty years since that period, and few if any provincialisms have escaped us, but we never heard the word ' Blizzard.' Blast and Blazer, are common enough, and the former is frequently used as an oath, but Blizzer, for Blazer, we never heard, nor the verb Blissom, which has a widely different meaning. We incline, therefore, to .Nuttall s view, that ' Blizzard ' is of American coinage to express the violent storm for which they had no word. blectcb dlmrg. [8.] What should be done with weak colonies in spring ? How can they be strengthened ? What is best to be done with mouldy combs? Can they be prevented? Two colonies may be united in the manner described by me in Query No. 7. They can be strengthened, first, by contracting the frames of comb to the number the bees can well cover by feeding, to stimidate brood- rearing, and then, when there are sufficient bees to protect and care for it, by exchanging a frame of empty worker-comb for one of sealed and hatching brood with a strong colony, another frame of brood may be added from time to time ; but great care must be taken not to do this too fast, and to first ascertain that they are strong enough to cover it and prevent its being chilled. It is best to cut out the mouldy portion of comb, and fill in the space with clean worker-comb or foundation. If simply cut out the bees will usually fill the spaces with drone-comb. It can be prevented by the entrance of the hive being left open the whole width during winter, thus giving better ventilation and circulation of the air at the bottom of the hive, and keeping all dry. — -John M. HOOKER. Allow no more combs than actually needed, place the dummies close up to same, have all well packed and judiciously fed, with entrances contracted ; such will hold on till strengthened by a frame of hatching brood. Mouldy combs, if not unto rottenness, can be brought back into use by heat, or hanging in a dry, airy room, and when dry the mould, so far as possible, brushed out ; but if combs are placed to a winter distance of 2 in. apart (centre to centre) at right angles to a full entrance with plenty of bottom air-space, they will not mould provided that the roof and hive-walls are sound. — John H. Howard, Holme, Peterborough, (1.) If very weak I would unite two or three together; but if only moderately reduced in strength and possessing young queens, I would strengthen with brood from strong colonies, being careful to only give it in such quantities as the weak colony would cover with bees. (2.) By adding frames of eggs and hatching brood from strong colonies able to spare them, removing spare combs, and gentle feeding. (3.) Brush off all the mould pos- sible, and then place the combs in the centre of strong stocks, and the bees will soon complete the cleaning. (4.) Yes ; by giving them to the bees to clean off the loose honey after extracting, and then hanging them in spare hives, or boxes, and storing in a dry room until wanted for use. — H. Wood. Unite them, and, if possible, give one or more combs of sealed brood — ■ taking care not to give more than the bees can cover at once — and pack up warmly. Melt them down and use foundation, unless the combs are very even and clean ; then dry in the sun and brush as clean as you can ; spray with salicylic acid, or phenol, and fumigate with brimstone before re -using. Combs covered with bees in a dry hive I have never found mouldy. — W. E. Burkitt. Build them up by giving hatching brood in such quantity as they can cover easily, if the queen is of any value ; cover up warmly and reduce entrances. To pre- vent store in dry condition, half an inch apart in autumn, and paint box with solution of carbolic acid ; if good in other respects should utilise them later in strong stocks. Fumes from burning sulphur, or weak carbolic solution, are both excellent preventives of disease. — John Edey. If a weak colony possesses a prolific queen and has commenced breeding, I would confine it between division boards and give it a frame of sealed brood from a strong colony, feeding gradually on warm syrup, and covering up warmly, until it attained to the average strength. But in cases of this kind everything depends upon sur- rounding circumstances, and it is impossible to give any but general rules. Melt down mouldy combs. — George Raynor. Having weak colonies in spring, I should prefer to unite two or more together so as to make one good colony. They may be strengthened by adding frames of brood from other hives as the bees are able to cover, but I doubt much if the latter would be profitable. Combs found to be mouldy, and not clogged with pollen, should be softly brushed and sprayed with salicylic acid sjlu- tion, after which they may be hung up in a dry, airy place for further use. If the combs are very mouldy, I would put them into wax basket for melting down. In these days of cheap comb-foundation no risk should be run with old and doubtful - looking combs, — Wm. McNali/y, Glenluce, Scotland, May 10, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 237 Unite them to others; or if the queen is worth saving they can be strengthened with frames of hatching brood from other colonies. If only slightly mouldy the bees will clean them out, hut if very much so the melting-pot is the best place for them : can be prevented by dry hives of sufficient thickness and allowing upward ven- tilation, or wide entrances during winter. — Wm, N. Griffin. It would depend on the queen ; if she was worth saving I should contract the brood-nest to three or four combs, feed with 'Good' candy, to which some meal was added ; and if I had a frame of brood I could spare from a strong colony I should add that with as many young bees adhering as possible ; but if the queen was aged I should unite to next stock. I find a strong stock of bees will soon clean out mouldy combs. Those combs that are pollen-clogged and got mouldy had better be melted down, as a strong colony of bees would work out a sheet of foundation as quickly as they would clear the old comb of mould besides leaving many of the cells full of useless pollen: the new comb would be far more useful in the brood-nest than the old one under such circumstances. — W. WoODLEY. If there is a stock standing near, I find it a good plan to take the queen away, and unite the bees to the stock, putting what brood there is in the centre, and move the stock midway between where the two stood before. If they are not too weak they might be shut up close and stimulated by continuous gentle feeding; giving occa- sionally a frame of brood from stronger stocks that could spare them, and inserting in their place a frame of foundation. Where there are any mouldy combs it is best to take them out and hang them to dry, and as the stocks increase in strength give sheets of foundation. I have found some mould in my hives where there has been too much covering on the tops of the frames, while in other stocks that had not so much the combs were quite dry.— John Walton, Honey Cott, Weston. Unite and utilise spare queens by giving them to queenless stocks. Great impetus can be given to me- diocre colonies by reducing space between combs about end of April or beginning of May if weather is fairly warm. Give frames of brood from strong colonies after weak ones have somewhat recovered. If rotten with mould cut part out, but if only superficially mould)-, dry and then brush off as much of the mould as possible, then spray with salicylic acid solution, and return to bees. Combs will never get mouldy if hive is dry and thickly populated. Combs that have been removed from hives will keep free from mould if properly cleaned out by bees in autumn, and then put away in sound boxes in dry position. — W. B. Webster. Wait until a few young bees hatch, and then unite ; or hold them until swarming time, then unite and use one queen for a stock that may have swarmed. It is very bad practice to rob the strong to help the weak ; better far let the weak help each other by uniting judiciously. Mouldy combs do not occur in a dry, well- Ventilated hive. — Samuel Simmins. ASSOCIATIONS. IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Committee have made arrangements for exhi- biting hives and other bee-keeping appliances and honey at the Irish Exhibition in London. Samples of last year's honey will be shown at the opening of the Exhi- bition, and in August it is intended to make a substantial exhibit of new honey. Prizes will be offered to members for the best contributions to this latter exhibit. Since the Report published in the Bee Journal of 12th April, the two following District Secretaries have been appointed: — For Co. Leitrim, Rev. J. Gamier Digges; for Co. Donegal, Mr. George Turner. MONMOUTHSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. At the Flower Show to be held at Monmouth on the loth and 16th of November next the following prizes for honey will be given : — Section Honey, best six 1-lb. sections— (1) 10s.; (2) 6*.; (3) 4s. Run Honey— best six 1-lb. bottles of this year's honey — (1) 10s.; (2) 6s.'; (3) 4s. Further particulars may be had from Geo. Tucker, Esq., Hon. Sec, The Shubbery, Monmouth. HULL AND AND DISTRICT BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. A meeting of this Association was held at the Station Hotel, on Wednesday evening, May 2, when Mr. David Wilson, J. P., was unanimously elected President of the Association, the Rev. R. M. Lamb of Burton Pidsea, and Mr. E. Harland, were elected Vice-Presidents, and Mr. Charles Howes and Mr. Henry Harland, lion, secretaries. The objects of the Association, which is under the patronage of Mr. Arthur Duncombe, M.P., are the ad- vancement of rational and modern bee-keeping in place of the old and barbarous sulphur-pit method, and the spread of a profitable method of bee-keeping to the advantage of cottagers and others in the Fast Riding. The prospective arrangements include, amongst other things, a lecture on some subject of interest connected with bee-keeping at an early date, and a honey fair in the autumn. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed ky his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, Jtc., must be addressed only to *The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," cjo Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.* All business communications relating to Advertisements, Ac, must be addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). %• In order to facilitate reference, Corespondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. OUR HONEY IMPORTS. The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom during the month of April, 1888, amounted to 2508/. [From a return furnished by the Statistical Department H. M. Customs to E. H. Bellairs, Wingfield, Christ- church.] IN-AND-IN BREEDING. [1022.] 'Theta' (1604) takes the bull by the horns with a vengeance when he so courageously rushes in to show your readers how much they are mistaken when they imagine it possible to improve their bees (or, indeed, the breed of anything) by a judiciously carried out sys- tem of crossing"; or that they can reiuvigorate waning or "expending force by a timely infusion of fresh blood. He plunges in media* res and boldly tells us that as he has, ' to a small extent, proved that there are no evils to be feared from consanguinity ; ' that as Mr. Greene has 'for five years bred from the progeny of a single pair of fantails ; ' and that as M. de Roos married his cousin without any serious results (if any), in-and-in breeding is to be commended, and whole generations and feons of historical record are to be by these means falsified, and rendered worthless by this absurd new doctrine. The letter of ' Theta ' is so well written and thought out, that on that account it is worthy of consideration ; but the germ of his communication would lead me to dismiss it from very serious argument, so much am I 238 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 10, 1888. convinced of the instability of the foundation on which his structure is built. And this is more consideration than is shown to their opponents by M. de Roos and Mr. Greene ; for while M. de Roos says, ' The theoretical state- ments of the adversaries of consanguinity may be lightly esteemed' . . . He also states, *The results of numerous direct and indirect experiments alone can solve the dif- ficult problem.' Mr. Greene characterises ' the belief that consanguinity is productive of deterioration' AS an absurdity, and is thereby inconsistent with his subse- quent statement: — 'Heredity is a potent factor in the determination of health no less than of disease . . . but when it comes from both (parents) the tendency to either strength or weakness is increased to an appreciable extent, or in the ratio of one to four, and so on in geometrical proportion.' He also says that 'consan- guinity alone will not produce disease in the offspring.' Neither will an open drain near one's house, but both will offer a specially prepared alighting place — a happy hunting-ground — for just that very disease which goeth about like a roaring microbe, &c. Yet Mr. Greene himself tells us further on in ' Theta's ' letter that 'con- sanguineous parentago transmits to posterity with redu- plicated intensity ' certain diseases and characteristics ; 'in such cases Nature providing her own remedy, for, after a time, the race thus produced will fail from sheer lack of vigour to maintain it.' In order for this gentle- man's experiments to be of service in an argument in favour of in-and-in breeding, it would be necessary for his fantails of to-day to be the descendants of nearest relatives in each generation ; for, in a question of this sort, we cannot allow breeders to look around for the finest birds and keep breeding from them. We should have consecutive generations of nearest kin crossed, and to prove an argument ' the nearer the better ' in opposi- tion to the opinions we hold of ' the further away the better,' make us avoid relatives and proceed to the other extreme — yourselves to give point to your argument. I imagine the pigeon-fanciers of the future won't have many of ' Greene's strain of fantails.' Let M. de Roos carry his human experiments a little closer to the argument and intercross in nearer relationship (of course the nearer the better according to these three authorities) for generations, giving nature at least a chance, in point of time, to improve the race ; and I think she would ' leave not a wrack behind.' The directories of the period would be ransacked in vain for, at least, male representatives of the family. Even if the instances given of alleged improvement by in-and-in breeding could hold water as proving bond- fide improvement, they are so meagre and few compared to the myriads of examples to the contrary we see in a rough survey of animated nature, that they could only be adduced as ' exceptions which prove the rule.' Be- sides, it has yet to be proved that abnormal sports and freaks of Nature, which are all right to ' the fancy,' are at all improvements on original ancestors as to vigour, size, fecundity, and hardness of constitution, just as it has yet to be shown that M. de Rous' male grandchildren (or even children) are improvements, mentally and physically, on this celebrated author. Nearly every man of middle age has seen instances of human degene- racy or deterioration resulting from the marriage of cousins in one generation ; and I have a well-authenti- cated instance of cousins marrying for four generations, the result being that all the progeny were devoid of hair and nails, and were either imbecile or blind. On the other hand, instances of benefit resulting from judicious crossing of varieties are indeed ' too numerous to men- tion ; ' they occur all through the animal and vegetable kingdoms. I regret that ' Theta ' instanced the Jewish race in support of his theory : it is bringing Bible history into the argument, and that should have been avoided; but so Jong as it has been introduced, it is necessary to meet the charge that interbreeding is, or has been, beneficial to the Semitic race by the distinct statement that true in-and-in breeding has not been faithfully carried on by them, and even so far as it has been partially practised it has been detrimental to them in my opinion. In fact it is, in all likelihood, one of the causes of the peculiar position of that people amongst the nations of the earth, — wanderers, without organization or head, over the whole surface of the habitable globe, subject to persecution and misery everywhere ; not remarkable, to say the least of it, for those vigorous qualities which go to make strong nations, and which are characteristic of peoples of mixed ancestry. Your correspondent says that in all the sacred writings there is no direction to 2>revent in-and-in breeding. I will not contradict him, as it will open up a religious discussion ; but as he is evidently interested in this aspect of the question, I may be pardoned for asking him to search out where Cain found his wife, driven out as he was into the land of exile (Cain, the first man born of woman !). Certainly not in a consan- guineous union, of which there is, I believe, no instance amongst the children of Adam. And though there is nothing to prevent in-and-in breeding in the following- passage, yet the inference, to my mind, is decidedly in a preventive direction : — ' When men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair ; and they took them wives of all which they chose. There were giants in those days ; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children unto them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.' Let us leave the Bible alono, please, ' Theta,' for we may not, all of us, take it as being a history of the origin and growth of the whole human family. It seems to me that ' Theta ' says a great deal to upset his own argument, e.g., ' Take two known con- sumptive or scrofulous human subjects and unite them, and the chances are, many thousands to one, that the progeny will be consumptive to a greater degree than the parents.' Just so. That is exactly the point. You emphasise a taint in the blood of the union, and if one parent member of a family have a taint in the blood, his or her descendants are likely to receive it hereditarily ; eryo, to lessen the risk, relations should not intermarry, and, q.e.d., the marriage of near relations is to be con- demned because of this danger. Again, he tells us, 'An evil of this sort is ten times more apparent when the parents are nearly related,' because ' first cousins are the produce of a pair of grandparents. Presume one or both grandparents to be suffering from an organic disease, does it not follow that both the cousins have the seeds of it in their bodies, and that the bodies of their progeny are favourable incubators for its propagation ? ' Here we get Truth itself ; but I certainly read it as being condemna- tory of consanguineous unions. ' Theta ' asks for a second Lubbock to arise. "Why not let the first Lubbock arise (a second Frankenstein) and speak for himself !J In his work on The Oriyin of Civilisation (p. 125), Sir John Lubbock says: 'The in- ferior energy of children sprung from in-and-in mar- riages.' ' The advantage of crossing, so well known to breeders of stock, would soon give a marked preponder- ance to those races by whom exogamy was largely practised.' On p. 123: ' Tho evils of marrying near relatives.' ' Exogamy a reformatory movement to break up the intermarriage of blood relations.' To quote further would be to give you pages of marriage laws showing how too near consanguineous unions were avoided. Every one will, I think, admit that the lower we go in the scale of humanity the more barbarous and rude are the customs of the race as regards the relationship or otherwise of parents towards each other, and, per contra, the higher the civilisation the greater is the care exer- May 10, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 239 cised to prevent what may seem too near consanguinity (witness the action of the bench of Bishops with regard to the Bill for legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister). Sir John Lubbock, in his book, comes to the following conclusions : — 1. That existing savages are not the descendants of civilised ancestors. 2. That the primitive condition of man was one of utter barbarism. 3. That from this condition several races have jinde- pendently raised themselves. And I gather from the many instances given in his book that those races which practise, or have practised, consanguinity in their breeding do not advance, but either stand still or decline into mere savagery, and ultimately die out, while the converse is the case with those whom we observe as avoiding in-and-in breeding. Without being insulting to any civilised race, I will take the Australian nation, the Bosjesmen, and the Redskins as illustrating the one practice, and the Eng- lish, French, and German speaking people the other. — R. A. II. Grimsiiaw, Horsforth, near Leeds. BEES COLLECTING HONEY. [1623.] Saturday, the 5th of May, I visited my bees at Farnborough in Kent, about ten miles from my house. It was a beautiful day, and quite a treat to be away from London, to realise that the recent rains and the warmer nights had at last started all trees, shrubs, &c, into active life. The fields are green, and the buds of the fruit trees are beginning to open, the gooseberries are in full bloom, and my bees were busily at work on them, bringing in honey quite fast, and had evidently, from the appearance of the combs, been doing so for the last few days, when the boisterous winds would allow. The nightingales were singing close to me during the exami- nation of four of my colonies. The hives were in splendid condition, they had wintered well, and three of them full of bees, and the majority of the frames of combs nearly rilled with sealed and hatching brood on both sides, just in the condition to have the advantage of the whole of the fruit-blossom as it comes out, if the weather is only propitious. In shaking the bees from some of the combs during my manipulations the thin honey positively poured out of the cells drenching the bees as the}' left the combs ; the hives smelt quite strongly of the gooseberries, the peculiarity of which no doubt many of your readers have observed. The upper part of many of the combs had been built out witli nice white comb, a hint that supers must not long be delayed, and had I not been pressed for time I should have at once put them on. Fortunately professional business calls me into the neighbourhood again on Wednesday, when I hope I shall get time to super them. Being at a distance it is impossible to give the bees the attention they would otherwise have. I think, however, that nothing that I could have done, had I been on the spot, would have improved their condition. I am a great believer that the majority of bee-keepers over- manipulate and meddle too much with their bees; robbing them too much of their natural stores. Feeding late in the autumn, however judiciously done, excites the bees, stimulates the queen to lay, when, if left to herself, she would be resting. Many of the old bees die from overwork and undue excitement, leaving the hive in many instances ' to perish in the cold ; ' the young bees hatching late are often unable to take the necessary cleansing flights, spring dwindling and dysentery being the result. My bees were left with abundance of natural stores, were not fed in the autumn, or anything done to them since the beginning of October until about three weeks ago, when I just looked under the quilts to see they had sufficient food left after the long winter, and they have not been fed this spring; nevertheless they are in as good a condition for honey-gathering as I could wish them to be. I am sure that in leaving plenty of natural stores in the autumn we get amply repaid for so doing the following season. — John M. Hooker. SELECTED QUERIES : INFORMATION DESIRED. [1024.] I was very much pleased and instructed by the answers to your ' Selected Query ' of May 3rd, ' What is the best thing to do with queenless colonies in spring? Should they be united to those having queens?' I should like to ask a few questions, perhaps some one will answer. If they were queenless before May, or if they were weak colonies, then the answers generally were, ' Unite,' with the exception of Mi". Edey, who would form nuclei, giving artificial heat. If queenless in Ma)' and strong, the opinion which carries weight, but needs further instruction, is, that brood or f^-'jn should be given for queen-raising. Probably in the south no difficulty would be felt in having drones flying so early, but in some districts to the north there would be danger of not having any Hying. Yet, by the answer of Mr. McNally, that difficulty in his ease is got over. Are the drones produced naturally, or are they produced by giving empty combs to selected stocks? Mr. Edey's answer has the appearance of increasing this difficulty. It is true he applies artificial heat to the early nuclei for queen-raising. Does he produce the select drones by the same method ? If so, are they kept under cover ? Are they allowed to fly in the open for fertilisation ? 1 was very pleased to find that Mr. Raynor had been able to successfully winter nuclei of three or four frames with young queens. They are of great value in spring to replace the loss of queens during winter, or to build up into stocks for summer work. To do this, is any extra protection needed ? Would it be necessary to have them in the house ? Would they be wintered in the open garden? We think answers to the above would be of great service to many of your readers, and could be given with the greatest satisfaction bv the parties named. — R. M. BIRDS v. FRUIT-BUDS. [1625.1 I am pleased that 'Birds v. Fruit-Buds' has been revived in the pages of the Bee Journal by Mr. Hiam. Although the subject is not strictly speaking an apiarian one, yet it affects the bee-keeper more closely than it at first appears. The culprits of bud devastation are our old enemies, the blue-tit, tomtit, and the bullfinch, a most accomplished bud-consumer. It is simply incredible the amount of damage two or three of these birds are capable of doing in a few days. The buds are not safe from their vora- cious appetites until almost ready to burst into flower. It is not only fruit-buds that they have an affection for, but hawthorn, bird-cherry, sloe blackthorn, myrobella plum, &c, all come within their bill of fare. The damage, of course, is done in winter and spring, and we do not know of it until the time flowers should appear, then we solace ourselves by blaming the weather, or that it is not a fruit year. As fruit-blossom forms a considerable item of bee- forage it behoves the bee-keeper to use every means to take advantage of it, and also to lessen the chance of any of it being destroyed by birds, which ought to be shot whenever they are seen at their destructive work. Many people think that they are looking for and destroying insects, when in reality they are simply and completely relieving the trees of a valuable crop of fruit. It is decidedly monstrous that so much legal and moral protection should be extended to such numbers of 240 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 10, 1888. our bird fauna. This protection is, I am sorry to say, rapidly increasing, and, too, at the expense of agricultural occupations (including bee-keeping). It is very delightful no doubt, and I can thoroughly understand the enthusiasm a suburban resident would exhibit should there perchance visit his garden either a bullfinch or blue tit, but should his feathered visitors insist on acquainting their hungry stomachs with the quality of his gooseberry buds, the suburban resident, I opine, would (unless ignorant of the damage they were doing) think, after all, that it was rather too much of a joke that his crop of mellow gooseberries should be at the mercy of his gay visitors. In the country where these pests are more numerous, it is a real nuisance to many a small holder, market gardener, &c, to be always in the qui-vive, gun-in-hand state, as it to him and to many others means a vast deal more than those kind (?)Jhearted folks (some of whom tie pieces of suet on a string and take pleasure in watching the trying evolutions of the bird in his endeavour to get a mouthful) are aware of. I can put on record here the fact of a five-acre orchard's produce being totally destroyed by these birds two years ago. I am glad that the sparrows here have not acquired a taste for fruit-buds. I have watched them very closely for years past, but have never detected them eating any. They, however, destroy crocus and primrose flowers and revel in green peas. — Henry Dobbie, Thkkthom, Hethersett, SHALLOW FRAMES. [1626,] I am much interested in Messrs. Carr and 'Useful Hints" opinions on shallow frames, but has it not come too late for them to lay down the bounds of measurement seeing that there are so many thousands of such frames in commerce already ? Mr. Carr declares his conviction that a 0-inch box with a 5^-inch frame is the best surplus chamber extant for all purposes connected with working for extracted honey. Now why is the above measurement of frame the best? Is not a 0-inch frame equally as good ? Mr. Howard, of Holme, exhibited at Norwich in 188G super boxes containing frames of the usual standard length by 6 inches in depth, and since then this practical manufacturer must have sent out a great number,* and I believe was the first maker to offer them to the public. I use them myself and can find no fault whatever in the size ; and no doubt there are many more bee-keepers like myself to whom the Howard shallow frame is of some interest ; and should the B.13.K. A. decide on any given measurement for a shallow frame I trust the 0-inch Howard size will not be ignored. I fail to see the advantage or the reason of Mr. Carr's ' firm conviction ' as to his measurements being ' the best.' No doubt his size is very convenient, and may work well, but I claim for the other size the same good qualities. — Henry Dobbie, Thkkthom, Hethersett. RUST FROM SYRUP CAN. [1027.] Not long since I purchased from a well-known bee-keeper's supply firm a ' Bee Proof Syrup Can,' for which I paid Gs., hoping thereby to save time and trouble in carrying syrup about. The first time I used the said can everj'thing appeared to go well. A day or two since I placed a second lot of syrup in it, and filled my feeders therefrom. To my surprise this morning on going to re- plenish the same I found that all my stocks (eight) had not taken any of the syrup, so I took off the said feeders to ascertain the cause, and discovered that the syrup had * I have communicated with Mr. Howard and learn from him that he has sent out some 35,000 shallow frames of 6 inches in depth. a brown yellow tint instead of pure white as syrup ought to have. I find that the hinge of the can lid and the spout had rusted, and the rusty liquid running down the sides of the can had polluted the syrup. The result being that I had to throw away twenty lbs. of syrup, and the can I can't safely use again, so that there is a dead loss of at least 9s, No wonder amateurs get tired of bee- keeping when such things happen, and I think the above should be made public as a warning to amateurs like myself. — Lex, Sussex. SAVED! [1028.] In passing along amongst my hives at 2 o'clock yesterday, I found, on the alighting-board of a stock recently sent me in a present, and which I had not had time to examine, four bees evidently in a weak state. My suspicions of starvation were aroused. The hive was still, no work going on. All the other stocks busy. Plenty gooseberry blossom to attract them. Lifting the heavy wooden cover, I found the bits of carpet in a disordered state, freely admitting bees through, these were crawling about in a half-dead condition. A further examination showed me a hive well stocked with bees, but nearl}' exhausted for want of food. Hastily bringing two sections from the ' bee-shed ' I laid them fiat side down over the frames covering all over with fresh warm carpet, packing well all around. Above, I laid across the sections (carpet between of course) a large hot iron, covering over with more carpets, then the wooden cover, stuffed the six little ventilating holes, blocked up the entrance entirely. Across this and rest- ing upou the entrance blocks, I placed another very hot iron keeping it in that position for half an hour. By that time there was a lively hum inside, removing this iron to one of the side walls supporting it upon bricks, thus warming the walls of the hive. Then gave space at entrance for one bee to pass. The bees were rejoicing, and gave every evidence of returning vitality by a noisy hum, clearing out some young chilled, well-advanced brood. But for the tiniely arrival of artificial heat of food a good stock would have been lost. To-day they are busy and active even in the midst of showers. The hot irons were procured from a friendly tailor's workshop near at hand. The reader will notice the bees were not allowed to touch the irons.— The Braes, Doune, N.B. May 1, CAUTION. Bees-wax Foundation v. Pure Comb Foundation. [1G20.] Being one of your regular readers and a well- wisher to all concerned in honest bec-ology, I thought a word or two of caution to those intending purchasers of comb-foundation, who, like myself, are not overdono with ready cash, and at the same time are anxious to buy in the cheapest market, might be seasonable and acceptable if you will allow me the space in your paper. When comb - foundation was almost a novelty, I adopted it, and was delighted with the benefit derived from its use. Since then I have used it freely ; by freely I mean full sheets, everywhere instead of starters ami half-sheets. When I commenced I believe the founda- tion-makers in this country might be numbered on the fingers of one hand ; now, according to what one can gather from the different advertisements, there is quite an army of them, no doubt called forth by the demand for their produce ; but I am afraid the competition en- gendered thereby has not been of any benefit to the interests of bee-keepers. The reformation of bee-keeping was advancing with rapid strides from the dark ages of sulphur pits, and honey looking like that juvenile corrective mixture treacle and brimstone, with a flavour not much better, May 10, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 241 aud medicinal properties producing results most delight- ful from a motherly point of view, to the time of our lovely tiger-like (in more senses than one) bees, sections transparent, and honey brilliantly clear and tempting. I am sorry to say these improvements have not gone on all round, for, as the demand for comb-foundation became greater, the makers — not all of them — have pro- duced an inferior article, and deliberately advertise it to the public as pure comb - foundation. To my own chagrin I have used this horrible stuff, foundation is a misnomer, as that is exactly what it is not. The bees — poor deluded creatures, like myself — take to it like ducks to water, and when warm and partly laden with brood, honey and bees, the cells which should have all sides equal' will be quite oval, and of no use whatever for brood or honey. This is not the whole of the trouble ; if it happens to be hot weather, nineteen out of every twenty sheets will fall down and curl up, forming a roly-poly bee-and-wax pudding on the lower bars of the frames, binding them all together, to the disgust of bees and bee-keeper. I know of nothing more provoking than on a warm evening you wish to extract some surplus honey, and, upon opening a hive, you find your bees all in a mess at the bottom; your queen (a beauty) rolled up in the general wreck. If others can refrain from saying words that ought not to appear in a Sunday-school primer, they are more clever than myself. Moral. — Get your foundation from some reliable, honest, old trader, who is too anxious about his fair name and reputation to risk compromising it by selling such rubbish. Ask for pure bees-wax comb-founda- tion, and see that you get it ! If it is a little more expensive, pay and grin. Better pay and grin now than stamp and swear after you have wasted your money and ruined your colonies. As a test for the quality of comb-foundation, ex- perience has taught me that if you can wrap a piece round your finger like the roll gingerbread sold by con- fectioners it is utterly worthless; but, on the contrary, if it will snap or split off upon being bent, you may safely accept the sample. I am aware a few sheets get shaken to pieces in transit, but I prefer to see it so, as that proves, to my mind, its fitness for foundation. These remarks more especially allude to the thick body foun- dation, and not to super foundation, as my experience has been highly satisfactory with respect to supers. The prime cause of my writing this article is the derisive, sneering, and jeering look of an old-fashioned croaker, who has seen the mess I am in, and who says, ' Yah'U not catch me putting onny o' that 'ere darned stuff to my bees ! ' The same man, a few years ago, presented himself, all fragrant with tobacco-juice and smoke, in my shop amongst a lot of ladies, and propounded the very solemn question, ' Do yah want to buy onny honey ? ' at the same time producing a sample of candied stuff out of his coat-pocket in a piece of brown paper. It is needless to say there was no trade between us. But if we wish to assist the poorer classes and the class from which this man comes, I think we ought not to adulterate our appliances, and so weaken our chance of proving to them the advantages of bee-keeping as taught in your very valuable Journal. — Lincolnshire. know there is a right and a wrong way of doing every- thing, and the poor cottager, converted from straw skeps and sulphur, yet unaided by the expert's superior know- ledge as to the proper fixing up of bar-frames, would, in all probability, hit upon the wrong way. I sincerely trust your note at tiie end of ' Village Shoemaker's' letter will have the desired effect, and that in future at shows will be seen cottagers leaving the expert's tent enlightened and not mystified as to the proper management of bar- frame hives. — Edmund J. Jones, Ysgubor Fuwr, Pen- deri/n, Aberdare, Mai/ 5th, BEES AT SHOWS. [1630.] I am glad to see suggestion made by ' Village Shoemaker ' in a recent issue of your paper. I have kept bees in bar-frame hives for the last three years, and have attended several shows during that interval, at which there are bee experts. They drive the bees from one skep into another and stop at that point, not further showing how to transfer from skep to bar-frame. Neither do they show how to place sections in their proper position, nor how to fix comb-foundation, We SOFT CANDY FOB SPRING STIMULATIVE FEEDING. [1681.] Take seven pounds of lump sugar (white crystallised will do"), two table-spoonfuls of vinegar, one teaspoonful of salt, boil together with one quart of water, crush any lumps that may be still undissolved and continue boiling until the mixture attains the heat of -'40° to 245° Fahr. If you have not a thermometer registering these high figures take a pipe stalk and dip it into the sugar, after having' drawn off what adheres to the pipe between the thumb and finger, try if it will stretch out a fine thread between the thumb and finger about an inch long ; if it is not strong enough to do that, it is not quite ready and must boil again a little longer, perhaps five minutes, according to the fierceness of the fire ; but great care must be taken not to pass this degree, which is called ' The Feather ' by confectioners, as the candy would then be so hard the bees could not use it. Upon the desired degree being reached add eight ounces of flour, and stir upon the pan sides until it looks like so much thick cream, in which condition it should be poured upon a slab or smooth table, or, failing these, a door- step, and with a long flat stick work it about thoroughly for fifteen minutes, and then put it into any old card- board box lids or sardine-boxes. Allow it to cool, and it will be ready for using under the quilts of the hive. This candy is about as stiff as candied honey and looks very much like it. For spring feeding it is excel- lent (especially in a cold spring like the present one). There is no fear of it running down among the combs as it is tenacious and tough like a piece of soft putty, or the beautiful white cream we get in the finest quality choco- late creams ; the manner of preparation is the same, of course without the salt, vinegar, and flour. — H. S. F. MODERN BEE-KEEPING. PitooiiESS in Bek-kef.ping.— The last fifty years have amply compensated for past neglect by the enor- mous progress which has been made in our acquaintance with this extremely interesting study. The anatomy of the bees themselves, whether queens, drones, or workers, has been minutely investigated under the microscope ; the old straw hive, or 'skep,' has been abandoned in favour of the wooden ' bar-framed' hive with moveable combs; instead of suffocating his bees the bee-master merely takes out one or more combs, brushes off the bees, extracts the honey, and replaces the combs to be refilled. It has been discovered that the most vindic- tive bees may be subjugated and made perfectly tractable by blowing among them a few whiffs of brown-paper smoke, or the vapour of creosote, or by touching the tops of the combs with a feather dipped in carbolic acid. The bee-keeper, instead of leaving his hives undisturbed until the autumn, is for ever opening them, manipu- lating the combs, increasing or diminishing the space, feeding the bees, or extracting the honey. The bees, instead of having to make their own wax, at a vast expenditure of time and labour, have sheets of wax provided for them, in which the rhomboidal bases of the cells are ready stamped by machinery, and the net result 242 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 10, 1888. is that the annual yield of honey from each hive is from five to ten times as great as under the old system, with the further advantage that the lives of the bees need never be sacrificed. No bee-keeper, in a favourable part of the country, is now-a-days content with a harvest of less than a hundred pounds from each hive, and even in the suburbs of Loudon as much as forty or fifty pounds per hive may be realised. Why, then, is the army of bee-keepers so small? The price of honey is not so high as it was, but it is still possible to sell it in most country districts at a shilling a- pound, and as the original cost of a bar-framed hive stocked with bees, together with all the necessary appliances in the shape of comb-foundation, smoker, veil, extractor, and so forth, need not exceed !il. at a liberal estimate, it will be seen that modern bee-keeping offers to amateurs the agree- able inducement of a handsome profit ; and it is much to be regretted that in spite of the praiseworthy efforts made by the British Bee-keepers' Association the advantages of bee-keeping as now practised are not more widely known among the poorer classes. It is true that cottagers as a rule have not much spare time, but it is wonderful how little time need be taken up in attending properly to a hive. Five or six hours a month in the summer season, and five or six minutes a-week, at certain periods of the spring and autumn, should be ample; and a man's circumstances must be very unusual if neither he nor any member of his family can find this little leisure. In every poor man's garden there is room for a beehive; the flowers of the field produce a store of nectar plentiful enough to supply (without any appreciable competition) at least a hundred times as many hives as are now in existence ; and apart from the pecuniary profit, the study of bees yields a peculiar pleasure of its own, opening up revela- tion after revelation of minute wonders in endless suc- cession. . . . Work yet to be Done. — Although on the whole a great advance has been made in apiculture, a study of the British Bee Journal for the last two years reveals the fact that much still remains to be done. That the science has arrived at a stage from which avenues of improvement open themselves in all directions is evident from the fact that in matters of detail there is a singular want of unanimity among its exponents. On almost every point rival theorists are fiercely at variance. The champions of the Ligurians, Carniolans, or Syrians, will not listen patiently to the slightest detraction from the merits of their favourites. The advocates of salicylic acid laugh to scorn the cham- pions of phenol or camphor. If by any mischance a hive becomes queenless aud it is necessary to introduce a new queen, the puzzled amateur is confronted by con- flicting recommendations as to the proper course to be adopted. If he desires to establish a new hive, and wishes to obtain the best possible kind, he finds himself in doubt between the 'combination' system, the 'storify- ing' system, the Stewarton principle, the Ileddon prin- ciple, and many others, between which, after all, there is very little to choose. When it becomes necessary to feed the bees he is distracted by the advocates of dry- sugar feeding on the one hand and syrup-feeding on the other. However much they may differ in other matters, all bee-keepers will agree that bee-keeping is a most fascinating pursuit. An old French writer, Be Gdlieu, once remarked that he had never met a bee-keeper who loved his bees moderately, they were all enthusiastic devotees. Certain it is that a beehive i3 a little kingdom filled with the most astonishing marvels. The study of it is endless. If it is a source of pride and of gain to its possessor, it is above all a wonder of wonders to the naturalist. So exquisite is the mechanism of a bee's organs and muscles, so varied and complicated, so mysterious and well-nigh inexplicable are its instincts, and so faithfully and beautifully does it perform its appointed work, that we can think of no branch of science the study of which is better calculated to arouse an inquirer to enthusiasm. — Good Words for May. &i\m from % Hitos. Appleby, Doncaster, May Is?.— This ought to be the beginning of the bee's spring, with the thermometer at 50J by breakfast time ; but no, the wind is very high, and so it has been bad weather of some kind the whole winter. In consequence I have scarcely seen my workers out, and knowing that I added driven bees to my stock somewhat late last year, I expected, as has proved true, that I should have blanks in my rows. I only looked through the hives a few days ago, and found plenty of food, but in no case more than two patches of brood, the size of the palm of your hand. Curiously the best and strongest hive consisted of one packed away in the worst manner. It was late aud I put a lot of driven bees into a Carter's seed-box, \ inch thick of wood only, holding six frames, placing a poor old quilt and tick over, and spare roof by way of an umbrella. Another also in an inner box of a Cowan hive, barely quilted and roof stuck over, is at least as good as any if not better, although in extra strong hives. So I lose faith in double walls and chaff packing, thinking a good, dry, taut hive will do as well as a better! The two hives I lost were the only ones I have on the right-angled system, and I have never had bees do so well as in the parallel style. I fear we shall, with difficulty, build up our stocks for the white clover, unless it, like the whole chapter, be late too. My best hive last year was a Cowan piled up, and to try every recommendation I kept the old brood nest at the top, thinking, as written in the Journal, that the queen would descend ; but no, she stopped at the top, never leaving the original box to lay. I am much pleased with the wire embedder, figured in the B. B. J, last year, it has saved me many a comb when extracting; in consequence, I advise all to use wire if working for extracted boney.— Eastern Counties. Cottingham, May 7.— Since my last ' Echo ' a great change has come over this part of the bee world. The bees get out every day, or nearly so, and pollen is going in the hives with a 'rush,' eggs are being laid fast, especially by the Carniolans and Italians; and if the bright weather continues, we shall soon be at boiling- point. To-day I examined all my hives, and found combs already whitening at the top, which is the result of a large area of gooseberry bushes near at hand. I received a Carniolau queen on Friday last from Mr. F. Benton, and made up a nucleus for her in the following way ; — Placed three frames in a hive, one of food, one empty, and one brood from a strong stock, on which I caged her majesty in a cage 6 X ,4 X |. I then re- moved a very strong stock of Italians one foot from its position, and placed the nucleus six inches on other side, so that the flying bees got pretty well divided between the two. This morning I released her, and noticed how kindly she was taken to by the bees. To-night, at six o'clock, I took a quiet look again and found the empty frame filled with eggs on both sides, and from end to end. Am trying both, 'right-angle' and 'parallel' hives, aud find, up to now, the brood-nest is the largest in the 'parallel' hives in every case. — Charles Howes. Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, May 7.— The weather here seems to have changed for the best this last few days. The bees are rushing off to the woods and gardens where there are any blossoms for them to rifle, a great contrast to what it was a week ago. Yesterday, though it was a dull day, they were off by thousands, and I might say tens of thousands ; indeed they were May 10, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 243 going so thick and fast that a young man said to me, as he stood looking, that a swarm of bees had passed over him. He seemed rather astonished that they still con- tinued passing and repassing. Though this has been a backward spring, I think bees have progressed very well, and appear to be in good order to take advantage of this favourable change in the weather. — John Walton. Killarney, May 1st. — My bees did very well last year. I got 600 lbs. from ten hives, and only two swarms. I got l.'JO lbs. from my best stock, the queen of which is four years old. From the same hive 1 got 120 lbs. in '85 arid 75 lbs. in '87, which was a very bad year. We have no foreign bees in this locality, and no new blond lias been introduced at this side of the 'flood.' — F. J. M'Donogh. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of issue, g'teries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt oj their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. G. Downer. — lloney. — We do not think so slight- ingly of the honey as you appear to do. Its peculiar flavour is not to us objectionable. There is no dis- agreeable smell about it. The bees no doubt will be glad to have it. It will not in any way be injurious to this 3-ear's crop. Turc Village Blacksmith. — 1. Working Sections.- - Your plan of working sections appears to be a simple one when two bee-way sections are used. With you it would be found easy of practice, but with others the question would be, What is the cost of the hoop- iron frame and the screws ; how are these to be pro- cured byjone who is not a ' village blacksmith ?' 2. Frame for Extracting. — With regard to the frame, something similar has been suggested by Mr. W. B. Carr, of which we hope to hear a report further on. There is no object in using a middle bar unless to steady a fidl sheet of foundation. If a triangular piece of foundation is used as you suggest, the proba- bility is that the lower corners and sides would be filled with drone-comb. E. Clowes. — Bees Deserting Skep. — From particulars given wo should say your bees were unable during a sudden chill to keep up the necessary warmth, con- sequently many deserted, and, joining other hives, so weakened and disheartened the remainder that they swarmed out ; a few of the more loyal bees would be sure to remain with the queen. The queen might, after being in a warm room for an hour or two to get lively, have been introduced to a queenless colony, but the probabilities are she would have proved of little real use. W. liiGDKN. — Doubtful Queens. — We should recom- mend you to unite the two doubtful hives, and if in a week's time you still find the eggs placed irregularly, as detailed by you, remove the queen, introduce a frame of eggs (just hatching) from your other colony on the third day, cut out all queen-cells which may have been commenced on anj* of the old original combs. Repeat on the sixth day if any more have been started on any comb except the one introduced. Destroy all except two on that comb. W. Truslove. — Transferring. — Do this on the very first favourable day. Stimulate gently, but regularly. Sorry to hear of your unsuccessful wintering. Your bees had dwindled owing to the continued bad weather preventing breeding. You did wisely to unite. Better one strong colony than two weak ones. F. W. Pudsey. — Andrena. — The specimen forwarded belongs to the family Andrenidee, of which there are about eighty British species. The specific name of the one sent is Andrena fulva. The specimen is the female ; the male is a small black bee, very different in appearance from the bright, golden-tinted colour of his mate — so dissimilar, indeed, are they that ento- mologists at one time were very doubtful as to their relationship, but by observation of them in their burrows this was satisfactorily established. These bees appear in great numbers about the time of the apple-blo isoius. After a time the fulvous pubescence, through exposure to tho atmosphere, wears off, and the female's colour fades into a pale yellow, and that of the male into a dull gray. They burrow in the earth, their tunnels varying from five to six inches in depth. The architecture of their cells, and their pro- vision for their young, are an interesting study. E. II. L vttt. — The name of bee forwarded U Melecta armata. II. .'. S. — 1. Excluder zinc. — In our pamphlet on Doubling and Storifying we say, ' We have long .-ince discon- tinued the employing excluder-zinc, OS we have found that it interfered with the work of the bees, and that we always got much more honey without its use than with it.' 2. Allow not less than a quarter of an inch, and not more than three eighths, between rack and frames. Received from Mr. C. Hedshaw, South Wigston, Leicester, his Catilogue of Hives and Bee-keepers' Appliances (20 pages). This catalogue is a well-assorted lietof the various appliances required by the bee-keeper. Our attention was especially drawn to a very simple wax-extractor, with directions for use ; also to a suitable exhibition section case for shows, grocers' shops, &c. With the catalogue we received a sample of Mr. Eedshaw's honey labels, which are neat and effective. Received, the schedule of prizes for the fifth annual show to be held at the Market Place, Aberdare, on Thursday, August 16th. Correction. — We omitted to state that the letter on ' Honey,' p. 215, was taken from the Bee-keeper's Magazine. Several replies are postponed till next ireek. pgusiness ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCE8. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hdtchinqs, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. 244 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 10, 1888. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Sisimins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H, Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kekt * Oo., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained o£ all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents :— ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDRETJ, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Briatol. BAKER, W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. ' BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford, EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. S°if V J- R- J^-i Ttt«ington, Ledbury, Herefordshire. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. ' OVERTON C. T„ Crawley, Sussex. 5F.R? H.A V > c' canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J„ Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKQT, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London: and at all Rail. way Bookstalls. WITHLNSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the renowned C. F. H. Gravenhorst, Brunswick. DEUTSCHE ILLUSTRIERTE BIENENZEITDNG. Sample copies sent on request. Also, ' DEB PRAKTISCHE IMKER.' Compendium of Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst. Fourth en- larged and improved edition, with fifty-two new original Pictures, and a frontispiece. Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched ; well bound, 5 marks. C. A; Schwetschke & Son (M, Brum), Brunswick, SPECIAL NOTICE. A large Stock of HIVES and APPLIANCES READY FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY. CATALOGTJE POST IFIR-IEIE. HENRY F. ROW, Steam-power Hive Factory, BRAID-TREE, ESSEX. THE SOLID WOOD FEEDER Is made on the principle of the ordinary Tin Feeder, but Wood being substituted for the objectionable Metal is more conducive to the comfort of the Bees, and does not rust or corrode. Price, post free, 2/-. Address — J. J. RICE, 16 Wensum Street, NORWICH. We have a large Consignment of 4Jx4J,lJ, If, and 2"; either with two or four bee-ways. Apply early to Lowfield, Crawley, Sussex. SIMMINS BEE COMPANY LIMITED. The YORKSHIRE Bee-keepers' Supplies. FOUNDATION, FEE DEBS, SMOKERS, fyc. Sri: WM. DIXON, 5 Beckett Street, Leeds.A axa PUBLICATIONS OF THE BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATING BEE-CULTURE and the Eelation of Bees to Flowers. Drawn by Frank B. Cheshire, F.R.M.S. Approved and recom- mended by the Science and Art Department. 8s. per set. MODERN BEE-KEEPING. An Illustrated Hand- book for Cottagers. Forty-fourth Thousand, con- siderably enlarged and revised. The soundness of its information, the simplicity of its instruction, combined with cheapness, make this Handbook invaluable to all intending Bee-keepers. Price Id,., post free. WINTERING BEES. By Thomas W. Cowan. The most complete work on the subject of Wintering published. Third Edition. Price 3d. BEE-HIVES AND HOUSES. By the Rev, George Baynor. Second Edition (enlarged). Price 6d. QUEEN INTRODUCTION. The Ligurian Queen Bee and her Introduction to Alien Stocks. By the Rev. George Raynor. Second Edition, enlarged and fully Illustrated with engravings of the various Cages in use. Contains full descriptions of the different methods practised in this and other countries by Chloroform, Caging, Direct Introduction, Ac. Price 3d. , post free 3Jd, THE MANAGEMENT OF STRAW SKEPS. Designed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best results at the least possible cost. By attention to its teachings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more profitable source of income than hitherto Price Id. Ditto in Welsh, 1<(. Per dozen, 9A placing excluder- zinc over the hole. We should prefer transferring them to a bar-frame hive as the more profitable plan. Rip Van W. — Queen thrown out. — We should say your bees have superseded the old queen. We would advise you to make an early examination to ascertain if worker brood is being raised. This is in case the queen may have missed fertilisation. Amateur. — Dead Queen. — This was so smashed on arrival that noopinion can be given. (See reply to ' Rip ' above.) H. J. Savory.— 1. Wax-moth. — The 'maggot' for- warded is not the larva of the wax-moth. It must have dropped from an overhanging tree. If you should see the larvae of the wax-moth, you must promptly destroy them either by crushing them, or, if they are wriggling out of the comb, by pricking them out with a pen-knife. 2. Casting out Brood. — Casting out brood al this time of the year indicates either the want of food, or, it may be, the removal of brood that has become chilled. ^Business directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenohurch St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C. , 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin, Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. EL, Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keefers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H. , Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godman, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Keht & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDET & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington. Ledbury, Herefordshire. McNALLT, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM. M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON, C. T., Crawley, Sussex. REDSHAW, c, Canal St., South Wlgston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKLN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHLNSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the renowned C. F. H. Gravenhorst, Brunswick. DEUTSCHE ILLDSTRIERTE BIENENZEITUNG. Sample copies sent on request. Also, ' DER PRAKTISCHE IMKER.' Compendium ol Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst. Fourth en- larged and improved edition, with fifty-two new original Pictures, and a frontispiece. Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched; well bound, 5 marks. C. A. Schwetschkb & Son (M. Bruhn), Brunswick, ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 17, 1888. W. IB. BAEEE, MUSKHAM WORKS, NEWARK. OUR NOTED 1 A HIVE. Contains all necessary Fittings, Price 10/6 As originally made by this Firm, and Advertised for several Seasons. Brood Foundation. Super Foundation. Wired Foundation. Smokers, Clark's or Bingham. Carbolic Fumigators. Hives, of various Patterns Metal Ends, [and Prices. If with six sheets of Foundation in Frames, and Foundation in Sections, ready to receive a Swarm, Price 14/6 Too well known to need description. Sections. Feeders, in great variety. The 1/- Bottle Feeder. Honey Bottles. Extractors. Wax Extractors. Wicker Covers for Honey Bottles. Sting-proof Gloves. Bee Veils. Sting Lotion. Section Holders. Comb Cans. Honey Labels. Uncapping Knives. Straw Skeps. N.B.— DO Ten-Frame HIVES for Sale, quite new, 6/6, 2 for 12/-, 3 for 17/- 40 Strong Stocks in Bar-frame Hives for Sale, SB- WRITE FOE CATALOQITE. "S» ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦•■:•*♦♦♦♦♦♦•♦#♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ 'SXZUE ICIT HIVE. Registered No. 1)8332. In placing this Hive before the public I venture to say that it is one of the most simple and practical yet brought out, and possesses many advantages over the ordinary Bar-frame Hive. The Floor-board is hinged to the back of the Hive as shown in Fig. 2, and, when in position, is supported by a simple bar of wood across the centre, held in its place by two cleats. The Moor-board, as will be seen, can be let down in an instant with the least possible trouble, and as quickly replaced, completely doing away with any difficulty in cleaning, &c. — a great ad- vantage. The outside walls fall U ins. below the floor-board all round, thus ensuring freedom. from damp, as it is absolutely impossible for rain to drive into the Hive. The entrance to the Hive is through a slit cut in the floor -board about 4 ins. from the front wall, and the alighting board being directly underneath is protected from wind and bad weather, and is always dry. The bottom bar of the third frame from front wall hangs just over the entrance slit, thereby preventing any direct upward draught into the cluster. By means of a metal slide the entrance can be contracted in winter, or in the case of robbing. There are no projecting pieces on the Hive, such as alighting boards, porches, &c, to get broken in transit. Price 10/-. Pitted for a Swarm, as No. la, 14/-. A reduction allowed if three or more Hives are ordered. No. 1 B. Fig 1. Fig. 2. =2^ Registered No. 98331. The Hive contains nine frames, Standard size, with metal ends ; oua dummy ; one quilt ; has a stout body made of sound red deal ; is double walled, and grooved, and has a water groove down each side underneath to exclude wet. The floor-board is hinged, and can by removing two screws be let down for cleansing purposes. There are also a good landing board and two entrance contractors. Price — Body, Frames, and Roof, 5/-. The rim shown between body and cover is made to drop exactly on to the body, and is kept in position by a block at each corner. It is for the purpose of carrying a section crate of twenty-one 1-lb. sections, and thus the whole form a complete and compact Hive. The rim and section crate can be had for 2/6 extra, making the complete Hive 7/6. Six of the frames can be fitted with half sheets of brood foundation for 1/-. Customers buying the above Hive at 5/-, can at any time obtain the rim and super when wishing to raise section. They are all made to a size, and a fit is guaranteed. British THE \ ^A^} Communications to the Editor to be addresied ' Stbanoswatb' Pointing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 309. Vol. XVI.] MAY 24, 1888. [Published Weekly.] Ctriiorial, ^atuts, #t\ THE REV. L. L. LANGSTROTH. There is, perhaps, no man living to whom bee- keepers of the present day owe more than to the Rev. L. L. Langstroth, or, as he is termed by our American friends, ' Father Langstroth.' How often in the progress and development of a science or industry the pioneers, those who were amongst tho first, and who worked the hardest, very soon become forgotten. It is so in bee-keeping ; those who have done the most, and by their exertions have enabled many in the present day to become not only bec- keepersbut successful honey-producers, are forgotten and ignored. But this is not all, for those who have benefited by others' brain efforts and experi- ences are frequently those who do their best to crush them. Do we not find repeatedly that claims are made to inventions and improvements without regard to what has been done before ? Names of inventors, discoverers, and benefactors, are frequently forgotten in the eagerness to benefit at their expense. We might mention numbers of instances at the present day, where inventions are used with but slight alteration, and the users deriving a pecuniary benefit, whilst the originators, to whom the inven- tion cost a large expenditure of brain power, many sleepless nights, and perhaps a large sum of money into the bargain, are completely ignored. We have a most striking instance of this in the case of the Rev. L. L. Langstroth. We do not wish to enter into the question of whether Langstroth, Munn, or any one else, was the first to invent the frame, but what we wish to point out is that Langstroth was the first to make the moveable comb hive a practical success, and by his work, The Hive and Honey Bee, which is still the standard on the subject, he opened up to the world the improved methods of bee- culture, which have led to the enormous success witnessed at the present time. Does every bee- keeper realise that in using a moveable comb hive .he is morally indebted to Mr. Langstroth for the benefit he is deriving from it I And if he does, is he prepared to make some acknowledgment and return for this obligation ? For many years Mr. Langstroth, who is now seventy-seven years of age, has suffered, and only from time to time, and at long intervals, has he been able to take up with his favourite pursuit. We regretted that when we visited America last summer he was not in a condition to see us, and nothing would have given us greater pleasure than to have grasped this veteran's hand aud looked into his benevolent face. Ever devoted to the science he loves so well, according to a friendly letter we received from him a few days ago, he was even then, during a period of convalescence, at the apiary of Mr. Heddon studying the capabilities of the Heddon system. His head troubles have prevented him from earning his living, aud it is because this master of bee-keepers has been robbed of his means of livelihood by some of those who have reaped the benefit of his labours that he is not now, in his old age, in comfortable and independent circumstances. From time to time small sums have been subscribed, and in 1879 ' The Langstroth Fund ' was started in America. In that year Mr. Newman visited England, aud at a meeting of British and Foreign bee-keepers held at our residence in Horsham, a subscription was started which amounted to about 6/. 6s., the whole amount collected here and in America barely reaching 40/. Since that time small sums have been remitted to him, but how out of all proportion is this to the benefits conferred by him on the world ! It is now proposed in America to raise a sum of money in order to pur- chase an annuity, and every bee keeper there will have an opportunity to pay some tribute to his great leader. But why should we stand aloof and do nothing? On another page our correspondent ' Amateur Expert,' in his pathetic appeal, says, ' Let us, as British bee-keepers, give practical expression of brotherly feeling by subscribing to the fund ; it will only stimulate his countrymen to do more, and make the annuity the greater.' These sentiments we heartily approve, and think it the duty of the many who have benefited by Mr. Laugstroth's labours to do something on his behalf, so that this good old man may pass the remainder of his days in comfort, cherished by the thought that there are noble and honest minds on either side of the Atlantic that do appreciate his efforts, aud prove a brotherly love and feeling are ready to recognise them. We shall be pleased to open a subscription list to be called the ' Langstroth Fund,' and earnestly hope that our appeal will be heartily responded to. Let us bear in mind that ' hegiveth twice who gives in a trice.' 258 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May H, 1888. Donations sent to us, or to Mr. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts, will be acknowledged in the B. B. J. , and forwarded to America. The list of contributions is headed : — £ s. d. T. W. Cowan 5 0 0 Geo. Neighbour and Sons 2 10 0 Rev. Geo. Raynor 1 1 0 W. Raitt, Blairgowrie 10 0 ' Amateur Expert' 0 10 0 Geo. Henderson 0 10 0 PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY. Hiving Swarms. The bee-keeper must have hives and all he may re- quire for his swarms in readiness for their reception. If he has decided to have natural swarms, and has made his arrangements accordingly, now is the time when they are usually to be expected. He mast keep a look-out for them, for strong hives will frequently throw a swarm without the usual clustering outside, which is the general outward sign with skeps. The signs of the approach of swarming are the crowded state of the hive, and the presence of drones and queen-cells. The first swarm usually issues between ten o'clock in the morning, and four o'clook in the afternoon on a fine day ; and although we have known swarms occasionally to leave the hive earlier and later, it is not often that they do so. • When bees swarm they will after a short time settle and form a cluster, which will gradually grow in size as the bees join it. A s soon as most of the bees have joined the cluster, we generally sprinkle them with cold water, using for this purpose a garden syringe. This cools them, close clustering is the result and very much facilitates after operations. If they have clustered on a bush near the ground, and the hive be one without legs, they can be hived in the following manner : — Spread a sheet, cloth, or even a large newspaper will do, directly under the cluster on the ground, and at one end of it place the floor-board bringing one end of the sheet over the edge of the board. The object of using the sheet in this way is to prevent the queen and the bees running under the floor-board, which they would be liable to do if the board were stood on the sheet. The prepared hive is then placed on the board and the front raised about In inches by means of a block of wood or a stone placed under the hive. The frames will be placed at right angles to the front of the hive so that the comb-foundation will hang perpen- dicularly; otherwise, if placed parallel to the entrance, the inclination of the hive will cause the foundation to be displaced, when it becomes warm and consequently soft. The front of the hive should be as near as possible to the cluster. Then give the branch on which the bees have clustered a smart jerk so as to dislodge them and cause them to fall on the sheet in front of the hive. In a few seconds the bees will make a start towards the hive, which some of them will enter, and by their joyful hum will let the others know that they have found a suitable dwelling. Their call will be answered by the others following, and nearly all will enter. Like human beings, some will be late, but after a little time the stragglers on the sheet and those flying about will join the rest. If they are a long time in entering the hive a sprinkling with cold water will make them go faster. When the weather is very hot it is as well to shade them with a leafy bough, or a towel-horse with a sheet spread over it will answer the purpose. If the branch is not a valuable one and is small it will sometimes facilitate matters to cut it off ; but be very careful to avoid all jarring. Then shake off all the bees by a sudden jerk in front of the hive. When all the bees are in, give a puff of smoke to drive in the stragglers or those that are fanning; remove the block] and the sheet and carefully lower the hive on to the floor-board. Then carry the hive steadily, place it on the stand it is intended to occupy and adjust it. As we prefer frames at right angles to the entrance, our floor-boards are always arranged to have an inclination towards the front, the hives being set level across the frames. Those who place their frames parallel to the entrance will have to arrange their hives so that they stand per- fectly level. If the bees have clustered on a branch too thick to be cut off or too high to admit of shaking the bees on the ground, they should be first shaken into a skep, box, or pail, and then from this into the hive. Hold the skep bottom upwards in one hand under the cluster, and with the other give the branch a smart shake so as to dislodge the bees into it. They can then be shaken out on to the sheet by inverting the skep and giving it a sudden jerk. Bees do not always settle on a branch, and sometimes choose very awkward places, fre- quently trying the patience of the bee-keeper to secure them. Sometimes they will settle and spread on the trunk of a tree, and in such a case we must either brush them gently into the skep or place its edge near the upper part of the cluster and persuade the bees to ascend into it ; and if a piece of comb containing brood can be placed in the skep it will be more attractive. Occasionally the queen, which accompanies the swarm, will alight on the ground ; and when this happens the bees will also settle with her, and spread out for a considerable distance. In this case put the hive as near the bees as possible, and witli a spoon carefully place some bees near the entrance. With hives on legs, and those too heavy to move, we have only to take the bees in a skep, or, what we think still better for this purpose, a pail, and then introduce them into the hive in the following manner: — Turn up the quilt, push back a division-board, and remove three or four of the frames. The bees are then poured out of the pail into this space and covered over with a quilt. They will not be long before they run in and cluster amongst the other frames, when the division-board can be pushed up into its place. Swarms should always be placed on the stands they are intended to occupy, and the hives adjusted as soon as possible after they have clustered, because as soon as they have found a dwelling they at once commence work and mark the spot where they stand. If left until the evening before they are removed to their stand many bees will have already got used to the spot where they were first hived and will be lost. This, however, does not apply to swarms which have to be sent to a distance. These had better be left where hived until the evening, and when all the bees have settled down quietly they may be taken to their destination and at once hived. In a future article we shall speak of catching swarms and the appliances used for that purpose. May 24, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL 259 USEFUL HINTS. Weather. — After a gentle, refreshing rain we have a day (May 18) of brilliant sunshine, and our bees are wild with excitement, several colonies showing signs of swarming, although doubled, and drones flying in abund- ance. Our supers are not yet on, as we have little fruit bloom from which to gather early surplus honey. Some of our Kentish brethren, we hear, have sections in position which the bees are rapidly filling, but Kent is a county of orchards'and abounds with sainfoin, both pro- ducing early first-class honey. We less favoured apiarists must bide our time, and patiently await the hawthorn and white clover bloom, building up our colonies until they overflow with population, and preventing swarming as best we may by nether ventilation, and getting on our surplus cases ready for action when the good time arrives. Shallow Frames. — Mr. Bobbie, in nis letter (1626), p. 240, makes reference to shallow frames 5| inches deep as advocated by Mr. W. B. Carr and ourselves, and men- tions the fact of Mr. Howard having sent out .'!o,000 shallow frames 6 inches deep, deprecating the establish- ment of a standard of the former depth. Now in Mr. Cheshire's Bees andBee-keepiny (Vol. II. p. Ill) the depth of Mr. Howard's ' Small body-boxes,' as used in his ' Holme Wood Hive,' is stated to be 5g inches, and the small frames used in these boxes are said to have no bottom rail. We do not understand, therefore, this ap- parent discrepancy of using 6-inch frames in 5^ -inch boxes (unless the frames were sent out independently of the boxes), or how Mr. Howard can be said to advocate a shallow frame of 6 inches deep. Weak Colonies.— ' K. M/ (16.34, p. 250) suggests that our plan of strengthening a weak stock at the expense of a strong one by changing positions might result in the production of two moderately weak stocks. No doubt, such might be the case if the exchange were made without thought or foresight. The time of ex- change, the time of the honey-flow, and the fecundity of the queens, must all be taken into account. With a late honey-flow the exchange should be made not later than the end of April ; and the weak colony should be moderately weak only, while the strong one should be very strong. A colony covering two frames only is not worth preserving ; and a strong one, having given its flying bees to a weak one, recuperates more quickly at this season perhaps than ' R. M. supposes, unless he has made the trial. In a former letter ' R. M.' expressed a desire for further information as to the wintering of nuclei. During several winters — notably the last — we have wintered nuclei, both in houses and in the open, successfully and without loss. Each has consisted of three or four frames, well covered with bees, and having sufficient sealed honey for winter store. Our hives contain four frames only — of course, we prefer four to three for wintering — are well made of inch pine, and protected by ample roofs, with quilts, &c, just as our other hives are wintered. Such nuclei, well prepared for winter, with young and prolific queens, will come through the winter better than they would if packed in a ten-frame hive between division-boards. Thus, in fact, we prefer to winter our small ' after-swarms,' and find them most useful when spring arrives for uniting and other purposes. For strengthening a deserving weak colony at the ex- pense of a strong one — for that is the only alternative — many advise, and with reason, to take from the strong one a comb of hatching brood, with adhering bees, to jar it slightly, causing the older bees to take wing and return home, while the young remain on the comb, and then to insert the comb and bees in the centre of the weak colony, at the same time uncapping a little honey around the brood-nest, and removing all other combs which the bees are unable to cover, and finally closing up the division-boards and covering up warmly. The process to be repeated as occasion shall require. In lieu of the frame taken from the strong colony, a frame of clean worker-comb, as new as possible, is inserted in its place, and is quickly filled with eggs. But we again say that if a colony does not possess four frames, well covered with bees at the end of April, it is most advan- tageous to unite it to a moderately strong one. Giving Room in the brood-chamber is now a matter of importance, if we wish to prevent ewarming, with a view to honey-production. During fine and warm weather a frame of nice clean comb may safely be in- serted in the centre of the brood-nest, and may often be done with advantage immediately before putting on the section case. Colonies should be occasionally examined in order to ascertain their wants during the latter por- tion of this month, as the objection to manipulation is less now than in the early spring. By a careful exami- nation in suitable weather, bees now suffer no disad- vantage, and where the desire for pilfering has disap- peared, manipulation may be carried on during the hours of flight, but care should be taken to keep the hive open for as short a time as possible, since the hatching larvae are quickly chilled. 'Giving room,' as recommended above, will bo understood to apply only to colonies which have not yet attained to the maximum of population. Where such is the case, ' crowding' the bees before putting on surplus cases, is generally advised at this early period, but there are so few districts in which early surplus can be gathered, that there is a wide margin for discretion here. In fact, bee-keepers, perhaps more than any other class, must act in accordance with surrounding circumstances. Swarming will no doubt have commenced in southern counties before these words are in print, and all apiaries, whether worked for honey or for increase, should be carefully watched during swarming hours — say from 9 a.m. till '■'• p.m. Apiaries left to themselves often lose swarms -which are never missed by their owner. It must also be borne in mind that some seasons are far more productive of natural swarming than others are. Showery weather, with frequent gleams of sunshine, and a scarcity of honey, are conducive to swarming. A large skep, or pail, a sheet or cloth, a pail of water, a garden syringe, a short ladder, or steps, are all useful aids towards capturing swarms. When the swarm is well out, and soaring aloft, a few well-directed shots from the syringe will generally prevent its departure to some distant pre-selected rendezvous, and prevent its loss. As a rule all swarms settle, and remain a short time, in the neighbourhood of their hive before decamping. But to this, as to all other rules, there are exceptions, and we have often witnessed the departure of a swarm, especially a second swarm, direct from the parent hive, without the slightest delay or settlement. Such swarms usually rise aloft at once, sufficiently high to clear the tops of the tallest trees, and then dart away in a straight line to the selected spot, at a pace very difficult for any biped to maintain. To hive a swarm when settled, having first sprinkled it with water from the syringe, take the skep, mouth up- wards, in the left hand, having the cloth lying across the left arm, and its edge grasped, together with the skep, by the fingers of the left hand, shake the swarm with a good hearty shake, into the skep and cover it quickly with the cloth. Tighten the cloth around the skep mouth, and at once invert the skep in a well-shaded spot, near the place of settlement, and allow it to remain thus for a couple of minutes. Next raise the edge by placing under it three thick wedges, by which it is raised a couple or three inches, all round, from the cloth. Shade well with rhubarb- leaves or green boughs, and sprinkle frequently during the day with water, and at night remove the swarm to its future stand, shaking it out in front of the frame- hive which it is intended to occupy, wedging up the front of the hive, and using the carbolised feather to 260 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 24, 1888. hasten and direct entrance of the bees. By brushing a little carbolic solution on the branch where the swarm settled, stragglers will be prevented from congregating there. If a swarm settles upon a post, a stump, a wall, or similar place, set an empty skep above it, and by the application of carbolic solution, drive it up into the skep by passing the feather repeatedly around the post, close to and beneath the bees, until all are in. The speed with which the bees will run upwards into the skep will astonish a novice in the art. Be careful, however, to allow no smear of carbolic on the skep, or a sudden exodus will follow. Queen-Introduction to the parent hive, after the departure of a first swarm, is easily accomplished by cutting out all queen-cells and caging the new queen for a short time. The Pond Method. — Mr. J. E. Pond, writing to the Canadian Bee Journal (current vol. p. 68) on this subject, gives concisely the method which he has practised successfully for many years, thus : — ' On the afternoon of a fine day, when the bees can fly freely, I remove the old queen, taking care at the time to see that no queen-cells have been started. On the evening of the same day, after the bees have all returned to the hive, I allow the new queen to run in at the entrance of the hive, taking no further precautions. I then allow the hive to remain unexamined for four or five days, except carefully examining the entrance to assure myself that the queen has not been killed and carried out. As yet I have never met with failure, and, so far as I can learn, no failures have resulted with those who have tried the plan by following exactly the method I have briefly outlined. No time is lost in the introduction, which is of considerable importance in the honey- gathering season, or the season preparatory therefor.' Zinc Excluding Honey-Boards. — In the current number of the American Bee Journal (May 2nd), in answer to the query, 538, 'Have you demonstrated in practice that the zinc queen-excluding honey-board is a hindrance to the free passage from the brood-chamber to the supers ? In other words, Have you found any difference in the quantity of honey stored where such boards were used ?' The answers given were fifteen in number. Of these, ten are highly in favour of the zinc excluder. Of the remaining five, three report that they have not sufficient experience to give a decisive answer ; on?, Mr. Ilambaugh, says that he ' has not experimented largely, but he thinks there was a difference ;' and the fifth, Mr. Brown, states that ' the disadvantages over- balance the advantages.' The ten approvers are Pro- fessor Cook, Mrs. Harrison, Messrs. Mason, Eugene Secor, Doolittle, Heddon, Taylor, Pond, Demaree, and Newman (the Editor). Mr. Heddon writes: — 'I have demonstrated, by the use of several hundreds of them, and for three years, that they are not a hindrance.' Mr. Taylor says : — ' I had several colonies with excluding honey-boards that stored more surplus honey than any colony which did not have them.' Mr. Pond states : — ' I have satisfied myself that they are a great advantage. I do not find that less stores are secured when zinc excluders are used.' Mr. Demaree says : — ' The per- forated excluder is a success ;' and the Editor remarks : — ' The zinc queen-excluders are no hindrance to the bees.' This is important testimony, and we hope some of our leading English bee-keepers will make trial of these honey-boards during the coming season, and report thereon. ASSOCIATIONS. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The usual monthly meeting of the Committee was held on the 17th inst. Present, the Bev. Geo. Raynor (in the chair), the Bev. Br. Bartrum, the Ilev. F. S. Sclater, Rev. R. Errington, H. Jonas, J. M. Hooker, and the secretary. The minutes of the last committee meeting were read and confirmed. The consideration of amendments in regard to the mode of conducting examination of candidates for third- class certificates was under discussion, and various sug- gestions in reference thereto were considered. It was resolved, that a special sub-committee, consisting of the Rev. Geo. Raynor, Mr. Hooker, Rev. F. S. Sclater, and Dr. Bartrum, be appointed to consider and report on the proposed amendments, and that the secretary do prepare a tabulated statement of the examinations which have been held under the present rules. The secretary re- ported that upwards of 230 entries had been made for the bee department of the Roj'al Agricultural Show, to be held at Nottingham. The several arrangements for this exhibition having been considered, the meeting resolved itself into The Quarterly Conference. There were present the following County Representa- tives, namely, C. H. Haynes, Worcester ; W. Rushton, Bedford; J. P. Sambels, Herts; Rev. W. E. Burkitt, Wilts; W. Lees McClure, Lancashire and Cheshire; J. Garratt and F. Cudd, Kent ; W. B. Webster, Berk- shire ; F. II. Meggy, Essex. The minutes of tho last Quarterly Conference were read and confirmed. In reference to the proposed amendments for conducting third-class examinations, the Chairman reported that a special committee had been appointed to consider the question and to report at the next meeting of the General Committee. The sug- gestions already sent in to the Committee on this sub- ject were calculated to strengthen the present system adopted, more especially in regard to the knowledge of the candidate in reference to foul brood. On this point the Chairman mentioned the fact that recently some candidates competing for the higher honours in the ex- aminations had never met with a case in their lives. They, however, possessed a good general knowledge of apiculture. Mr. Meggy was of opinion that there were many good experts who were not thoroughly acquainted with the subject of foul brood, and that if candidates wore ex- pected to have an intimate knowledge of this subject he feared that many might be found who would fail to satisfy the examiner in this respect, and yet be good sound practical bee-keepers and thoroughly competent to teach others how to manage an apiary. Mr. Sambels sup- ported the views of Mr. Meggy, he thought it would be very hard upon the candidate who showed a good general knowledge of bee-keeping to he plucked in his examina- tion simply because he had never met with a case of foul brood. Providing the candidate showed a knowledge of the subject and how it should be treated, he considered that Lis certificate should be granted. A discussion ensued in regard to the regulation for catching the queen in these examinations. Mr. Garratt considered that the queen should be pointed out when ascending even if she were not caught. Circumstances might prevent the candidate from actually handling the queen without injury, and if the examiner's attention were called to the fact and noted by him tins might be considered sufficient. The meeting was generally of opinion that if the candi- date failed either to catch or point out the queen, the ex- aminer should take some trouble to ascertain whether the queen was present and if not to make allowance to the candidate accordingly. The Chairman promised that the suggestions given by the county representatives and others on this subject should have every consideration. Mr. McClure reported that the subject of the prizes offered at county shows, which were open to members of the British Bee-keepers' Association only, had been considered by the county representatives at their pre- liminary meeting. The following resolution in reference thereto having been passed — viz., ' That the exhibitors May 24, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 261 competing for these prizes should be members of the county Association where the show was held, in addition to being members of the Central Society ' — the Secretary read the minutes of the Quarterly Conference held in July last year, from which it was gathered that the regulations made in regard to these prizes were considered and approved by the county representatives. Mr. Garratt suggested that it would be well to modify these regulations, so as to include the members of all county associations, similar to the rule of the Bee De- partment of the Royal Agricultural Show. At the time the regulation was made the impression prevailed that at some future time man}' of the present county Associa- tions distinctions would cease, and that it was verydesir- able to strengthen the Central Society as much as possible. Mr. McClure was of opinion that the present arrange- ment was calculated to draw off the exhibiting members from the County Associations, and he considered that it was very desirable to retain these members in theCounty Associations, whilst the larger county gentlemen sub- scribing their guinea annually might be handed over to the Central Society. The Lancashire and Cheshire Association would most certainly work to this end. lie hoped next year that the Central Society would increase their grant under this head very considerably and under more suitable regulations. The Chairman pointed out the amount granted for the purpose must depend ujk in the Central Society's income. If the County Associations would act on the lines laid down by Mr McClure, then the Central body would be in a position to do more for the Counties. CoNVEnSAZIONE. The Rev. G. Raynor, upon being elected chairman, expressed his regret that a county representative had not been chosen to fulhi such duty. However, he accepted the office with pleasure, and hoped there would be an interesting and instructive discussion. There were several appliances and inventions for inspection, but the proceedings would commence with the reading of a paper by Mr. Sambels, entitled, ' The Future of County Associations.' Mr. Sambels apologised for the hasty way in which his paper had been prepared. He thought the subject would be an interesting one for discussion, but had not decided to commit it to writing until that very day. He then read as follows : — The subject of the future of our county associations is one that is occupying the minds at the present time of most of us who are interested in them. The question that re- quires answering seems to be — Have they attained the ends for which they were established? Is their work done ? Is there any object to be gained in continuing their existence ? They were established, as all are aware, to make for bee-keeping a fit and proper status as a national industry, and to especially benefit the agri- cultural labourer. These are objects in common with our august parent the British, and, of course, the affiliated associations have brought bee- keeping home to the doors of the cottager in a way that the British never could ; but my observation of Hodge and his suscep- tibilities to be benefited in the way of what you can teach him towards helping himself leads me to the conclusion that the philanthropic work of our county associations must in the main — I say in the main — be dropped, and if we continue these organizations in the future, it must be chiefly for their commercial importance. De- pression is everywhere complained of, but chiefly in the rural districts. The clergy complain, and justly, tithes are low and increasingly difficult to collect ; the landowner complains, too, rents are lower even than tithes. Settled incomes are and have been di- minishing, consequently everyone is looking around for opportunities of reducing their expenses, and in many cases the subscription to the bee-keeping associations bas to go. Moreover, the idea that if you invested in the best hive and a colon}' of the best bees — which in most cases were the greatest novelty and the race known least about — and set them down in your garden, they not only looked pretty, but a return of 100 per cent per annum was assured, is exploded ; as also is the other — that bees are as harmless as flies. The truth is out. Bees have stings, and some people have unhappy ways of handling bees to induce them to show their stinging powers ; and I know of few easier ways of losing money than for a slipshod person who is not methodical and who does not pay due regard to details to invest in bees, and persist in trying the newest inventions in spite of repeated failures. The last three years have seen the loss of most of the above class from our associations as well as a large number of subscribers who supported us in our endea- vours to benefit the labourer. This brings me to 'Hodge' again. There are not a few agricultural labourers who are good bee-keepers and are making money by their bees. We have the wife of one in the Association of my adopted county that comes to my mind at once. But these are exceptions. As a rule, they have not the money to invest. If you set them up most of them are too slow to learn to help them- selves, and their ideas so centre around the old straw shop with its small returns and simple methods of management that very many of them slip back into the old method, only allowing an advanced man to 1 drive ' their condemned bees, instead of calling in the old barbarous sulphur-pit. We in Herts did at one time succeed in getting large numbers of such to subscribe Is. per annum, but they are dropping off; and nothing seems to induce them to continue to sub- scribe, and so we are even better off, financially, by their withdrawing, however much we desired to retain them. Then, again, the novelty of the thing to the general public is gone. The bee-tent has long ceased to be a source of profit to us. Everybody has seen what can be done by the expert, and has failed to repeat the operations so successfully themselves with their own bees in their own gardens. Shows, again, are a source of deficit to us ; they are not of sufficient general interest to draw a crowd, and no, or at least few, horticultural societies care to amalgamate with us, as the}' will get just as much gate-money without us as with us. Then you argue that our associations have done their work, and are of no further practical utility ? No ! On the contrary, I argue they can be made of very great service to bee-keeping in the future ; and I would call your attention to the fact that bee-keepers' associations are being largely increased and extended on the other side of the Atlantic, both in Canada and the States. But they will consist almost exclusively of people who make bee-keeping pay, and are more what our Transatlantic cousius call ' Specialists,' and they must in future be conducted on lines more suitable to the altered position of things. In place of the one large organization em- bracing the whole county with a large central committee with its members living thirty or forty miles apart, we must have something more compact. The county must be divided into districts, and instead of spending a lot of money on the expert's tour and the circulation of the Journal, each individual member must subscribe to the B.B.J, or Adviser privately if he wants it, and the districts must hold frequent conferences. "We are nothing if not fraternizing. And what even would the British be to us but for these quarterly conversaziones ? Each district must have control of its own funds, a small committee and a secretary, who will find his own smaller area quite as much as he will care to look after, and then a general committee formed from the most enthu- siastic members of each district for special purposes, with jierhaps a paid county secretary, and the organiza- tion is complete. From henceforth only the real honey- 262 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 24, 1888. getters will care to belong to it, because the meetings will only be of interest or profit to them, except they be lovers of natural history. Then again, we ought to increase our efforts to get bee-keeping recognised as a legitimate branch of agriculture. The Royal and other larger societies may well be copied by many of the county agricultural societies, and as many of them have sub-committees for poultry, butter-making, &c, so they may well add another for bee-keeping. I am sure if this was pressed upon our vice-presidents, who, as a rule, are large subscribers to agricultural societies, they would see the wisdom of the proposal, and bring their influence to bear in this direction to the benefit of both agriculture and apiculture. I am especially sorry to raise this question now, because I fear those counties that have not been suffi- ciently worked will use it as an excuse for relaxing their efforts. We want the whole ground covered and worked by the expert and the bee-tent, that will find out the bee- keepers that are really worth their salt, and bring them together for future mutual edificatim and profit; but without this 1 fear in some parts the sulphur-pit will still reign. Whatever comes, I believe the British will not suffer. Having fairly established Apiculture throughout the kingdom as a national industry it will ever be her part as parent to guide and control every- where. To open up new fields, to advance the scientific aspect especially, and when necessary, to claim, protect, and watch over our interest in the legislature and the schools. The counties were always a source of outlay to her, not of profit, and if the affiliated associations were dissolved to-morrow many of their best members would at once join the British, who would thus be swelled by the ablest and best of the county bee-keepers, and would continue to pursue its course of usefulness with even greater dignity and lustre. I have been induced to put these few remarks together since I came to town this morning, in hopes that it may raise a discussion on a subject which has not only been under serious consider- ation in Hertfordshire, but I find is also being considered by many others in various parts of the country. The Chairman thanked Mr. Sambels for his able paper, which bore traces of careful thought, although produced hurriedly. Many points therein were of great importance, and well worthy of consideration. Mr. Oarratt thought it was not a little curious that the views expressed in the paper came from the County of Hertford — the first county to form an association, or, at any rate, the first to achieve any prominence under the able and energetic guidance of the late Mr. Peel. As an impromptu effort he considered Mr. Sambels' paper very praiseworthy. He had for some time past endeavoured to form a definite idea as to what the immediate future of County Associations would be. In reading the B. B. J., one could not but discern the notes which had been sounded in different counties, and those were indicative of a diminished interest on the part of not only the officials and managers, but also of the general body of supporters and of the public in general. While that feeling existed it would do much to lessen the efforts and reduce the enthusiasm of those who had the interests of the Association in their keeping. Some counties wero in a flourishing condition, but the bulk were not so. Some of the counties which had been foremost in the movement had disappeared from the field entirely, which fact compelled him to admit that Mr. Sambels' paper raised a subject which was ripe for discussion. In his own county of Kent, a periodical meeting of the Committee or Council had been sum- moned for the purpose of deciding upon the advisability of holding an annual show. No member attended the meeting, nor was a single response to the summons received. Under such circumstances the Secretary and Treasurer could not assume the responsibility of any action in the matter. That state of things was ex- tremely regrettable, nevertheless it was too significant to be ignored. It would be a good arrangement if the district branches could by some means be maintained as units, and be held together in the different counties by some simple tie. Mr. Webster trusted they were not officiating at the obsequies of bee-keeping in England. He attributed the failure or success of the county Associations to the apathy or energy of the executive officers thereof. Some secretaries made light of obstacles and difficulties, which they always surmounted, and in such cases the counties prospered. He knew of one such secretary who had obtained no less than thirty-two members that year. His own county of Berks had not been ex- haustively worked, nevertheless it was fairly successful. The old custom of bee-driving and catching the queen in the bee tent was out of date, and something new must be substituted in order to maintain public interest. The counties should be divided into districts, and small periodical conversazioni held in each locality, when matters of interest relating to apiculture could be dis- cussed and appliances shown and examined. Mr. Slade dissented entirely from the desponding opinions expressed by Mr. Sambels. In his own county of Gloucestershire, interest in bee-keeping was kept up by means of district branches, which were all allowed the privilege of home rule, and were therefore satisfied. At Wotton-under-edge the subject was not permitted to languish, for a monthly meeting was held throughout the winter. In Gloucestershire bee-keeping was a profitable investment, as many of the cottagers could testify. Mr. Meggy said, as secretary to a neighbouring county to that of Mr. Sambels, he was much surprised to hear the doleful account emanating from Herts. He had always looked upon Herts as the pattern county, and had endeavoured to follow its example, especially in the matter of one shilling subscriptions from labourers. He could not endorse Mr. Sambels views. The fact that the labourers were not willing to reap the advantages they might from the County Associations proved that it was necessary to work among them more persistently and educate them. Neither could he allow that shows and bee-tents were played out. In his own county the bee-tent did not pay financially, but there was no lack of interest in it when manipulations were exhibited free of charge. He thought efforts should more generally be made to hold shows in connexion with the County Agricultural Associations, and he prided himself on managing to obtain a good show in Essex for an ex- penditure of not more than 2/. or 3/. On the question of committees, he quite endorsed the remarks of Mr. Garratt as to the difficulty of securing a meeting. No doubt the work mainly depended on one individual ; the Secretary should not fail in his duty if the Committee did. If the plan proposed of allowing district branches to carry out their own work in their own way came into force, he could only say that the duties of a County Secretary would be considerably lightened. As regarded Essex, he felt sanguine of continued success. Mr. Sambels said in reference to the remarks of pre- ceding speakers that the Associations represented by those gentlemen were about three years behind the Herts Association. About three years ago the latter Association was flourishing, new members entering its ranks in great numbers. Then the institution was new and popular, but as time went on there was a difficulty in keeping up the interest. Nevertheless, the Herts Association had worked hard. It was the first to map the county out into districts, and appoint a secretary and local advisers. The latter were instituted at the suggestion of the late Mr. Jenyns. Then, as to the Secretary, it was not possible to find a more energetic one than the Rev. Mr. Seager. That gentleman had actually spent May 24, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 263 one summer holiday in his dogcart visiting every bee- keeper in the county. Every parish in which it was Eossible to give a lecture had been lectured in. Not only ad the bee-tent been shown free of charge in all local flower shows, but it had been exhibited on gentlemen's lawns, and the mysteries of the bee-hive explained over and over again to labourers invited there for that purpose. The subject had also been worked through the Natural History Society. He had known cottage bee-keepers, who were full of enthusiasm at first with the bar-frame hive afterwards go back to the straw skep. He did not think the rule of county Associations was played out ; nevertheless, he could not help believing that in future these bodies must be worked on different principles. Recent experience in Herts showed that, except in the case of enthusiastic persons, it was difficult to obtain attendances at quarterly conferences held for the pur- pose of mutual education. In the United States and Canada matters were different. There the Associations did not work from any philanthropic motives — it was entirely a matter of dollars and cents; but they contrived to keep up the interest in bee-keeping by treating^ the subject entirely from a commercial point of view. They held periodical meetings, and mutually encouraged one another. He did not wish it to be supposed that Hert- fordshire would relax its efforts ; the executive would always be glad to assist any one in the county to learn apiculture, and do its best to promote the same. They had been considering a scheme of management by which the district branches would be allowed control of their own affairs, and be permitted to appoint one — and in populous districts two — members to act on a Central Committee, which would work for the benefit of the whole county. The local Agricultural Society had not given them unstinted support, and they were determined during the present year to press on that Society the im- portance of bee-keeping as a recreation and means of livelihood for the agricultural labourer. Mr. McClure was sorry to hear the unsatisfactory ac- count of Mr. Sambels. In his (the speaker's) own county (Lancashire) not much had been done up to the present. That county was rather too large to be conducted on the same principles as Herts, and lie would be glad to hear what plan of action Mr. Sambels would recommend for Lancashire. They had had applications from six dis- tricts, which had not even seen a bee-tent. Their local Agricultural Society had asked them to write a paper for insertion in the journal published by that body, and appeared willing to render every assistance. Mr. Sambels said the district of Herts in which he resided comprised eight or ten parishes. The local secre- tary lived in the town of Hertford, and his business caused him to travel over a considerable portion of the country once, and sometimes twice, a-week. Kuowing all the bee-keepers individually, he seldom passed any by in his journeys without calling on them. Thus he kept himself in touch with them ; and besides that he never lost an opportunity of urging clergymen to give facilities for lectures in their parishes during the winter months, and the exhibition of the bee-tent in their grounds during springtime. Many of the lectures he (the speaker) had given, often driving seven, eight, and even ten miles to carry out such work, sometimes jour- neying through deep snow for the purpose. Quarterly conferences had been regularly held, at which all local bee-keepers were invited to come and bring their appli- ances, no matter how simple and primitive these might be. At one of the meetings referred to the Canadian gentlemen were good enough to be present, much to the satisfaction of the crowded audience which assembled in the schoolroom at Hertford. He recommended Mr. McClure to adopt some measures of the kind he had indicated. Mr. Slade said his county had only one tent, and would be glad of more. He argued that bee-keeping was a prosperous undertaking, and, in fact, paid much better than most businesses ; therefore he could not understand the doleful view taken by Mr. Sambels. Mr. Sambels said that Mr. Peel, who was a far-seeing man, shortly before his death, remarked, ' The bee-tent jn Herts has had its day ; sell it, and use the money for other purposes.' Mr. Meggy said that in Essex they considered it best to send the expert to every bee-keeper twice a-year. He believed that for cottagers it was better to introduce a modern skep than the bar-frame hive. He thought it would be impossible to advance much further with the labourer until bee-keeping was made a subject of educa- tion in elementary schools. Mr.'Garratt, while admitting the force of Mr. Sambels' remarks, advocated continuous eudeavours to popularise bee-keeping. Nevertheless, the experiences of that even- ing should teach them that the work could not be carried out exactly on the old lines. Mr. Sambels said he had entered on the subject with great reluctance, although convinced the difficulties he had alluded to would have to be faced by all of the Associations sooner or later. He trusted that his re- marks would tend towards increased and judicious energy rather than desponding apathy. The Chairman thanked Mr. Sambels for the infor- mation he had supplied respecting the management of county Associations. Mr. Webster's remark about individualism they would all endorse, but the difficulty was to find in each county the required individual. He could bear testimony to the energy of Mr. Meggy, who had done a great work in Essex for the County Associa- tion. He had let the Agricultural Society have no rest until they supported the movement in favour of bee- keeping. He was glad to see that Mr. Jesse Collings was about to introduce a new bill into Parliament which, if passed, would, from an educational point of view, advanco the interests of bee-keeping. He quite agreed with those who thought that the driving of bees in the bee tent and catching the queen was out of date. He thought the frame-hive had not been sufficiently introduced to cottagers. It needed more explanation and demon- stration in the methods of handling and manipulating. Interest would not flag among the cottagers if an expert were to visit them twice a-year for that purpose. Mr. T. Lowth, of Brunt Broughton, Newark, Notts, exhibited his ' Lowth's Unique Extractor.' This extractor is specially made for the purpose of extracting honey from the comb made in unshapely, unfinished, and unsaleable one-pound sections. The machine will be found handy for extracting honey for exhibition purposes, the honey being easily ejected from delicate comb without a risk of damage in breakage, and with a minimum of waste, the quality and brilliancy of the honey being preserved. 264 THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 24, 1888. Bee-keepers with small apiaries, who work on the section principle, will find this extractor desirable. The machine is provided with three extra cases for the purpose of holding comb honey to be extracted other than that of sections. The extractor can also be adapted for the reception of two-pound sections. The illustration will furnish au explanation of its mode of working. The workmanship of Mr.Lowth's extractor was highly applauded, but it was thought that the work it could do could also be effected by the larger extractors. Mr. Webster showed his new method of fastening whole sheets of foundation into sections. This is done with the aid of a specially made block. Three sides of the section are in halves, so that when folded the fourth side acta as a hinge or joint to a pair of jaws formed by the other three sides, these jaws being opened by the thumb and forefinger of one hand, a sheet of foundation is dropped in with the other, the section is then placed in the block, which keeps it perfectly square, a lever pressed to shut the jaws close together, which fastens the foundation very securely. We think quite secure enough for the purpo-e wanted, but Mr. Webster pushes two little tin staples into the section. This renders the section a deal more rigid, and the foundation more secure than any means that we have at present seen adopted. This invention was much approved of by those present. Mr. James Ross, ; of Stranraer, N. B., exhibited an improved Feeder. This feeder is of wood, and therefore is not so susceptible of changes of the atmosphere as glass or metal. It has no corners into which the bees have no access, and therefore they clean out thoroughly. It can be shut against bees entering without removing it, and it can be easily filled while on the hive. Mr. W. II. Jenkins exhibited his Reversible Section- crate, for which he claims the following advantages : — That sections can be quickly inverted and reversed. A finished section can be taken out and replaced by an empty one in a few minutes ; the state of the sections can be ascertained and the whole crate cleared without taking it off the hive, with no jarring, and with far less disturbance of the bees than with the ordinary section- crate. There is a bee space left at the ends, sides, and between the rows, so that bees can pass to the upper crate without having to walk over the lower sections and soil them. They also offer a safe means for transit, sections being kept clear of the sides of the travelling box by the projecting edges of the holders. The Rev. G. Raynor exhibited some sections of honey which had been built by the bees without the aid of separators. The sections were particularly fine speci- mens, being perfectly straight and even. Air. McClure moved, and Mr. Hooker seconded, a vote of thanks to the Chairman, who briefly acknow- ledged the compliment, and the proceedings closed. EBOR BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. A meeting was held at the Commercial College, York, on Friday, May 11, the Rev. J. Hodgkinson in the chair, when the ' Ebor Bee-keepers' Association ' was started. Mr. Samuel Peel was appointed Secretary and Treasurer. A few resolutions were passed relating to subscriptions, and it was also decided to hold a honey fair in the autumn, when it is proposed to offer prizes to the members of the Ebor B.K.A. for honey exhibited in its various forms. Mr. Jemeison has kindly consented to act as travelling expert to the Association. €axx£8$ariiimtt. 'FATHER' LANGSTROTH. [1642.] Dear Editor, you have given us in last week's Journal the long letter in defence of the poor drone, from the pen of the one whom ' all the States own.' Blood is thicker than water, and the whole Anglo- Saxon race is one people, moreover ' one touch of Nature makes the whole world kin.' The dear old man has been afflicted, and with the saddest of all sorrows — head trouble. He is so far restored as to be able to write what you gave us last week, but as an actual fact he is past work in the way of bread-winning. He has been defrauded of the results of his brains by his fellow bee-brethren from lack of power to defend his rights, and being worn out and in poverty they have decided to buy him a small annuity. Surely we can endorse the sublime words of C. Mackay : — ' I'love you, if your thoughts are pure ; What signifies your poverty, If you can struggle and endure ? 'Tis not the birds that make the spring — 'Tis not the crown that makes the king. If you are wise, and good, and just, You've riches better than all other ! Give me your hand — you shall - you must — I love you as a brother ! ' Let us, as British bee-keepers, give practical ex- pression of brotherly feeling by subscribing to the fund; it will only stimulate his countrymen to do more, and make the annuity the greater. What if the Ma- loneys, ' Amateur Experts,' and Ileddons do occasionally have a ' rough and tumble,' let us show we are one mother's children by giving our] mite. Here are two dollars to start, from — Amateur Expert. SHALLOW FRAMES. [1640.] Referring to the letter, No. 1626, in your last issue, I have no desire to engage in any lengthened con- troversy on shallow frames, and so will content myself with a simple answer to Mr. Dobbie's query as to why I consider a 5i-inch frame better than a 6-inch one — this being the real point at issue. It is well known by all who have read anything I have written on shallow frames in 6-inch boxes, that I use these boxes and frames for brood-chamber as well as for surplus honey. I have also asserted, very confidently, that any bee-keeper who adopts them as surplus boxes will, under certain circumstances, use them for brood- chambers, as I frequently do myself. In proof of this, and as Mr. J. H. Howard's name has been mentioned, I may say, in passing, that that gentleman is coming to the same conclusion himself, for he wrote me a month ago to say, — 'Shallow brood-chambers I have found very good, and methinks I shall prove them ahead.' Here, then, we have the fact that Mr. Howard and myself are as one in adopting shallow frames for brood as well as for surplus. The boxes in which my shallow frames are worked are six inches deep, each holding nine frames ; and as two of these are required to form the hive body or brood-chamber, we have eighteen frames in the latter, with a comb-sur- face of about 265 inches more than that of a ten-frame standard hive. I call this extra 265 inches a fault lather than an advantage ; ten standard frames of comb being abundant for all breeding purposes. But if we adopt a 6-inch frame, we get about 500 inches in excess of what is justly considered a full-sized brood-chamber, so the fault is increased in the same ratio. Should the shallow frame be so fortunate as to merit discussion at the hands of the committee of the B. B. K. A., I don't doubt but weighty reasons can be given for preferring the 5^-inch size ; indeed, even Mr. Howard's only objec- tion to it lies in the fact that he has made and sold a large number of the 6-inch ones, and so must, perforce, keep to it in the interest of his customers. Curiously enough, Mr. Cheshire, describing the ' Holme- Wood hive of Mr. Howard in Bees and Bee-l;eepmy, p. Ill, says the frame is 5J inches in depth. [n conclusion, and since your correspondent has raised May 24, 1888.] THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL. 265 the question, I can assure him that Mr. Howard was not the first maker to offer a shallow frame of standard length to the public. For myself, not being either a maker or dealer, I can only speak as a user of these frames, and 1 believe I was the first person in the king- dom to use them. I had them in my apiary for some years prior to the Norwich Show in 1SSG, both as surplus chambers for working over standard frames and as sectional brood-chambers on the Carr-Stewarton plan. — W. Bhoucjiiton Carh, Higher Bebington, Cheshire. SHALLOW FRAMES. ■ [1644.] There have been advocates of the o^-in. frame, and there have been advocates of the 6-in. frame. These both may be very good, but I cannot see one special advantage of the size claimed for either of them, whereas I think you might almost as well have an 8J as a C-in. frame. Every one praises his own, of course, so I offer another size which I think best, and can mention positive advantages in its favour. Instead of having the side pieces 8 in., as in the large frames, why not have them 4 in ? Advantages: — (1.) For getting super foundation pulled out before the honey- llnw, it would cut out for sections without any waste. (2.) Two half-body boxes would make one big one, and could be used for standard frames. (3.) Two shallow frames would lit in each cage of extractor, thus four could be extracted at once where two large ones were before, whereas, with an awkward size of shallow frame, no more could be extracted from at once than of the standard frame, and there would be waste in cutting out for sections. (4.) Of course there would be still less need for wiring foundation in, than in a larger. (5.) This coidd be put on before the bees were strong enough to hear a larger box. Of course I am too unimportant to cause that my frame should be adopted, but still, why shouldn't I have my say? — F. '1. Buzz. I should like to ask ' X-Tractor ' about the plumbers scraper. If one angle is a right angle, what are the others to be ? The figure looks as if it is an equilateral triangle. SPREADING THE BROOD. 1 1645,] From several tests made by leaving whole rows of hives through the bee-yard undisturbed, while a row alongside had the brood spread as about to be given, I find those manipulated gave results above the others more than double enough to pay for the extra labour. The trouble with most of those who try the plan for the first time is that they begin to manipulate the brood too early. There can he nothing gained where there are three or four combs, one-fourth full of brood, by spreading them apart and putting an empty comb between ; for by so doing we simply spread the brood out in an un- natural position, and work on the plan of scattering the heat instead of concentrating it. Besides, as long as this state of affairs exists, they have already got brood in more comb than they should have ; for all will see that, if all this brood were put in one comb, and that comb placed in the centre of a chaff-hive made for only one comb, the bees that hardly covered it before could hardly crowd into the space it now occupies. To get at what I wish to illustrate, let us suppose that we could get that ordinary colony of bees with its brood in four combs as above, all on one comb, and no room for the bees except in this space, it will be seen that quite a proportion of the bees would be obliged to cluster outside. To obviate this outside clustering we would enlarge our hive so as to take one more comb, which comb is put in. Now having our heat aud bees con- densed to the right proportion, we would find that the queen would lay in this comb at the same rate she would in July, filling it with eggs in three or four days ; while, had we not done this, the brood in the four combs with a whole hive to carry off the radiating heat, would not have advanced to the amount of one-sixth ofi frame. In a few days, more young bees from our first frame have hatched to such an extent that they are again crowding out at the entrance, when we once more enlarge the hive and put in another comb (putting it in the centre this time), which is filled as quickly as before, and so we keep on till our hive is enlarged to the breeding capacity of the queen. Does anyone doubt but that we shall have a hive full of brood and bees long before we should if nothing had been done ? If such doubt exists, an experiment or two along that line will convince any. Well, now to practical work. As soon in spring as the first pollen appears, shut the colony on to the number of combs containing brood, using sometimes to confine the heat as much as possible for a division-board. If these combs of brood do not contain honey enough, use a feeder such as I described a few months back for that division-board, and feed, or leave combs of honey beyond the board so the bees can have access to it. Xow Now leave them till the two central combs have brood clear down to the bottom outside corners of the frames ; for manipulation previous to this would not help a bit, as they already have all the chance for spreading their own brood that is needed. As soon as you find the two central combs thus filled, revei'se the brood-nest ; by which I mean put these two central combs of brood on the outside, and those outside in the centre, when, in a very few days, we shall have our combs and colony in just the shape of the supposed colony we spoke of above, and are to proceed in the future on the same plan.— Gt, M. Duoi.ittlk, Borodino, X. Y. (Gleanings.) COMPENSATION ON EVICTIONS, &c. [1646.] Will any of your numerous readers kindly give me some idea of the amount (if any) per hive which can legally be claimed for forced removal of bees ? I live in a direct line with the Manchester Ship Canal, and have received from the promoters three weeks' notice to quit. As I am a yearly tenant, compensation in the shape of twelve months' rent has been offered me in common with others of my neighbours, but as I have four fine stocks of bees, I think I am right in claiming some compensation for the loss which will ensue if they are removed to a fresh site which I have taken less than a quarter of a mile away. If they were removed to a location, say, five miles distant, there would be the cost of moving back and to ; also rent of ground (though small) to pay. Could this be claimed for ? I expect to get a few days' grace after the expiration of notice, so any advice from legal or other readers will be in time and thankfully received. No one in our part expected them to begin work here before next spring. Turning to other matters, I am extremely pleased to see published in the journal a biographical sketch of Mr. George E. Hilton of Michigan, U.S.; but could you not also arrange to give us some sketches and photo- graphs of prominent British bee-keepers — those with whose writings and names we are so familiar and yet many of us have never seen ? Take, for instance, ' Amateur Expert.' I have long enjoyed this gentle- man's letters, appearing from time to time in the Journal, and have often wondered what he is like, whether old or young, and what is his real name, and in what part of the country he lives;* and there are many others as familiar in name whose history as regards bee-keeping would to me be of lasting interest. I have seen very few of the scientific bee-keeping fra- ternity. I am unable to go to the great shows and places where the great leaders of the craft do * In the first number of this year's Journal we gave an illustration of the apiary of ' Amateur Expert,' with some particulars of his life. — Ed, 266 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 24, 1888. congregate, hence my proposal could, if adopted, make up somewhat for such disadvantage. I am exceedingly fond of my bees and all connected with them, and five outside the town away from my work at a sacrifice purposely that I may indulge my fancy. The bees are a great comfort to me, and have taught me many of the useful lessons mentioned by Mr. J. Eaton Fearn in his letter in last Journal. — F. Pearson, Stockton Heath. NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK. [1647.] Will you kindly allow me to ask, through your columns, if any of your readers will favour me with directions to prevent a drink made with honey from fer- menting? I have been looking through a number of back years of the British Bee Journal and find several recipes for mead, &c, but as they all ' work ' or ' fer- ment,' or have yeast introduced, none of them will suit us, as we are thorough abstainers, and want to get a good non-alcoholic drink. As the summer is coming on, no doubt many would be glad to know how to make a light beverage from their honey. — The Wife of a Sussex Bee-keeper, Ticehurst, May loth. [We should be specially obliged by some bee-keeper replying to the above. — Ed.] TEN TONS OF HONEY. [1648.] I have received numerous letters since the above advertisement appeared, and I have found it entirely impossible to reply to one half of the inquiries as to price, &c. Allow me to thank all those who have written on the matter, and to say that during the season I shall be very pleased to quote for new season's honey as per advertisement ; also sections. — J. D. McNally. (SrJHjes from % |§te. North Leicestershire, May 21st. — From the 4th to 21st inst. inclusive, the bees have been hard at work without a day's interruption. Some little rain fell on the 17th, but the weather was so warm that the bees continued work through all but the heaviest showers. On Friday, 18th inst., the thermometer went up to 68° Fahr., and a copious honey-flow set in, and still continues. Saturday, the 19th inst., was a wonderful day for bees. The ther- mometer stood at 76°, and the busy workers were card- ing in pollen, nectar, and water for fifteen hours. Stocks are rapidly increasing in strength ; some few are abnorm- ally strong, and nearly all are crying out lustily for more room. Supplies of pollen and nectar are just now being drawn from wild cherry, plum, sloe, sycamore, currant, gooseberry, arabis, dandelion, chickweed, shepherd's purse, gillyflower, ribes, and celandine. — E. B. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Th' Aspen. — The queen forwarded was unfertilised. G. Beestone. — Wax-moth. — The larvae forwarded were those of the wax-moth. They should be destroyed whenever seen by crushing them or extruding them by aid of a pen-knife. They may be avoided by keeping stocks strong, or having Ligurian bees. P. T. C. Box. — Fumigator. — -We believe this can be pur- chased of most dealers. Please consult our advertise- ment columns, as we do not recommend one dealer in preference to another. J. P. O'Flaherty. — 1. Swarming. — We cannot recom- mend the plans you suggest, but consider that under the circumstances it would be best to make an artificial swarm in the manner pointed out in Modern Bee- keeping. If the swarm is put in a frame-hive and placed on the old stand, the super should be placed on it. In this case it would be better to use starters only. 2. Fanning. — Fanning is to reduce the temperature of the hive, and evidently there are signs that your bees will swarm before long. '6. Painting Hives. — The whole hive should be painted. R. Auld. — 1. Full Sheets of Foundation. — It is advisable to use full sheets of foundatiou if properly secured in the frames, care being taken that they hang perpendi- cularly and that there are sufficient bees fully to cover both sides of all frames. Starters may be used at all times, but if the honey flow is at hand and large, drone-comb will most probably be built. 2. Old Combs having Honey. — Old combs with honey in them may be utilised for swarms, the cells in which there is honey being first uncapped. Enquirer. — If your candy is wholesome and sweet it may safely be re-liquefied. C. Gilbert. — Moving Bees. — We would recommend you to allow your hives to swarm, and get the swarms forwarded in swarm-boxes, and sell the stocks on the spot. Frame-hives will travel well on the rail- way if there is some person to see to the hives being so placed in the train that the combs hang in the direction the train is going, and not across the carri- age, or the combs may probably be dislodged from frames by a sudden jerk or stoppage. R. J. Sankey. — Bees Dying. — The queen is at fault, being constitutionally .^weak. Introduce a new queen and the mortality will cease. H. Bishop. — Joining Association. — Apply to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts, who is Secretary of the British Bee-keepers' Association. J. F. — Doubling Hive. —The upper portion ought to be the exact size of the lower and interchangeable with it, viz., 17 x 15J x 8J inches, inside measurement. This size allows of a lateral movement of frames, which is important. Beauly. — 1. Arrangement of Bar-frame Hive.— Your surmises are correct as to arrangement of boards. We very much object to the narrow entrances in such hives ; the entrance should be the whole width, with arrangements for contracting, on the outside, when robbing is rife. 2. Uniting Cast. — You would keep the youngest queen, which would be with the cast. If two colonies of bees are separated from their hives, combs, and brood, and are while in this condition thrown together, they will unite peacefully. G. Field. — Hybrids. — The bees sent are Ligurian and English hybrids. When the bees hung out last season they were superseding their queen, and the dead queen found was the old one ; the virgin queen left was fertilised by either a Ligurian or a Ligurian- English hybrid, hence the bee3 now are imperfectly marked. When an English stock is hybridized a portion only of the population have 3-ellow bands, and many have the three yellow bands ; but where an English stock is crossed by a hybrid, a greater scarcity of bees with the distinguishing marks of Ligurians are noticed, and so on as each successive cross increases or diminishes these marks. ^Business ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Bbitish Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howaed, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. May 24, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 267 Hutchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meal-ham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothaed, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C. , 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Boad, Beading. When & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 .King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Siumins, S., Bottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, FenchurchSt. Edey & Sons, St. Neots Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn, COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenohurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godjian, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B. , Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. IT OT ICIE. The British Bee Journal ia published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Malum, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. Jy Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY. WoHasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington. Ledbnry, Herefordshire. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON, C. T.. Crawley, Sussex. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. Jy Wensum Street, Norwich. ItUDKIN, P., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail, way Bookstalls. WITHINSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. 'WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading, WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. STRONG PLANTS of STOCKS, ASTERS, PE- TUNIAS, LOBELIAS, VEBBENAS, Xc, *c, ready in May, from id. per dozen. Orders booked and forwarded in rotation. Strong, well-rooted Celery Plants, red or white, Is. 3d. per 100, post free. All Plants carefully packed in wooden boxes. Address H. Dobbie, Hethersett, Norwich. NEW BEE DRESS, COOL AND COMFORTABLE. See Advertisement in Bee Journal of May 3, CHARLES BARNETT, Tailor, Godalming. a3%8 MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE. Webster's Fumigator (Carbolic) With Bellows complete, *,'6. Bottle of Agent, 6d. A Piece of Carbonate (common crystal form) of Ammonia should always be kept behind Sponge. FIRST PHIZES: Indian and Colonial Exhibition ; Royal Agricultural Show ; Royal Counties Agricultural Show. BEE SUPPLIES of all Descriptions. CATALOGUES FUSE BY POST, QUEENS, STOCKS, NUCLEI. WEBSTER'S NEW SECTIONS.— The only Method yet invented of Securely Fastening Three Sides of the Foundation, thus entirely preventing Sagging and ' Pop-holes.' 6■»♦»♦» o ♦ < Fig. 7a, Price : Each with 21 four bee-way Sections, with bee-space round each Section, 7/- per pair ; for two bee-way Sections, 6/6 per pair ; full sheets of Foundation fixed, 6d. per pair extra. In Flat : Lots of Five subject to 33 per cent discount. Sec- th Reversing Arrange- \ion& &s, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, ic, must 6e addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," clo Messrs. Straugeu'ays and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge CCrcus, ir.CV All business commiuuoations relating to Advertisements, ic., must be addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of .dduertisements). •#* I»i order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by 7nentt'oning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. < RA.YNOR EXCLUDING-HONEY-BOARDS.' [1049.] As the slatted-honey-boards, for excluding queen and drones from surplus boxes, now in general use in America, are likely to gain an introduction into the apiaries of this country also, I should be glad to say a few words respecting the one I use. As the time for their use has arrived, and unavoidable circumstances have prevented an earlier reference, I would say that without an engraving it is difficult to give a full description, but they are very similar to the American boards, and are made by Mr. Neighbour of 149 Regent Street, and by Mr. Dines of Maldon, Essex, either of whom will supply a pattern with full particulars and price. The board is made to cover a ten-frame standard hive, outside dimensions 17 x 10. It consists of a frame- work containing eight slats and nine interspaces corre- sponding in width and direction with the top-bars of the brood frames and the interspaces between them. The latter are fitted with queen and drone-excluding zinc slides, having two rows of perforations of a new pattern, which allow perfectly free passage to worker bees, but effectu- allv exclude queens and drones. This new 'zinc-ex- cluder ' is manufactured and supplied by Messrs. Harvey & Co. of the Kent Zinc Works, Lewisham, S.E., and has been registered by them under the name of ' Raynor's Queen and Drone Excluding Zinc' The under side of the honey-board has a full bee-space of three-eighths of an inch, being intended for use on hives whose frame-bars are flush with the sides of the hives, and the slats on the upper side are flush with the outside framework of the honey-board, to which it is intended that all section-cases or crates in use at present having a bee-space below their framework may be adapted, as it is considered that a bee-space both above and below the honey-board should be afforded for the freer passage of the bees. I may add that I obtained sections last season worked on these honey-boards better in quality, brightness, and colour, than any I had previously obtained without the use of queen-excluding honey-boards, and the bees manifested no indisposition whatever to pass freely through the perforations, nor had I a single swarm from hives on which the boards were used. — George Raynob, Hazeleiyh Rectory, May 2Qth. 272 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 31, 1888. BEES AND FLOWERS. [1650.] Possibly many of your readers are expecting to see a few lines from me once again, having promised last autumn that it should be so. By your permission I will first say a few words about the bees. I closed up for the past winter with seven old stocks, seven swarms, and three lots of driven bees. Thirteen lots weathered the winter well and came out this spring nice and strong. Three lots were rather weak, and one lot starved to death with plenty of stores in their hive. Well, say you, that is strange talk, but permit me to relate the circumstances. Most of my hives hold fourteen standard frames, and this lot was packed for the winter on seven frames, and having some frames of comb which had lately had the honey extracted from them. My dummies don't reach the bottom of the hive by f of an inch, and behind this I left four of these empty combs for the bees to clean, and by some means the queen got in with these empty combs and the weather set in cold, so I did not disturb them, not think- ing, of course, that the queen had got out of place ; but I suppose the fact of her being behind the dummy all the bees followed her, and there they stayed and starved to death with abundance of stores on the other side of the dummy. Now I had three queens which were in their third year and I decided to unite these three weak lots and so utilise the two spare queens, they being young and healthy. And I will here relate that I decided to follow some of Mr. T. Bonner Chambers' advice, which he gave us in 11. B. Journal for April, 1888, pages 180 to 18^. The advice which I followed is that which he calls an excellent method, on page 181, for 'queenintroduction.' Now two of these weak lots were in one hive with a close-fitting dummy (only) between them, with a piece of board to divide the entrance on the flight-board; I had previously brought the single weak lot up to the double one. I did not take quite so much pains as our friend 'T. B. C advised, but I will tell you just what I did. I got two ordinary lucifer-boxes and put one in each waistcoat pocket, opened all three lots of bees and spread a carbolic cloth on the tops of frames for about one minute, then lifted frames one at a time until I had caught two of the queens and slipped one in each lucifer-box and back into, this time, my trousers pocket to keep them warm. I then took one frame from No. 1 hive and shook the bees on the platform in front and re- placed it at one end of the hive which had the two lots in; I then took a comb from No. 2 hive and No. 3 hive and treated them all in a like manner, one by one, until I had been through all three lots, and then covered the frames with a quilt and left the bees to run in while I went with my two queens to two other stocks, first arranging the platform and then taking the combs one by one, and caught the old queen and gave her a pinch with the thumb and finger and threw her down (of course dead). Then I began in like manner to shake the bees from the combs and replacing them in the hives; so here you see, that 1 did not at any time have more than one comb out of the hives at one time. 1 did not take any notice of the loose bees which were on the sides and bottom of the hives when I had been through all the combs, and of course as fast as 1 could handle them I dropped the queen on the heap of bees from the lucifer- box and they all ran in. The next day one would not think the hives had been disturbed unless they were acquainted with the fact. I have changed many queens for myself and neighbours in this same way, and all have gone to work as though nothing had interfered with them in the slightest way. But here 1 will mention, if there is much fresh and thin honey in the combs, I should not introduce queens in this way, as a deal of the honey would be shaken out of the combs, and, of course, nearly drown, and perhaps quite drown, many bees, I myself used a cage in intro- ducing one in a hive on the 12th of May, this hive having much thin honey in it. In this case I let the queen re- main in the cage twenty-four hours. I use a long cage to go down between the combs. This is put directly under feed-hole, so you can release the queen without even disturbing quilts, and you can take the cage out when it suits you, or, say, after the queen has had twenty-four hours' liberty. I never remember losing a queen, either with or without the cage, so I think either of the above is a good plan, and perhaps many others are as good, but I have not tried them, so must leave it to those who have. I may say that Mr. R. Green, the Kent Bee-keepers' Association expert, called on me on the 14th of May, and found this cage in the hive. He wanted to know why I used a cage. He was satisfied with my explanation, but he says he has long practised, and recommends the shaking bees from combs in the front of the hive, then dropping queen, as above, and it is the safest plan he knows of. I am afraid I am trespassing too far on your space, but if you can spare me I should like to say a few words upon bee-flowers. I told you before that many of our friends have sent me different kinds of seeds, cuttings, and plants ; I beg to return thanks to all. I have done my best with them, but upon my soil I find nothing to equal the borage and Nepeta Mussini, therefore they are still my [favourites. I had many applications for the latter last autumn which I could not supply, I therefore promised to strike large quantities this spring and offer them to our bee-keeping friends. Now I have done so, and I think I have supplied all my last year's orders, so I have advertised in the advertisement column of this issue a fresh batch. Cuttings and seed will be free as before, namely, applicants paying postage. — C. II. W., Ayhsford, near Maidstone, Kent. JOTTINGS BY WOODLEIGH. [1651.] There has been a great deal written during the past year or two on improving our race of bees, and I think it is quite time some one should say a few words in favour of the drone bee. Writers on bee matters are generally in favour of using full sheets of foundation in the brood nest, or at least of leaving a space in some outside corner of the comb for the bees to build if they like a patch of drone-comb; and if they do not think tit to build their drone-conib at that particular spot, they will in the near future be under the necessity of raising drones in elongated worker-cells. Looking at the fact from a physiological point of view, could there ever be a more fallacious proceeding on the part of prescient man who prides himself on improving his race of bees. Recent writers have compared stock-raising, &c, to bee-culture, yet what stock-raisers would ever think of introducing foreign blood into their strain as a means of improving the breed, and neglect the first and greatest desideratum, viz., a sire of the noblest and amplest proportions ? Yet the tendency of modern bee-culture is to prevent drone- brood raising in the natural way, i.e., in natural built cells; and cons«quently if drone bees are raised by a colony in elongated worker-cells, they must of necessity be smaller than if raised in a larger natural size drone- cell. In the first place, the nurse bees would not have room for the insertion of so large a quantity of food as in the natural cell ; then the bee itself could not grow and thrive so well as in the natural cell by reason of its restricted dimensions, the cocoon from which it emerges being small, how can the baby bee grow to a normal size, where if we are advancing it ought to be a little larger rather than smaller than the drone of twenty years ago? I commend this little jot to the thoughts of bee- keepers, and the query rises to my mind, Are we really advancing in excluding natural drone-combs from the modern bar-frame hive ? I fear our greed for gain by raising worker bees only is in an opposite direction as May 31, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 273 regards the improvement of the race of bees. Then by every means let us look to the improvement of the drone bees as the first stepping-stone to an improved race, for unless the sire is in good form and condition, the progeny must deteriorate. We have had a beautiful rain in our district during the week, and on Friday, May 18th, our first honey flow for the season. Every colony was in a state of excite- ment, as though they had discovered some deserted hives replete with stores. They continued to work with a will until very late in the evening, in fact, till darkness prevented them. In the evening I started in quest of their newly-discovered Eldorado, to discover, if possible, the source from which they were busy extracting their sweets, and a walk of about a quarter of a mile from the apiary I found some large sycamore-trees literally covered with flowers and bees at 7.15 p.m., also some beech-trees had a great abundance of blossom and attracted a considerable number of bees even at that late hour of the day, though not so many as were on the sycamore-trees. There are large fields of permanent grass yellow with the dandelion in our immediate vicinity, and this Saturday morning I walked across one of the fields and found large numbers of bees sipping honey from the flowers. I was tempted very much to super some of my strongest colonies, but to-night it is much colder, and so I shall leave the supering until late in next week after the holidays (weather permitting) ; the earliest date I have put on supers has been May 2.'!, and in an early season. I would caution young hands in bee-keeping not to super too early, also to well wrap up their crates whenever they do super to conserve the heat of the hive and keep up the normal temperature of brood-nest. Saw first drone this season on May Oth. RECORDS OF QUEENS AND SUPERSEDING THEM. [1052.] In the American Bee Journal just to hand there is the following query (540) : — ' 7s it best to keep a record of the queens so as to supersede them when they are two or three years old, or let the bees manage in their own wag ? ' Some prominence was given to this subject in your article of June 17th, 1880, when you say : — ' When queens arc stimulated to their utmost, and as much as possible is got out of them, they are of little use after the second year.' The following week (899) I took exception to this, and pointed out that many prominent apiarists preferred leaving the superseding to bees them- selves. 1 say that ' my experience tells me that there are many things that bees do much better than we can, and I think this superseding of worn-out queens is one that, if left to themselves, the)' will do at the right time. If a queen during her second year has been as prolific as we could expect her to be, and has shown no signs of want of vigour, it appears to be a cruel as well as an unwise thing to depose her to put a young and untried, artificially bred queen, in her place,' and run the risk of introducing foul brood into your apiary with the queen, which, if bought or imported, may possibly be as old, or older than the one superseded, for all we know. The following are the answers reported in the A. B. J. from men whose names will be familiar to many, particularly to you, Mr. Editor : — It is best to keep a record. — J. P. H. Brown. Let the bees do it. — Padaxt & Son. let the bees take care of that matter. — G. M. Doolitth:. Perhaps so, but I never have superseded my old queens. — Eugene Secor. Keep a record of everything, and supersede the queen when she ceases to be prolific. — A. B. Mason. I have never kept a. perfect record, but I am inclined to think that is the best way. — Mrs. L. Harrison. Keep a record anyway ; but I do not know what is best as to the superseding. — C. C. Miller. It is much better to keep a record. Supersede the queens when they begin to fail— it makes no difference if they are one or three years old. — P. L. Viallon. I let the bees manage it in their own way with all valuable queens. — G. L. Tinker. Deeds, not days, determine a queen's usefulness. With experience you can tell when a queen becomes unprofitable by looking into her hive, and I should assist the bees as much as possible to supersede worthless queens. — R. L. Taylor, I prefer to keep a record of all queens, including pedigree, so far as ascertainable. But I let the bees supersede a good queen. They know when to do it. — M. Mahin. I keep a record only of my fine breeding queens, and the older they are, the better for breeding purposes. I let my bees supersede their own queens. — G. \V. Desiaree. No ; let the bees manage it. I keep records of sale queens only. The bees do it better than we can, cost considered. — James Heddon. Keep a record always. Thus you will know the pedigree, ttc, and be able at any and all times to know the age of every queen in the apiary. — J. E. Pond. Yes, keep a record of queens, but supersede them only when they decline in vigour. Superseding by rule would often depose queens of great value. The bee-keeper must have brains as well as a record. — J. M. Shuck. I think that the bees can manage the matter for them- selves. If queens are found that are doing very poorly, it pays to supersede them ; but age is not the test. Our vision will serve better. — A. J. Cook. As a rule the bees will attend to these matters more satis- factorily than you could possibly do, and before you are aware that such was their intention. It is well enough to know which hive your best queens occupy, and if you have many colonies it will necessitate a record. — J. M. Hamraugh. I find that the bees manage that thing very success- fully if you let them alone. You will rind many cases where it is best to supersede, and you will not be obliged to keep a record to find it out. For a beginner in the business a record of all work is an excellent help. — H. D. Cutting. I think that it would be a good idea to keep a record of the age of queens. I do not think, however, that it would be advisable to supersede queens less than four years old unless they prove inferior ; in that case, do so at once. I supersede only such as fall below my standard. — C. H. Dirbebn. It is certainly best to keep a record of queens, but as to superseding the queens, the bees will manage that more satisfactorily themselves. — The Editor. I would call particular attention to the answer of Mr. Doolittle, who is himself a large breeder of queens, as evidence in favour of the let-alone plan. — John M, Hooker. SHALLOW FRAMES. [1053.] A word or two explanatory as to the frame 0-inch deep sent out by myself. Having convinced myself of the utility of a narrower frame than the standard for the purpose of storifying, &c, I was sufficiently bold to introduce it at Norwich Show in 1880 at a time when the standard frame was the sine qua non. The depth of shallow bodies (for use either above or below the standard body) was ruled for the working of 2-lb. sections, 5J inches deep, sus- pended in a divided hanger or frame, and side-spring dummies brought all work in that direction together as though crated in the ordinary manner. It may be now seen how a frame 0 inches deep was necessary to take the place of the 2-lb. section and its hangers of necessary strength, to keep all in position when stored with honey. Soon after the Norwich Show, ' Useful Hints ' wrote, describing even such a hive as I had exhibited, and asks 274 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 31, 1888. — or to the effect — Who will give us such ? and here we had a good recognition of the shallow frame. About such time the Deep Frame of Mr. D. A. Jones was acknowledged by some to be far ahead, and in an ' Universal ' hive such a frame was to be used, which also admitted the standard and W. B. Carr frames if preferred. Hence ' Universal ' and Bebington hives fol- lowed to have a place in the bee world market. I do not wish to infer that these frames and systems did not exist prior to my 6-inch frame, but rather to show that when I knew they were to be put into the Market, was I willing to meet, if possible, the size of of our friend, W. B. Carr, and more especially as 2-lb. sections were then (1886) at a discount. There- fore a shallow body, differing from the original, was sent with my ' Holme Wood ' hive to Mr. Cheshire, and from this Mr. Cheshire gave his figures no doubt. At the end of that year I ran through orders executed during the past two seasons, and found it would be too much to asli of my customers to accept a ;H in. frame ; so I kept to my original depth, and the great numbers of, 6-inch deep frames I have sold bear testimony of their utility, as well as many written acknowledgments received. With Mr. Bobbie I think that my patrons must feel from vested interests the 6-inch frame of as much importance as the 5i, and especially so as 2-lb. sections (now reascending) can find a place side by side with the former. Surely the B. B. K. A., having once set up 'A Standard,' will not weaken its position by another, but rather let its significance be shown in the clustering around it of the many divergencies before and after its adaptation. — John H. Howard, The Model Apiary, Holme. "VALUE OF SMOKE IN MANAGING BEES. [1654.] When honey was at the highest price ever known in this conntry, viz., from 1863 to i860, little use was made of smoke by the greater number of bee- keepers. Even Rosewell C. Otis, the veteran who mainly introduced the Langstroth hive in New York and the West, only used a cigar in his demonstrative work. It is true that Mr. Langstroth had explained the action and value of smoke in the control of bees, and the principle on which its effect rested, in his most efficient work, Langstroth on the Hive and Honey Bee. Hunters of bees had used burning straw about bee trees when cutting them down, and found the cloud of smoke a protection against stings. But the main con- ception of the value of the smoke in the management of bees was associated with the common pipe or cigar. This fact, no doubt well based, came from the prompt action of tobacco-smoke, — an action more efficient than any other smoke, and also more convenient with the means then in use, especially when the bee-keeper was a tobacco smoker. (And such habit was likely to prevail with bee-keepers whose aversionsto the habit of smoking were not strong.) The invention and application of the direct - draft principle in bee -smokers at once revolutionised the management of bees. Tobacco-smoke was no longer of value because more condensed and in use by pipe and cigar smokers. The great abundance — a cloud of smoke enveloping tho user of a Bingham smoker, and the fact that such smoker never went out, and that smoke in clouds could be instantly applied to bees — at once sup- planted the tobacco, pipe, and cigar in their management. While it is not the province of this paper to discuss the tobacco habit, the direct-draft smoker plays an impor- tant part, as there is no excuse for a bee-keeper smoking tobacco so far as bee-keeping is concerned. The fact that bees fill their honey-sacs with honey when frightened, and do not, when so filled, volunteer an attack, and the ease with which smoke is applied, has led, no doubt, to the abuse of smoke in managing bees. Bad habits are common from superficial methods of reasoning, when a more thorough analysis of ap- parent results would eradicate or modify them. This is especially true in the use of smokers, and the smoker in the case of the apiary. The fact that a cloud of smoke around a bee tree reduces the anger of the bees, and removes the danger of attack from them, leads directly to the conclusion that such cloud of smoke would have the same effect in an apiary. Circumstances which have come under my observation lead at once to this conclusion. As an evidence of the fact allow me to cite the sale of smokers at certain seasons of the year, and the sizes most sold at such season. The inference from the sale of any particular sizes of smokers, at a season when smokers are not much in use, is that the most experienced bee-keepers provide them- selves with such tools as they are likely to need before they are actually required for use in the apiary, while the amateur waits till the case becomes urgent before he decides, and then is likely to consult the first cost (which he sees clearly) rather than the results and principles underlying his purchase which he does not so clearly understand. Early in the spring, and also in autumn, our sale of smokers is as five of the two largest to one of the smaller sizes ; while in the middle of the season, when the young bee-keeper is obtaining his urgent outfit, the small and medium-sized smokers lead in sale the three largest sizes somewhat, so that the entire season wings round with about the same total number of each as sold. As the larger sizes hold more wood and make as much more smoke in proportion, it is safe to infer that bee- keepers of experience do not object to an immense volume of smoke in handling bees. This conclusion, providing the premises on which it is based are correct, leads to the decision that bee- keepers, whether they understand the principle or not, recognise the value of a continuous cloud of smoke in the apiary at all times when bee-keepers are of necessity or choice among the hives and bees. It is idle to presume that, a peaceful, non-aggressive apiary can be foun 1 where gloves and veils are resorted to instead of constant and overwhelming smoke. Witli abundance of smoke, the eye of the bee-keeper holds the temper of bees as the experienced horseman holds the vicious horse, and any careful manipulation may be made without a puff of smoke, provided always the smoke is abundant in the air, and at the service of the operator should occasion require. The above leads directly to the most discussed fuel for smokers. Of course circumstances alter cases, and the means of obtaining fuel of any particular kind will play a conspicuous part. One thing, however, will be found advisable under all circumstances, viz., to consult the smoker. It is useless to try to burn anthracite or hard coal in a box stove designed for burning wood. It would be equally futile to attempt to burn stove wood in a smoker not having a strong, continuous draft. This being understood, a clear understanding of principles leading to results desired, it seems to me but one con- clusion can be reached, viz., that sound sun-dried or other perfectly dried maple stove wood, meets, in the highest degree, the needs of the bee-keeper using a direct draft smoker. Some of the reasons why perfectly dry hard wood is preferable for use is that it burns only at the bottom or lower end. That is, it renders the direct-draft smoker a base burner. (Rotten wood burns all over and is soon gone.) Wood in sticks does not obstruct either the draft or blast, both of which render quick and continued action easy. Sound wood which has live coals left after it has ceased to smoke, maintains sufficient heat to prevent un- pleasant sooty accumulation, and furnishes hot, dry, strong smoke all the time without working the bellows, thus rendering it ready for use every instant. Of course May 31, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 275 the direct-draft smoker will burn anything combustible, and he who uses it may choose his fuel according to circumstances and tastes. It may be asked here if it would not be better to have cold smoke. Such an idea has been advanced very much, but as the object of smoke is to frighten bees, not convert them into bacon, anything that will accomplish the fright in the easiest and most effective manner will serve the purpose best. Hot air will do this just as well as smoke, as far as it goes, but the air cools, so quickly it is of no value except just as it leaves the smoker. The making of smoke goes on fast or slow just in proportion to heat, so that when there is little heat there is little smoke, and vice vend, where there is much smoke ' there is some fire.' — T. F. Bingham (From the Beekeepers Guide). EXPERIENCE. [1655.] I have twelve hives of bees. Last year I bought some starch and salmon boxes, as I could not afford 8s. to 10s. for bar-frame hives, so I made some makeshift hives out of these boxes. I bought a bit of | in. board for making the frames; the frames are as near standai'd size as I could make them. The 6almon-boxes had to be cut shorter, 16| in. in length. The swarms I had last year were put into them. They were dummied up to six frames. A crate of twelve sections was put on the same time as hiving. The first swarm gave thirty-six one-pound sections, the last gave twenty. I gave one-inch starters of foundation on the frames, and nearly filled the section. In the autumn I bought some boards and made some good standard hives holding ten frames. I bought the little book Modern Bee- keeping, and consulted it, and made the hives as near as possible to those in it. It is a useful little book : I think every cottager ought to buy one ; its cost is only 6d. As soon as my hives were finished and painted, I brought the bees into a warm room and shifted them into their new hives, and packed them up for winter ; and now, May 17th, I think they are in good order, one hive especially. They are on ten frames, drones flying freely. Three of the straw hives are full of bees. I am ex- pecting them to swarm every day. The other frame- hives are on six frames. I am going to give extra frames next week. I will give you a few names of flowers near me. My bees have been working on palm, wild ane- mones, wild cherries, and blackthorn; next come the May and maple trees. I shall write again a little later On.— IlAYniNDER. GIVING A LAYING QUEEN TO PARENT COLONY IMMEDIATELY AFTER SWARMING. [IGoG.] For years we have been told that no colony should go without a laying queen for a single day, if it were possible to give them one ; and plans of introducing queens which required that the hive should be queenless a few days previous have been severely criticised. We have also been told, for years, that the bee-keeper who wished to secure the best results from his bees should have a laying queen ready to give to each old colony as soon as they swarmed, as the time lost to them, by rear- ing a queen, is equivalent to a swarm of bees. Being eager to know for myself all the plans which would give the best results, I have experimented largely ; and the truth of the statement, that the time lost to the bees in rearing a queen in natural swarming was equivalent to a swarm of bees, is the first reason that the plan has not been a success with me. If it were bees I were after, the case would be different. With us white clover yields enough honey to keep the bees breeding nicely, and pre- pares them so that they mainly swarm from June 20 to July 1. Our honey-harvest is principally from basswood, which blooms from July 10 to 1G. Now, all who are familiar with natural swarming know that the bees are comparatively few in number in the spring, and increase by the rapidly increasing brood produced by the queen, which, in due time, hatch into bees, until a swarm is the result. By giving a laying queen to a colony immediately after it has cast a swarm, we bring about the same result (swarming), as before, or we place the bees in the same condition. The only difference is, that, having plenty of brood, they built up quicker, and are prepared to swarm in a shorter time. As this second swarming, brought about by giving a laying queen, comes right in our basswood-honey harvest it cuts off the surplus honey ; for it is well known that bees having the swarming fever do little or no work in the section boxes ; and, if allowed to swarm, the object we have sought after (section honey) is beyond our reach. Having given my experience on this point, let us see how the same colony would work had we not given the bees a laying queen. Eight days after the swarm has issued, the first young queen will have emerged from her cell, as a rule, when the apiarist should remove all the other queen-cells from tin' hive, so that second swarming is entirely prevented. In ten days more our young queen is ready to lay, which is about the time basswood begins to yield honey largely. During the period between the time the swarm issued, and the young queen commences to lay, the bees, not having any brood to nurse for the last half of the time, consume but little honey ; hence, as fast as the young bees emerge from the cells, they are filled with honey: for bees not having a laying queen or unsealed brood seldom build comb in the sections. Thus, when the young queen is ready to lay she finds every available cell m i ired with honey. At this point the instinct of the bees teaches them that they must have brood or they will soon cease to exist as a colony, and a general rush is made for the sections. The honey from below is carried above, so as to give the queen room, and in a week we have, as a result, the sections nearly filled with honey. I have had such colonies fill and complete section honey to the amount of GO lbs. in from eight to twelve days, while those to which I had given the laying queen im- mediately after swarming did little but swarm during the same time. Bear in mind, we are talking about pro- ducing comb honey, not extracted. Different locations may give different results; still, I think that nearly all sections give a large flow of honey at a certain period during the season, rather than a steady, continuous honey-harvest the whole season. To such sections these remarks are especially applicable. My second reason is, that after basswood we have a honey-dearth, hence the bees from the introduced queen are of no value, but, on the contrary, become consumers. On an average, it takes twenty-one days from the time the egg is laid to the perfect bee. Then if the colony is in a normal condition, this bee does not commence labour in the field till six- teen days old; hence, the eggs for the honey-gathering bees must be deposited in the cell thirty-seven days before the honey-harvest ends, or else they are of no value as honey-producers. As the basswood is all gone before the eggs of the introduced queen become honey-producing bees, and as the larger part of them die of old age before buckwheat and fall flowers yield honey, it will be seen that a great gain is made by letting each old C0I0113', having cast a swarm, rear their own queen; for thereby we save the expensive feeding of the larvae, which are to become expensive consumers of the honey of the hive. Also the chances are, that, when the colony rears its own queen, they will be stocked with younger bees for winter- ing in November than where a queen was introduced immediately after swarming. The one point worth knowing above all others in bee- keeping is a thorough knowledge of the location we are 276 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 31, 1888. in, as to its honey resources, and then getting the largest amount of bees possible at that, or those times to gather honey, having just as few at all other times as is con- sistent with the accomplishing of this object. In working so that we get tho bees out of season, we have to pay the same price for them that we would to get them, so that each one becomes a producer instead of a consumer. If all who read this article will study their location, and then rear their bees in reference to that location, I think they will find their bees will do as well as their more successful neighbours'. We often hear it said, that one colony in the apiary did much better than the rest, and, had they all done as well, a rousing crop of honey would have been the result. The reason that one colony did so well was because it happened to have a large proportion of its bees of the right age to gather honey just in the honey-harvest; and if we can get all in this condition we can assure a like result from the whole apiary. — G. M. Doolittle, Borodino, N. P., April -J, 1*88. SELECTED QUERIES AND REPLIES. [1657.] Replying to ' R. M.'s ' query, it may not be amiss for me to give him my plan of wintering bees on three or four frames, as he asks Mr. Kaynor to give his plan on page 2:39. I get driven bees, saving those queens that I know to be young, and put them on about four frames (some more), and feed them up in the autumn. They are placed in hives only i inch thick, and shut up close at side with one dummy, the other comb goes up near to the side of the hive, with an entrance about 1| inch or 2 inches long. These lots I place in pairs about my garden, and in spring I take queen away from one lot, when I get orders for them, and join the bees and combs to the next lot, and by that means I get a fair stock. I wintered over twenty in this way this last year, and did not lose a single lot. I merely cover the top up warm with two or three quilts and a folded rice-bag, and lay a roof right on top, and tie them on so that they cannot get blown off ; there is no protection at the sides. In answer to same questioner of May 10th, by my Baying ' shut up close,' I do not mean the bees were not to be allowed to come out, but to only have a small entrance, but to be shut up close with a dummy, and fed and stimulated. 1 had in my mind a case, about three years ago, when I sold sixteen stocks to a gentleman at Cheltenham. I offered him at a price these stocks, and included this same nucleus with a Carniolan queen and bees only on two frames, and a few others on the third. However, he did not have this said nucleus, and it was quite at the end of April. I fed them and inserted a frame of foundation in the centre of the brood-nest, and looked to them, so that they never wanted for food, and as soon as they had filled the frame of foundation and sealed up brood, I gave others, till I got ten frames well covered with bees, just in time in June, when honey was coming in well; and I supered them, and took over thirty 1-lb. sections from them. I did not give any brood at all from other hives. — .John Walton. AFTER THE WINTER. [1658.] After reading with interest the notes of a correspondent from Farnborough, in a late edition of your Journal, I feel anxious to describe a somewhat opposite state of things to those which he was fortunate enough to find in his colony. Of four good stocks last autumn, but two are left to start this season. One of the survivors was from a straw skep, and the other from a bar-frame hive. Now, why are the others dead ? not because, as your correspondent remarks is often the case, too much honey was taken last year, for there were at least two bars in each hive with two or three pounds of sealed honey in them. Why had the bees not helped themselves? or may it be that, the extreme coldness of our early spring prevented them from coming on to the bars for food till it was too late ? If so, what could have saved their lives ? An extra supply of honey would in this case have been of no avail. You may be interested to hear that the stock from the straw skep was most successfully transferred into a frame-hive one fine day last week. There was not much brood-comb to be re- moved, but one or two pieces were wired on to the new bars, and by now they seem to have settled down to their new quarters most comfortably. With best wishes for a good honey-bee season, my notes from the Anerley colony must be concluded. — Brathay. NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK.— No. 1. [1050.] One ounce of citric acid dissolved in two pints of water, this gives us a fluid about the strength of lemon juice with its good chemical action on the liver and stomach. A tablespoonful of this, ditto of honey, in a tumblerful of water, gives a perfect cooling summer drink, but having the objection that it will not keep. It should be kept prepared in its acetous form, honey and water being added when mixed for drinking. — R. A. If. (iltlMNHAW. NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK.— No. 2. [1660.] One pound of clear extracted honey to one bottle of the Montserrat pure lime-juice. These can be mixed a few bottles at a time. The writer has used this drink the last twelve months continuously, but for a summer beverage it cannot be beat. Mix three parts of water to one part lime-juice and honey ; some prefer more water. If mixed in cold weather, the honey must be warmed. — Another Bf.e-keepino Abstainer. INFORMATION DESIRED. [1061.] Will experienced bee-keepers give me any information they can? First: On the possibility of beginners being able to procure bees in the neighbour- hood of Queenstown, Cape Colony, and about what price should be paid for them ? Second: As to the likelihood of colonists being able to take out stocks or swarms safely from England, and the best way to pack said stocks?— M. E. Eyton. WHAT MAY BE DONE IN A CASE OF EMERGENCY. [1662.] If I shall not be trespassing on your valuable space I should like to say what experience has taught me last summer and this winter, as I think it. may be interesting to some of your numerous readers. I live on the border of the remnant of Sherwood Forest, there being several apiaries in the village, my small one amongst the rest. Last summer there was a swarm left my next neighbour's apiary and took up its abode in an unused chimney. The owner not wishing to fetch them out, I asked if I might do so. Having got his consent I at once went to the occupier of the premises and asked his leave, and it was given at once. In examining the place, t found it was a chimney belonging to an out-building, the gable end to the orchard, with a parapet wall about twelve feet high, flat top, running from the gable end. I took with me an empty straw hive, also some scorched rar'. The chimney was built up from the inside of the room, but fortunately there was a hole into the chimney I could use. I at once set fire to the rag, and with a thin rod of wire pushed it into the chimney, smoking the bees out at the top. I then placed a ladder on the wall and rested it against the gable end of the building. When at the top I found a flat stone covered May 31, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 277 the top of the chimney, to the underside of which a previous stock of bees had built comb, but had died and left it unoccupied. The swarm had taken possession of the comb and had been working in it for several weeks. When I lifted the stone I broke down some of the comb, but there was a good quantity left attached to the stone, which 1 turned upside down and carried down on my head, and laid it on the wall the same side up I had carried it down the ladder. I then pulled up some long grass and brushed the bees that had settled on the out- side of the chimney into my skep, brought them down and placed them over the stone. In an hour they had settled to the skep. In two hours I took a cloth and laid it on the grass in the orchard, carried down the stone and skep, placed them in the centre, tied the four corners above, putting a strong stick through. With the assist- ance of my son I removed them to my apiary, where I had an empty bar-frame hive with comb worked out. I shook the bees out on the bars, having set them about two inches apart, covering quickly with an empty sack; they settled down in a short time. The next day 1 put the bars the proper distance, the bees all the time being very busy. I examined the hive this morning, and tind that they have gone through the winter well, and cover about six frames two inches deeper than standard size. Being the first bar-frame hive I possessed I still keep it, the bees always working fairly well in it. If you think it will interest any of your numerous readers I shall be glad to say in another letter how I succeeded in transferring a stock the last week in November. — W. Robinson, Mansfield, Wbodhoute, Notts. [We shall be pleased if you carry out your promise. — En.] WAX SECRETIONS. [1663.] All bee-keepers know the origin of wax. It is secreted by thin membranaceous glands just beneath the ventral segments of the abdomen. These glands take elements from the blood and form the liquid wax ; which, by osmosis, passes through the eight wax-plates and is moulded as thin scales on the outside of these plates. In most all cases secretion is wholly involuntary. From analogy then we should suppose it would he in this case. The cow has no control over the milk secreted in the milk-glands as to time of secretion, quantity, or quality. No more have we as to whether our salivary glands shall secrete spittle or not, or whether our liver shall form bile, or our pancreas its peculiar liquid. In case of bees then the burden of proof rests with him who believes that the wax-glands of bees are under the control of the will. Some years since, when foundation first came into use, I felt that this was an important question, and I attempted its solution as follows : I hived three good prime swarms ; one on empty frames, one on foundation, and one on empty combs, and then weighed each, each day, after the bees had collected in the hives for the night. I found that the colony without either comb or foundation gained in honey much more slowly than either of the other two, and that far less bees flew. The other two colonies increased nearly the same, but the gain was slightly in favour of the colony with combs. Since then I have had my students try the same experiment, with similar results ; except, in one or two cases, the colony on foundation has done the best. Now one of two things must be true. Either the bees have control of this function, or else, by their action, whether of rest or motion, they indirectly control secre- tion. The horse that works very hard raises a poor colt, because she cannot do so much muscular work and secrete enough milk for her offspring. I wish to fat my fine shorthorns for the shambles at Christmas time. I shut them up in a warm, comfortable, quiet stable, and give them no exercise. If they have to eat to supply muscular force they can furnish less for fat. Now, it would seem that this might explain the fact given above. When combs are to be built the bees hang qnietly from the top of the hive, eat much ; and, as no muscular force is to be expended, much wax is formed. When the mare works hard she forms little fat or milk ; when quiet she may produce much of both. Likewise the bee ; only the condition of the hive is what induces the action or quiet. But there is one more tangle to this knot: when bees are hived in an empty hive, we find that even the field bees are secreting wax. Nearly every bee will show the scales. On the other hand, put a swarm into a hive full of empty combs, and it is difficult to find a bee within or without with the wax-scales in the wax-pockets. I have repeatedly noticed this in looking for bees with the wax- scales to show my class. Here it must be voluntary, unless the bees do less outside work in the one case, and so use vital energy to produce wax, and more in the other, and so do not have any vital force remaining to secrete wax. — A. J. Cook, Agricultural College, Mich., ( American Ajn'cul/urlst). BIRDS AMI FRUIT TREES. [Kil'4.] Sparrows destroy buds and catch bees, too, and will soon destroy peas, when they are beginning to appear above the ground, unless they are protected. Some people say they destroy crocuses, i\c. ; others say the great tits destroy bees; I have often watched, but have never seen them take any hut dead bees: they feed mostly on insects. I should never think of destroying them. Surely in these days of invention those gentlemen could think of some- thing to scare away birds: there are imitation birds of prey to be bought from Hickman and Clive, Wigan. There are directions given in Gardening Illustrated, May 26, to frighten sparrows. We never know the want of water till the well is dry, and birds will never be missed until they are gone. When I see the mischief done to plants by insects I often wisli there were more birds. Bullfinches do not take hawthorn, wild cherry, sloe, blackthorn, myrobella. Here I have fed them during the severe weather in winter. Cherries were only about two hundred yards away, but they never touched them. I have had the management of many stocks in this neighbourhood. If short of food I feed my bees until the white clover appears. I always think of what an old bee- keeper said to me when talking about flowers ; I asked him why he did not grow them, his reply was, ' I leave t he farmer to do that.' I think we may conclude the same. It is the acres of clover, trefoil, and alsike, and the ten thousand blooms which we must depend upon: at least such has been my experience. When the snow is on the ground I have seen the bullfinch clinging to the black- berry cane, and his lovely colour contrasting with the snow, one of nature's lovely pictures which ever present themselves to the eye of the observant traveller. I have also seen the goldfinch eating the thistle-seed, and the woodlark up in the clouds, the music falling to the earth : alas, you look and listen in vain ! for the birdcatchers have caught them up in Staffordshire. The Psalmist sang of them in his da}7 : ' By them shall the fowls of heaven have their habitation, and sing among the branches,' and Solomon rejoiced to sing of the ' birds of spring.' — T. Hill. THE JUNIOR COLUMN. 'Something for the Boys.' [1665.] I also think from the contributions we got to the Tom-tits Problem that we could muster a fairly good staff to our Junior Column, and I feel it my duty to reply to Master Freestone. The readers of this column will be sorry to hear that I have been un- successful in my pursuits of last summer. I had half my stocks of humble bees ruined last autumn during 278 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 31, 1888. my absence from home by boys coming and playing with them, and when the bees flew round them, they struck at them with their hats. I fear also that I didn't keep my stocks strong enough, and had not plenty of bees to keep up the temperature. For fear of starving them, I bored a hole in the top of the box, and put a section over it, and a piece of glass over that, and the syrup in a tin-lid inside. The drones are easily distinguished by a light yellow stripe down between the eyes (Bombus terrestris), which I notice neither the workers nor the queen have got. I find the workers get so that they don't care where they go and ramble away — I think to find a place in which to die in peace. One time 1 kept my bees in an attic, and had no queen, so all the workers died off, and the drones, as they hatched, were so miserable that I could not keep them prisoners any longer. I have tried catching a queen early in spring with the intention of persuading her to build with me. She would fill her honey sac with syrup, but would not build under observation. No doubt she had a home of her own already made elsewhere. My book on humble bees says : — ' My observation of the colonies I have kept has always dated from about this stage. I have never been able to induce a queen to commence house-keeping under observation. I have kept the young queens from my nest till the following spring, as well as those captured in the fields late iu the autumn, and I have also tried with two caught in the early spring. My colonies have always been taken from the meadows.' I got a nest last autumn without a queen, thinking if I kept workers all the whiter, I could introduce a queen in spring, and have kept them in a glass tumbler, putting bits of an old nest round the sides of the comb to keep them warm. In the middle of the day we used to let them fly out in the house, and they would take bearings, and then go to cull nectar from the flowers on the wall- paper. I am certain they went for the flowers, because they avoided the leaves, which were not so brightly coloured as the flowers, therefore not so attractive to the eyesight ; and when they found there was nothing to gather, they seemed to rest awhile (I fancy they looked disappointed), and then either flew to the light or back to their tumbler home. I trust we shall have some more contributions from junior bee-keepers interested in our column. — Dabcy Grimshaw, Crag Hill, Horsforth, near Leah. A LETTER TO AN UNCLE. A Young Bee-keeper Inserts Three Frames by Written Directions. [1GGC] When I got home on Friday night my father gave me a letter of yours to read, which I did with great care, so that I might be able to manoeuvre in some degree right. After dinner on Saturday we went to Dixon's, and I bought the things you mentioned in your letter, and then we set off for Stapleton ; and when I arrived I saw the hive down there for the first time, and was delighted with it, and also the place where you had put it; and I am sure I cannot thank you enough for the trouble and pains you have taken in getting it down so nicely for me. We put the foundation into the broad-shouldered frames, and then took them and placed them against the wall ; we had veils, pipes, and apifuge on our hands. I then took the top off the hive very carefully, then turned the covers over to the dummy, loosened it with my knife, blew a few whiffs in, put covers back, gave hive a little kick or two, then turned covers back. Bees were nice and quiet ; and then while I moved dummy back, Gov. put the new ones in, which just filled it up ; and altogether we did it, I think, very well, and ever since I have felt as if I could be looking at them every other minute, — in fact, I can feel a bee fever coming on very strong, and I believe in a short time I shall be an out-and-out bee-fancier. Now I must start with what I ought to have done at first, but which I feel most unable to do in words, which is to thank you sincerely for the very handsome present you have made me, and the happy times it wiil give me in the future. — Your affectionate nephew, David G. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt oj their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. J. M., Glasgow. — Honey-Boards. — Iu answer to your query, see in our correspondence columns letter (1649) on ' Honey-Boards.' A. C. — Swarm- Feeding. — It is always best to feed swarms during the first week after issuing whatever the weather may be. The necessity is evident when we consider that almost the whole population is required for the elaboration of wax wherewith to build the new combs, the amount of honey consumed in the process, the degree of heat requisite, and the few foragers which can be spared. One in Difficulty. — Swarming. — See 'Useful Hints' during last and present month in the Journal, where directions are given for placing the swarm on the parent stand, and upon it the super arrangements, setting the parent stock beside the swarm, and uniting in the autumn. To prevent swarming give plenty of room for storing surplus, by placing section-case under section-case ; and if the weather prove hot, air below the brood-chamber, by inserting small wedges at front and back. This plan is better than returning swarms. Forethought. — Late Breeding, Transferring, ifc. — Want of pollen probably prevented the queen of your condemned bees from breeding earlier. With so little brood towards the end of May 3'ou must not expect surplus this season. Give more frames, with sheets of foundation, as the bees require more room. Allow your skeps to swarm, and place the swarms in frame-hives on sheets of foundation, setting them on the stands of the old stocks, and placing the latter close beside the swarms, with the entrance turned away from that of the swarm ; and in the autumn you can transfer from the skeps to the swarms, making the latter strong for wintering. If the honey-season prove good, super the swarms with sections about a week after swarming. \V. D. Griffiths. — Brown Sugar Feeding. — The 'ex- perienced bee-keeper ' who advised you in the autumn to give 6 lbs. of brown sugar on newspapers over the frames, gave you very ill advice. The deliquescing of the sugar, rendering bees and combs a damp, sticky mass, was a necessary result. In future you will do well to adhere closely to Mr. Cowan's advice, and feed on syrup according to his recipe. We never knew syrup, when properly made, to cause dysentery. At all events, if it does so in frame-hives, it will als; i:i skeps. When you consider the myriads of colonies of bees now kept healthy and prosperous in frame-hives in this country, you surely cannot think of going back to the old 'sealed book,' the skep, with all its disadvantages. May 31, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. £7 Wood Green. — Pollen Feeding. — This is conducted in the following manner :— Procure a box, such as a Hudson's extract of soap box ; in this place some shavings and over the shavings sprinkle pea-flour. To attract the bees to this box place a few drops of honey on the shavings. A lid must be provided to keep out rain, and the box should be raised a little above the ground as a preventive to dampness. It is too late now for pollen-feeding, bees will not take artificial when they can get natural pollen. Kia TE Whiki. — Removing Bees from Cottage Roof. — An ordinary smoker is quite sufficient if you can get near the combs. The combs must be cut out, the portion containing brood tied into frames and placed with some or all of the bees in a box and so trans- ported to the place required. If you can secure the queen and a few bees, make them ascend into a skep placed close to where combs have been removed from ; in an hour or so, if done towards night, all the bees will join them ; they can then be taken away. Some bees must bo put with combs to keep brood from chilling. J, "White. — Returning Swarm to Bar-frame Hioes. — The queen-cells in the hive must be cut out and the old queen run in with the swarm or remove old queen from swarm and cut out all but two queen-cells. Drone-comb. — Always allow a few inches of drone- comb in stock hive. A. 0. — Porch. — We have tried a very similar plan by having a piece of zinc hinged on front edge of porch, and found it acted well in preventing bees from flying in bad weather, especially when snow was on the ground. S. A. B. — 1. Honey at Highgate. — You will not get much honey except from the lime-trees in July. Have your bees strong then. '2. Lilac — Lilac is not found of much use to bees except for pollen. Wm. Mitchell. — Suspicious Comb. — This appeal's to be chilled brood only. The circumstances detailed by . you support this view. Your plan should do. Bedford. — Pollen-bearing Bees. — The proportion of bees carrying pollen varies under continually changing conditions. We have counted the bees entering a very strong, prosperous colony, with a young queen who was breeding very fast, and found about ninety entering during a minute, of which about fifty were carrying pollen, as many as eighteen pollen-bearers marching in without any non-pollen-carriers inter- vening. Later in the same day at the same colony we have counted seventy per minute, of which not more than six carried pollen. "We do not therefore consider your query can be inserted as a Selected Querg. Correction.— The article, ' The East Coast of Florida,' on page 224, was credited to Gleanings, from which it was taken. It should have been credited to the B;e-keepers' Magazine, in which the original appeared, Mr. Detwiller being special correspondent to that Journal. pgjusiness ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fencburch St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godjian, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutohinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadhasi, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 119 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 119 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simjiins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots Godjian, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H. , Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godman, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B. , Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. N O T i c E. The British Bee Journal is published by Keht 4 Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtainod of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW. T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C. Bewdley, Worcestershire. DDRRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. OVERTON, C. Ty Crawley. Sussex. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHINSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 31, 1888. Perfect Sections of Comb Honey can be obtained in Perfect Crates. ■■♦♦♦»♦ i ♦ » 0 EDEY'S HONEY BOARD and REVERSING ARRANGEMENT OPENS A NEW FIELD TO COMB PRODUCERS. Price : Each with 21 four bee-way Sections, Avith bee-space round each Section, 7/- per pair ; for two bee-way Sections, 6/6 per pair ; full sheets of Foundation fixed, 6d. per pair extra. In Flat : Lots of Five subject to 33 per cent discount, Sec- Fig. 7a, with Reversing Arrange- +;ons .f-p pniiinlptp ment and Honey Board. UUUb' j mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on whiclt it appears. RE-FORMATION OF THE LATE LINCOLN- SHIRE B. K. A. [1667.] The Hon. Secretary of the Boston Branch of the above Association, Dr. Small, and myself are anxious to save the members of this branch from being drawn into the ' vortex,' caused by the drowning of the Lincoln- shire B. K. A. There are about thirty subscribers, the greater part of whom pay regularly, headed by the vicar of Boston with lO.s-. ; and they would pay this year if you and the committee of the B. B. K. A. can devise any means to save us from the fate that awaits us. If so please act promptly. — Robert Thorpe, Swineshead, June 2nd. [We are pleased to hear of the prospect of the re- establishment of so prominent an Association as the Lincolnshire. Will the B. B. K. A. promptly give tho helping hand that our correspondent requires r— Ed.] THE MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF HONEY. [1668.] We should like to inquire into the reasons why or in what re>pect honey is a medicine, supposing we take it as admitted that such is the case, an assumption many medical men might object to, seeing that the position of honey in the British Pharmacopoeia is such a very modest one, its use being chiefly that of a vehicle for other medicines, and as an adjunct to gargles. I should say that children in the stages requiring Mel boracis receive the greatest share of the officinal preparations of honey. True, oxymel (a mixture of honey, acetic acid, and water) is used as a demulcent, softening mucus lodging in the air-passages and facilitating its expectora- tion. Iu my own household, however, I prefer the use of citric acid to acetic. In bronchitis, honey pure and simple is always at hand, and more relief is obtained by frequently tasting it than from anything else. Nearly twenty years ago I found the greatest benefit in an attack of quinsy by using a gargle of red sage, acidulated with vinegar, and well sweetened with honey. Honey ad libitum as a laxative, and mixed with borax for thrush, is, of course, a common household medicine for children. We will leave out of our view the value of honey as a food, as a heat -producer, consisting, as it does principally, of carbon and water, the two sugars dextrose and levulose, invert sugar. We know it is readily assimilated in the stomach, and should be eaten with some attenuating substance such as bread. Mr. Cheshire, in ' Honey as Food,' tells us: — 'Why honey has a curative effect it is difficult to say for certain, but one may theorise, and ascribe this fact to the readiness with which it combines with mucous tissue. Honey is variable, and therefore its value as a medicine cannot always be the same.' In ' Honey, as Food and Medicine,' we have a list of prescriptions which are almost incredulously efficacious, a few of which may be named as startlers : — Inflamma- tion and congestion of the lungs followed by uncon- sciousness were cured by eating honey at all times of the dav and night until 10 lbs, were consumed. Herr Karl 286 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 7, 1888. Gatter was at the verge of the grave, and was restored to perfect health by the use of honey. Consumption is cured by it, and in ancient times it was used as a means of securing long life, and it is said to be an excellent remedy in diseases of the bladder and kidneys. The recipes are : — For asthma, honey of squills, honey cough syrup, eye-wash, balsam of "honey, for croup, for bronchitis, honey salve, for coughs, colds, whooping cough, &c, honey-wash for the eyes, gargle for sore throat, cancer plaster, honey cough medicine, honey and tar cough candy, honey for sore eyes, honey and walnut cough candy, remedy for whooping cough, colds, &c. Granting that all these prescriptions are good and effectual, what is there about honey that is absent in sugar which _ brings about such apparently wonderful results ? It is in this direction we will turn our gaze. We know the effect produced upon the nerves at the roots of our teeth by bringing them into contact with fresh honey, strong in acid, and it may be that the excess of formic acid secreted by the bee is used by it in giving its honey this strong acid reaction. Indeed, it is not beyond the bounds of reason to suppose that the supply of this acid to the bee is not intended for use so much as sting poison as for purely domestic purposes. There is not much doubt that the acid contained in honey is beneficial to both stomach and liver. What else is there in honey ? Well, myriads of pollen-grains, and these contain chemical principles of undoubted medical potency. Putting aside the husks (the extine and intine of the pollen-grain) the outermost skin is found to be reticu- lated with ridges, the seat of a secretion of sticky oil. The contents are a sticky fluid rich in protoplasm, some- times transparent, sometimes opaque, by reason of float- ing granules (fovilla), which granules 'are declared by Herapath to contain as much as 46 per cent of a peculiar inflammable azutized ( ? ) principle insoluble in nearly every liquid. I imagine it is soluble by gastric juice. These granules were found to be invisible in many fresh pollens, since the fluid in which they swim has the same refractive power as the granules ; some of them are drops of oil, whilst others consist of proteine compounds. Many pollen tubes will develop in nectar, by osmose of water, and produce in their own tubes other chemical combinations, and as the growth of these tubes often exceeds the diameter of the pollen grain by a hundred diameters, their chemical positionin the honey must be somewhat considerable. We have then (leaving the sugar of honey on one side) to deal with formic acid and the protoplasmic contents of pollen-cells, when we think of honey as a medicine. The most im- portant factor, in my opinion, remains yet to be con- sidered. I allude to its flavour. Mr. Otto Hehner tells ua ' he has not been able by chemical means to distinguish between honey from one kind of flower and any other.' We must all admit that such a difference exists. We know that honey collected from poisonous plants is materially affected by the active deleterious or objection- able or medicinal principle, secreted by such plant, the rhododendron family, azaleas and kalmias being an instance of this. Does it not follow, as nectar is a secretion and an exudation of the plant cell, that it is charged and pervaded by the active principle, beneficial or otherwise, of the plant? Many instances of the identity of the nectar flavour, and the distinguishing principle of the plant which secretes it, can be given : — ' Citric acid is found in fruits and flowers of the orange tribe. Tartaric ,, ,, grape juice. Malic „ „ the apple, gooseberry, &c. Tannic ,, ,, the oak, Sea. Hydrocyanic (prussic) the cherry laurel. Oxalic acid ,, sorrel and rhubarb. Gallic ,, ,, in all kinds of galls. Of poisonous principles we find alkaloids of— Quinine in cinchona. Morphine „ opium. Solanine in plants of the potato tribe. Veratrine „ sebadilla. Aconitine ,, monkshood and aconites. Strychnine ,, nux vomica. Atropine „ belladonna. Pipeline ,, pepper. Theine or caffeine in tea and coffee. Some of the most poisonous plants bear the gaudiest flowers, and such we know are peculiarly attractive to bees, whilst many plants unwholesome as food are in- valuable as medicine. Most of the umbelliferfe are poisonous, the same may be said of the ranunculaceas, e.g., anemone, Pulsatilla, delphinium, monkshood, aconitum vulgare. The poppy family, papaveracea;, are notorious (P. somniferum). The crucifers are, however, non-poisonous. When we come to the violet family we find one of our most valuable medicines (ipecacuanha), obtained from the root of a violet grown in Peru. The buckthorn (rhumnus) gives us a valuable medicinal fruit: from the spindle tree family we get the valuable active prin- ciple euonymine. The seeds of the laburnum are poisonous. The cherry tribe (containing the almond, peach, nectarine, &c.) yields us prussic acid, this acid is also secreted by plants of the plum tribe. A common plant (fool's parsley), common in gardens, is poisonous, as are generally the umbelliferae, wet places being their home as a rule, when this principle is developed. Wild lettuce and wild celery are poisonous:, whilst most members of the cocupositse are medicinal. It is curious also to note that the ling or heather (the source of so much fine honey), has in its family the azaleas, kalmias, &c. The peri- winkle (vinca) family have amongst them the nux vomica, from which we extract strychnine, a deadly poison, but at the same time the most valuable tonic in the Pharmacopeia. Entire plants are wild lettuce (Lactucin, similar to Manna). The following are the parts of plants used in medical preparation : — Twie any of them is reduced to a small quantity of bees you may strengthen them by taking a proper number from any of your hives that is plentiest of them; and if any of your hives be lighter than another, take the bees from her; and in all your uniting of bees strive as much as v-ou can to unite those that are of the best natural tempers, for there is a great odds among them.' This advice seems all very good, except as relates to the mid-winter time of operat- ing. Considering, however, that we are reproached by our American cousins as not having any 'climate' in this country, but only ' samples ' of it, and seeing what ' the rigours of our English summer ' sometimes are, Bonner may, after all, have been poking sly fun at our weather, and have signiiied by ' mid-winter' the month of, let us say, March. We referred, in our former article, and in this, to our old friend's abhorrence of feeding bees, a point on which he holds strong opinions as may be gathered from his concluding paragraph on the chapter devoted to it. He says ; ' I am weary of writing on so disagreeable a sub- ject, and hope my wise readers will take advice and keep good stalls in September, and thereby scarcely ever need to seek directions in this chapter called the bee- master's last shift.' But those were days in which extractors, driven bees, stimulative spring-feeding, and the building up of weak stocks, were all unknown. We have respect enough for Bonner's good sense to believe that, had he foreseen the coming developments of api- culture, he would have been at one with us in very different views from those we have been quoting from this book. Wb will advert to only one more mistake of our writer of a century ago. It is that in the spring ' many of the bees leave the brood, and go in search of farina' to seal ..hem up within their cells.' By ' farina,' of course, he means pollen, and we now know that this is gathered for the feeding of the young brood, not for making the cell- covers. Our object in referring to this ancient writer is not in order to show up bis ignorance, and to glorify our more advanced knowledge, but rather to direct the attention of some of our readers to various unsettled points, both practical and theoretical, on which it behoves tbem to obtain sound information from the best of our modern authorities. WARWICKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the AVarwickshire Bee-keepers' Association was held at the Grand Hotel, Birmingham, on the 81st ult., under the presidency of Mr. J. Courtenay Lord. The others present included Messrs. E. M. Pearson, ( '. Butler, A. Ward,.!. Simkins, II. Hobson, J. B. Young, G. Franklin, A. II. Foster, J. N. Bower (Hon. Sec), .1. R. Ingerthorp (Assifltanl Secretary), and Mr. C. W. Summerskill (expert), &c. Lord Leigh and Mr. Jesse I lollings, M.P., wrote apologising for inability to attend. The annual report of the Committee congratulated the members upon the steadily increasing interest that the Association had been one of the means of creating in the cause of apiculture; but it was a matter of deep regret to them that, owing to the failure of Messrs, Greenway's Bank, and to the general agricultural de- pression, financially the year had been a somewhat disastrous one. The income from all sources amounted to 02/. 14s. '.1(7. only, while the expenditure, notwith- standing (lie observance of the atrictest economy, had been 111/, lis. Qd., leaving an adverse balance of 18/. 17.S-. The Committee therefore earnestly appealed to the members to endeavour to avert the calamity of the useful work of the Association being curtailed, and to further its interests by either increasing their sub- scriptions or securing new subscribers, thereby clearing off the debt, and giving the Association its full working power. Tbi> Association's expert made a tour to mem- bers during the spring, but the autumn tour had to be abandoned for want of funds. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said the Society deserved the support of every well- meaning citizen, inasmuch as one of its objects was to improve the condition of cottagers and agricultural labourers. He mentioned that the importation of honey from Chili alone during the last five years had amounted to 600 tons per annum, and >aid that if their Society was to be a Buccess, they ought not to rest until they had reduced the enormous annual importation of honey. Much good had already been done in imparting a know- ledge of how honey might be taken in a merciful way. He was sorry to know that the Society had lost 18/. by the failure of the Warwick Bank. Many of the members, too, had suffered individually, and had thus been unable to pay their subscriptions, Mr. Butler seconded the motion, and it was passed. On the proposition of Mr. J. Simkins, the President and Vice-Presidents were re-elected, and a vote of thanks was accorded to them for their past services. Thanks were also accorded to the Committee and honorary officers, and Mr. J. X. Bower was re-appointed Hon. Secretary, Mr. J. II. Ingerthorp Assistant Secretory, and Mr. C. W. Summerskill Expert. Mr. J. Hiam (Redditch) gave a short lecture on 'Bee- keepers' Enemies, and how to deal witli them.' He said that one of the greatest enemies of the bee was the hornet, which not only took the honey, but established itself in the bee-hive. The wasp was also an enemy to the bee, the Vespa germanica being the most dangerous species. The tom-tit, too, was accused of killing bees, but a piece of suet placed in front of the hive, he found, kept the birds from destroying his bees. Another bee- destroyer was the toad, and even the sparrow and the bull- finch were accused. Last autumn he trapped as many as sixty bullfinches in an ordinary trap-cage, and he dealt with the sparrows by finding them places to build in, and then talcing their eggs. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Hiam at the close of his lecture. Caeniola is the province of Krain, S. Illyria, in the Austrian Empire ; it has the repute of producing abund- ance of honey and bees-was:. 294 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 14, 1888. (ferespotttrenit. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith, illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, .Books for Review, &c, must be addressed only to *The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C All business communications relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). %* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. HONEY IMPORTS. The total value of honey imported into the United Kingdom during the month of May, 1838, amounted to 2009/. — John Courroux, Principal, Statistical Office, H. M. Customs, June Qth. BEES COLLECTING HONEY— LEE'S PATENT SECTIONS. [1G74.] On page 239 I gave a short account of the condition of my bees at Farnborough, and reported that they were collecting honey and ready for supers on May 5. On May the 10th I found them working well, and put a case of twenty-one sections on No. 1, which they took to at once. On the 23rd they had worked out and filled most of the sections with honey ready for sealing. As the bees were very strong in numbers I introduced another case of sections between the hive and the first, so as to prevent their being crowded, and if possible to prevent swarming. Before I saw them again the weather had changed, the wind being in the east ; on this day there was nothing doing, and the sections, although some were partly sealed, were nearly deserted by the bees. I added some additional covering, but did not otherwise interfere with them. On Saturday the 2nd of June I found nearly the whole of the upper tier sealed over and took fifteen out of the twenty-one quite finished. The centre row of sections in the lower tier were all worked out and partly sealed, those at the sides not being nearly so forward. When I saw you on Monday 1 mentioned that I had some sections nicely filled, and you replied, 'Why did you not bring some up, as I should have liked to have men- tioned it in the Journal?' I now send you a crate of twelve sections that you may see for yourself if they are not nicely filled. After you have looked at them will you kindly send them on to Messrs. Neighbour in Regent Street, who generally take my early honey ? You will see I used some of Lee's patent dovetailed sections, and I am delighted with them ; they are far in advance of all others ; you will see that the whole twelve are free from popholes or bee-passages. Whole sheets of Dadant's thin foundation were used ; this I obtained from Messrs. Neighbour, who, I understand, import large quantities of it, and it is in my opinion superior to anything I have seen that has been made in this country, and I believe it to be absolutely pure and free from the fatty smell that much of the stuff sold asjnire bees-wax foundation has ; at any rate the bees take to it at once as if it was the genuine thing. Messrs. Dadant are the largest makers of comb- foundation in the world, and last year I see by their ad- vertisement they made and sold about thirty tons of it. I hope your readers will try it against some other makers, and report to the Journal which they prefer. Bad foundation is a most annoying thing to have, as many of us know from experience. The ease with which full sheets of foundation can be secured in Lee's patent sections, on all four sides, when putting the sections together, is a treat; there is no mess with molten wax or any fear of breaking the section whilst putting together, as is the case with the one-piece sections. They should not be put together without a block, but with it the foundation can be secured to per- fection with a very little practice, the chief thing being to cut the foundation to the exact size required. The principal object of this report is to show that bees, if let alone, with sufficient winter stores, will do equally as well as those that have had the brood spread and been stimulated by artificial feeding, &c. — John M. Hooker, June 8th. [We desire to thank our correspondent for affording us the opportunity of seeing these sections, to us the first- fruits of the honey-harvest of the season of 1888. We readily bear our testimony to the perfect finish and the beautiful appearance they presented. They were quite free of popholes or bee-passages, and prove that Mr. Lee's dovetailed sections are a great success. — Ed.] QUEENLESS STOCKS IN SPRING. [1075.] The misquotation of Mr. Edey having given him an opportunity of emphasising that part of his answer would not render an apology necessary, or we would have been glad to have given it. Mr. McNally's answer will be generally regarded as satisfactory. When the hive has been discovered to be queen less on the first of May, the next thing to do will be to ascertain if drones are forming where wanted ; if not, these drone- combs must be placed in the brood-nest of strong hives for the purpose of raising drones. Should the first effort be a success, then in twenty-six days the drone would leave the cell, and in five more would be sufficiently matured to meet the young queen. This will bring us to the close of May. Were the endeavours to raise the young queens equally successful, and so timed that both were ready to fly at the same date, there might possibly intervene some days when the weather would be unsuit- able. Suppose for these contingencies the first week in June be allowed, and add to this the three weeks neces- sary before the brood of the young queen would leave the cell, and three days before they were prepared to work. We would then have come to the end of June, by which time the greatest proportion of the old bees would have died, or have been lost, and only a small portion of young brood could be brought to maturity. The examinations of stocks before the beginning of May are generally not very close, and are chiefly undertaken to find out their supply of food. If in looking down the combs sealed brood is observed, this would be regarded as satisfactory. Without looking very closely to the extent of the sealed brood, we would be disposed to cover up to avoid chilling the brood. The brood in the cells when the hive was discovered to be queenless at the beginning of May, might be very few, though the population of the hive might be strong ; under such cir- cumstances, at the end of June, or beginning of July, the stock would be very weak and unfit for honey gathering for that season. This will be regarded as a possible weakness in the system. The suggestion of Mr. Raj'nor of wintering nuclei with young breeding queens to join the queenless stocks in early spring, will generally be regarded as a good one. Many thanks for the reply in ' U. H.,' and also to Mr. AValton for the courteous, clear, and practical manner, in which he has described his method of doing it. In both cases we presume the hives were single-walled. Some few years since, a great amount of writing was going on about several nuclei being kept in one large hive, each having its separate compartment and entrance, with the object of conserving the heat of each for the benefit of the whole. Some of your correspondents would be induced to give this a trial at the time, and could they be induced to make known their success, or June 14, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 295 failure, it would be of very great service to some of your readers. For even a failure when the cau e clearly made known is of service to them following with the same end in view, though it may not poinl out the harbour sought, yet it will mark out a shore, or sand- bank, on which another need not run. — R. M. SWARM-CATCHING IX IRELAND.- WASPS. I'l'HEN- [1676.] Your last Journal gave various American methods of catching swarms; allow me to mention two Irish ones which gave amusement here. A policeman came to me in his perplexity how to catch a swarm which had lodged close by on a slender branch of elm quite out of reach. After gazing a while, I said, ' The gun will do it;' and so it did, for with one shot (of No. 5) I severed the branch and the swarm fell unharmed. The other method I adopted with a largo swarm was, while I stood on a crate, holding up as high as possible an open umbrella inverted, into which the swarm was safely shaken. Wasps I have never seen so numerous as this season. To give you some idea of their numbers, I find by my record thai in '85 I killed 10:? before June 10th: in '86, 109 j in '87, very few ; but this year on May 31st my total was 176, and still they come. From my best hive last summer I took sixty-nine sections tit for market, and about forty pounds in frames and unfinished sections, leaving it still with abundance for winter consumption. It is scarcely necessary to add that any success I have is mostly due to the instruction given in your excellent Journal. — Kinnetty Rectory, Parsonstovm, June ±th. SCRIBBLINGS FROM A COTTAGER. [1677.] Having kept bees now for some years on the modern principle, I have been a pretty close reader of the Journal. One thing I have particularly nut iced is the generally good accounts given of honey yields per colony and wonderful strength of stocks in the spring, making ono feel when I read them that I am behind again with mine as usual. The thing is, do we have an account of the best and exceptional cases and hear little of the weak and medium, or is it as a rule an average all-round state- ment? I noticed our good Editor spoke of a couple of stocks he examined containing thirteen frames of brood each on the 17th May (if I mistake not), I think these must be exceptionally forward ; my best at that date had about half that quantity of brood. Perhaps my management is at fault, or locality, or both, maybe. My first adventure with bees was thirteen years ago, when I procured a swarm in a skep. I remained a skeppist two or three years, but, hearing such glowing accounts of bar- frame hives and the enormous yields therefrom, I made it my business to visit the apiary of a friend using frame-hives, and with aid of rule, pencil, and paper, quickly had full dimensions of a good hive to take standard frames, and in a very short time put one together, eagerly awaiting my first natural swarm, — at last it came. I successfully hived it and put it on seven or eight sheets of foundation, my enthusiasm knew no bounds ; I verily caught ' bee-fever ' — my wife thinks so too. That year and the next were spent chiefly in hive- making, and the manufacture of numerous weak colonies, sugar-buying and boiling (this being no small item). I dearly bought my learning at that little game, I trust now 1 am in that respect wiser. The usual number of stocks I winter is about eight or ten, I pack them generally by the middle of October, with abundance of sealed stores (honey if possible), reduce to six or seven frames with padded dummies, use porous quilts, two layers of smooth sacking, and over all chaff- cushions, with mouth of hive four or five inches open. This last winter in two cases I shot loose chaff behind the dummies aud over quilts, filling the hives full. The first and last time ! oh what a dreadful mess and litter in the spring to clear up, and none the better for it inside that I could see for the extra trouble. I do not, as a rule, touch the hives until March, when I treat each with a cake of candy. At beginning of April, if weather is open ] begin slow syrup-feeding-, which I continue regularly till honey is plentiful. I do not do any brood-spreading until the weather is warm and bees crowded, when I give a full sheet of foundation, as 1 find they can bear it, in centre of brood-nest. I manipulate as little as possible, especially in cool weather ; in short, I follow the best plans laid down in the Journal and other bee books. My hives are all good, well made, sound, and dry, double-walled ones: and yet, notwithstanding my utmost endeavours, I cannot bring my stocks up to the pitch. I hear others do, and I should like to I think the situation of my apiary has something to do with it. I am sur- rounded with grassland, I suppose nine-tenths in pasture and meadow, with a good sprinkling of the little yellow trefoil and white clover, plenty of furze in early spring, and heath late in the season. I am on a side hill sloping to the south, about Mid-Sussex, but a rather elevated position ; and my opinion is, 1 lose a very large number of bees by the too prevalent cold winds in the spring. Mj I s are perfectly healthy. My stocks stand as follows: on June 0, one covering ten frames, 2, ditto nine, .'!, ditti i eight : aud one Ligurian lot on three frames, but not covering two, with a patch of brood the size of my hand. .1 11.-1 a word on Ligurians. Having a desire for foreign bees, and moie amiable ones, I gave 8s. for a pure Ligurian queen off one of our topmost dealers ; dethroned the queen of one of my best stocks, and successfully introduced her foreign majesty. This stock has been treated best of all, but has never got its own living. Tlio queen is now in her third year. I just managed to get them fairly strong in time to tuck them up for winter. They are very irritable, more so than my blacks, and a stock of hybrids from them are perfect demons. Immediately tin- hive is opened, smoke or no smoke they dart at one's face like particles of steel to a magnet. I go on Mr. F. Boyes' side, and say, No foreigners for me ; 1 find them a useless nuisance. I believe most of the noise we hear in favour of foreign bees emanates from dealers and breeders of queens, directly or indirectly. If any of our numerous readers can point out any of the defects in my management, or give me a hint or two, it would be esteemed a kinduess by — Country Cottager. CAPACITY OF HIVES. [1678. J It is well known that in the matter of hives there is a great divergence of opinion, some masters ad- vocating capacity for twelve, and others ten or eleven frames per storey. Could you not put it as a selected query F as I am sure the tabulated opinion would be of great interest to many besides myself. For instance, though I know almost all kinds of hives by outward looks yet I am but imperfectly acquainted with the inside dimensions of many of them. I rather suspect that the inside length is not a standard quality with many. Another interesting point to clear up would be whether there is the smallest necessity for any form of plinth to single-walled hives. For double-walled hives there certainly is, but in single-walled hives I do not think there is, because the bees quite effectually keep out wet by means of propolis. A plain joint seems all that is necessary and is certainly cheapest. Mr. Simmins in the B. H.J., Mr. Raitt in Record, and Mr. Howard in a private letter to me, have all praised and recommended this simple joint. Of course dealers will turn out any form that there is a demand for ; but I would like the opinion of some more 296 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 14, 1888. of the bee-masters. The thickness of wood used in hive construction seems pretty .well ' settled ' between f and 1 inch. By-the-bye in the experiments which Mr. F. Cheshire made to determine the best form of hive sides, did he try what was the difference of having all sides snugly covered and of only having the top well covered ? I cannot come across the record of any such experiment in any of my books, and yet I think it has a very distinct importance to bee-keepers. To theorise I should say that the cooling from side would not be very great, though from the top of course it would be if they were thin. — DUNBAR. INCEEASE. Making Increase op Division. [1679.] While dividing colonies for increase is preferred throughout the country by a large majority of bee- keepers, I practise and prefer in my own apiary ' natural swarming,' from the fact that apiculture is my sole occupation for a livelihood, and I work the business for all that is in it. If the bee-keeper has plenty of time and extra combs with which to supply his 'divided colonies, he will without a doubt succeed with this method. I will say this in behalf of dividing colonies, from the fact that I do not wish to be understood to say that bee-keeping cannot be made a success financially without it, viz. : — If increase is the bee-keeper's object, and he has plenty of comb-foundation already drawn out, and plenty of money in his pocket, by all means use the dividing method of increase. On the other hand, my experience has enabled me to arrive at the conclusion that natural swarmmg pays best if dollars and cents is the object to be sought. The question might be asked, How do you control swarming ? I do not always do it, but then to a certain extent I do. Just as soon as the bees begin to show symptoms of swarming, I put on the sections, and keep the bees supplied with plenty of room, never allowing, them to be idle if there is honey in the fields. In a few days after the first swarm issues, I open the hive from whence the swarm came, and remove all queen-cells but one, if there seems to be no newly-hatched queeu present. Some apiarists may claim that bees will swarm too much, but my experiments in that direction have proved to the contrary. From seventy-six colonies, spring count, I obtained only about thirty swarms altogether for the season of 1S87 ; and in summing up all my reports from year to year, I cannot find one instance whatever of doubling my number of colonies by natural swarming. Dividing colonies is a safe way to increase, and can be carried to almost any extent ; and while I have said so much against it, I could not well dispense with this new improvement in bee-culture, for it is by this means that all my nuclei colonies are formed and queens reared. Comb and Extracted Honey. Now a few words as to my method of obtaining comb and extracted honey. The apiary is worked for both comb and extracted honey, from the fact that there is to be found in any apiary a number of colonies that do not feel disposed to work in surplus sections. When- ever colonies of this kind are found, they are supplied with an extra set of combs, and by this means they can be induced to store a fair surplus of honey to be ex- tracted. In this way a portion of my apiary is ' rigged up' with two sets of combs for extracting purposes. When honey begins to come in fast, these combs are placed in the extractor about once a-week (or just as often as necessary), and the honey taken out. I seldom disturb the lower storey in extracting. The rest of the apiary, being composed of all strong colonies, is supplied with sections whenever necessarv. When one case is partly full, it is raised, and an empty one placed under it. My favourite section for obtaining comb-honey is the 4J x 4J in. I use two widths, namely, the lg-in. and the 2-in. Which width is the best I am not prepared to say. My market demands a section that holds a pound of honey. Sometimes I get this pound in the^lj-in. section, and ofttimes in the 2-in. section. My judgment, based upon experience, is, that a section which will hold a3 nearly as practicable one pound of honey is what the trade and market demand. In conclusion, I will state that the season's work for 1837, summed up in a nutshell, is not an encouraging report by any means. After uniting a few late swarms in October, I began the winter with ninety-six colonies, having had seventy-six colonies with which to com- mence the season's work. My sales of combs and extracted honey amounted to upwards of 1700 pounds, about 1500 pounds of which was produced during the last summer. The comb honey was disposed of at a good price. Extracted honey has had only a fair sale, but I am glad to say that the demand is increasing. — Head at the Nebraska State Convention hj J. M. Young, Rock Bluff's, Kebr. (American Bee Journal.) SKEPS AND BAR-FRAMES. [1G80.] ' Brathay ' need not wonder why his bees died in the bar-frame hives, if he saved two out of three he must think himself very lucky. Having kept bees in bar-frame hives many years 1 know a little about them. Why, don't our professors tell you how it is ? Talk about ventilation, do we ever hear of spring dwindling or queen-encasement in straw skeps, some propolised as to hold water. Why do we advocate and give ventila- tion when the bees try to prevent it ? surely they know best. The fact is, ventilation means escape of heat,, which in winter and early spring is the life of the poor bees. Bar-frames allow of more space for the heat to escape, especially with porous quilts, whereas the dome- shaped straw skep confines it to the cluster. Greater lights speak in favour of ventilation (which is all bosh), but do they ever say a word in favour of confining the heat that the poor bees generate f Having taken in the Bee Journal many years I can say that all my bee disasters were caused by acting on many of the articles that should not have been inserted. Theory might be very well, but practice is better. Bar-frame hives are very good for summer use, but do they counterbalance the disadvantages of winter and early spring ? Take my advice and experience, keep your bees as warm as possible in winter and spring, stop all ventilation, and not disturb them more than you are obliged to do. — W. Edwards, Mouseliill, Surrey. [Yes, we experience spring dwindling quite as much in skeps as in frame-hives. Bees do not try to prevent bottom ventilation. In hollow trees, and other natural habitats, we always find plenty of space below the combs. Very few advanced bee-keepers advocate upward ven- tilation, or if allowed it is insensible. When we tell you that we winter from forty to fifty colonies in frame- hives every year, and very rarely lose a colony, and that hundreds of others do the same, you will perceive that we are not speaking on a subject of which we are quite ignorant. We are old 'skeppists' of fifty years' standing, but we should as soon think of advocating a return to the old slow coaches of a century ago, and condemning modern railways, as a return to the rotten, reeking old skep, redolent of foul brood and all other filthiness, in place of the modern frame-hive, with all its advantages. Queen encasements? Yes, we have seen quite as many in skeps as in frame-hives. We are afraid you have sadly misread your Journal or your experience would have been very different. You speak of the advice given by the ' greater lights ' June 14, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 297 on ventilation as ' bo3h,' whatever that may mean, but ■we suspect that more real 'bosh' is written in favour of unventilated skeps full of condensed moisture and mouldy and rotten combs. In our experience colonies in both skeps and frame-hives are wintered best over empty ekes. "We venture to prophesy that your raid against frame-hives will not result in gaining you many followers. — Ed.] A BOY ON THE LANGSTROTH FUND. [1081.] I was very sorry to see that so few bee- keepers had subscribed to the Langstroth Fund on the 31st of May, and still more so when on the 7th of June no more had subscribed. I herewith enclose 2s. (JJ, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHINSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. ^^±^±^L,^t^.@y n^ BRITISH Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stkanoewats' Pbintino Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 313. Vol. XVI.] JUNE 21, 1888. [Published Weekly.] ^tritflrid, Itoiias, fo. THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW. The entries for the department allotted to apicultural appliances and honey at the furth- coming Show at Nottingham are unusually large, numbering something like 300. Next to the great Metropolitan Exhibition held at South Ken- sington in 1880, the display at Nottingham (if favourable weather prevail) will be one of the most interesting displays that have as yet taken place in the United Kingdom. A new, and perhaps the most instructive, feature will be the manufacture of comb-foundation ; this class has been well filled. The British Bee-keepers' Association arc to be congratulated upon having secured such an attrac- tive and instructive exhibition, interesting alike both to bee-keepers and the general public. Efforts are also beiug made to extend the attrac- tions of this department in other respects, including the section for lecturing. It is proposed to em- bellish the exhibits of honey with bouquets of flowers, principally of those from which the honey is gathered. We are desired to make an appeal to those who are able to send any plants or cut flowers ; the latter may be sent per parcels post direct to the show. We trust that many of our friends will lend some assistance in this respect. Communica- tions on this point may be sent to the Secretary, J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE BEE- KEEPERS' ASS( )CIATION. We desire to draw the attention of our bee- keeping friends to the exhibition of bees, hives, and honey, which will bo held by the above Association from the 5th to the 7th of September, in connexion with the Royal Manchester, Liverpool, and North Lancashire Agricultural Society's show at Lancaster. When we remember the grand effect of the above Society's exhibition at the show at South Kensing- ton, we feel assured that it will hold forth great attractions to all who take an interest in bees and bee-keeping ; and also that it will honourably represent our industry before the Society in con- nexion with which it is held. One interesting' feature in this show to which we would advert is the County Competition ; in which the honey must bo the produce of at least ten bee-keepers' bees, and all members in the County Association. The prizes offered are on a most liberal scale ; and the management of the show is in the hands of those who are fully able to carry out all the details successfully. CAMBRIDGE BEE-KKErERS' SHOW. We trust that beekeepers in the vicinity of Cambridge will give their best attention to the exhibition of honey, bees, hives, and appliances, which will be held at Cambridge, 19th and 20th July, in connexion with the Agricultural and Poultry Show, on Monday, June 25th. Mr. R. Peters, of Downing Street, Cambridge, will be pleased to furnish any information required. LANGSTROTH FUND. Since giving the list of subscribers to this fund which appeared in our issue of May 31st, we have received from A Young Bee-keeper, 2s. 6V. ; from G. H., Ticehurst, 2*. 6d Will our bee-keeping friends who have not yet contributed to this Fund please to read the account of a ' Visit from Father Langstroth,' from the pen of Mr. James Heddon, on p. 303, so that therefrom they may be enabled to form an estimate of the character of this veteran bee-keeper and benefactor to the bee-keeping in- dustry? As we purpose closing this fund on the 28th inst, will all intending subscribers kindly forward their donations without delay] PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY. Comb Honey in Sections. We are frequently asked whether we think good comb honey can be got by working sections at the side of brood-nest, and if there is an}- difference in the quantity obtained by working in this way or by supering. We have produced section honey now for a number of years, and were amongst the first to do so in this country. Every improvement in the method has been tried and worked by us, and we have tried all the dodges and notions that have been from time to time advocated. We may here give our experiences, and state that we have found by supering we get a larger quantity of honey, and generally of a better quality as regards 300 TILE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 21, 1888. appearance. In using the word ' supering,' we mean placing supers on the top, and we never use this word in connexion with side storing. We think it advisable to give this definition, for many bee-keepers have got into the habit of using the words super and supering indiscriminately in connexion with top and side storing. An examination of the meaning of the word would show how senseless it is to use it in connexion with side storing. Super is a Latin word, which means above, on the top, over, upon, on, and is applied to honey re- ceptacles placed on the top of hives. Therefore, to talk of ' side supering ' is, to say the least, incongruous. We have for some time entirely discarded side storing, for although bees take to sections, and commence working in them sooner at the side of brood-nest, they are very much slower in finishing them off than when the sections are on the top. Close proximity to the brood-nest also is the cause of discoloration of the combs, and frequently pollen will be stored in some of the cells, even if ex- cluder-zinc is used. There is frequently a difficulty in getting bees to start in supers, and it is still greater when the sections are not furnished with combs, and only contain foundation. It is a good plan to have a number of sections con- taining nice clean combs, which have been built out during the latter end of the honey harvest or in the autumn. When we look Over our cases of sections towards the end of the season, all those not partially sealed over are at once removed until the honey-flow ceases. They are then given to the bees, who carry the honey they contain below, and clean them out, so that, after fumigation with burning brimstone, they are put away until they are wanted for furnishing supers in the spring. Some years ago, before comb-foundation was made as thin as it is now, we used to cut out all the white unfinished naturally built combs we could get, and put them in as starters in our sections ; but since we now get beautiful thin foundation, twelve feet to the pound, it is much less trouble to fix this, and the combs built out are equally as good. When a rack of sections is put on, the great thing is to get the bees to crowd up into it and to commence storing surplus at once. If the hive is not crowded with bees, they will not do this, and will, pro- bably, only begin to work in the centre. The conse- quence of this is that only the sections in the centre get built out perfectly, those on the outside frequently not being more than three-fourths filled. To get all the sec- tions uniform the bees should fill the supers, and begin working on all sections at the same time. If there are not enough bees in the hive to do this, we remove the outer frames and contract the space by means of division boards, so as to crowd the bees below and force them up into the supers. Even a weak hive may be made to yield some honey if the bees are forced up into supers at the right moment, and supers of a suitable capacity are used. Once the bees are fairly at work in the sections, there is little difficulty in making them continue to do so. When the sections in the first case are about two-thirds full of comb, the case must be raised, and one with sections furnished with comb or thin foundation should be placed beneath the first on the top of the hive. The bees will continue their work in the upper case and work down into the one below. In a few days a third mav be placed under the second. Usually the top case will be completed first, and should be removed and another one placed below the other two if the honey-flow still continues. We have, however, just had an exception to this rule. In examining a hive with three storeys of sections a few days ago, we took away fifteen sections completed from the top case. The six partly-finished sections were put into the case, and this was filled up with empty sections and placed below the other two. We were rather astonished to find the next case also contained a large number of what, by looking through the passages, appeared to be completed sections; on examination, we found thirteen quite finished and the third case appeared to us to be also well advanced. We were agreeably surprised to find fifteen sections quite finished, so that from this hive we took as many finished sections from the lower storey as from the top. We were deceived at first as to the state of completion of our sections by the glass on the end ones, and we were waiting to see the bees commence to seal these over before removing the top case. In all forty-three sections were removed and the remaining twenty were put together in one case and returned to the bees, placing another case of empty sections below. The cases shown in illustration Fig. 1 and 2 are the ones used, and although no queen-excluder has been employed, not one of the sections had been used for breeding. Perhaps the metal dividers have some- thing to do with this, coming as they do within quarter of an inch of the openings. We prefer stout tin dividers 3J inches wide, and find combs worked between such everything that may be desired. When we visited Mr. Knickerbocker's queen-breeding establishment last year, in New York State, we were shown a new divider of wood, which was like a double divider, giving space for the bees to pass up between. It was made of i-inch wood 3j inches wide, and was sawn right through so that there was a passage way of a ^-ineh. Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Here, then, in addition to giving a passage all round the sections, an additional way is provided to enable the bees to pass between each row of combs without walking over them. We extemporised some such dividers by nailing t%vo on each side of vertical 1-inch strips, but did not find them any better than the ordinary dividers, and the room they occupy is certainly against them. Wood dividers have their advocates, but we prefer metal if of sufficient substance to prevent its buckling. So long as the honey-flow lasts, continue to remove cases of completed sections, and give empty cases below ; but when the flow ceases, no more sections should be given, and an endeavour made to get those partially sealed completed. As we have before stated, all those sections in which none of the cells were capped over are removed, and given to the bees to clean out later. All June 21, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 301 the cases are examined, and the completed sections taken out. Cases of uncompleted sections are then made up and placed on the strongest hives for completion. One case, or at most two, should only be given, and as fast as the sections are finished, they are removed, and other unfinished sections put in to fill up the space. The Lees must be well crowded in the supers, which must be kept carefully wrapped up. If the bees are crowded in the body of the hive, the unsealed sections placed behind a division-board would soon be emptied, and the honey stored either in the frames or in the sections above. If this plan be adopted, the sections should be introduced in the evening and removed early in the morning, so as not to start robbing; and take care that the bees can get at them only by passing under the division-board, which should not reach quite down to the floor-board, but allow space for the bees to pass under it. 3In Stpcmoriam. We regret to have to record the death of Major von Hruschka, which occurred on the 11th May last in Venice, Italy. Many of our older readers will know who Major von Hruschka was, but, like that of many benefactors, his name has been almost forgotten, anil there are probably many of our subscribers who have never even heard the name or known to what extent bee- keeping is indebted to him. Since the introduction of the moveable comb-hive there has been no instrument that has been of so great a benefit to bee-keeping as the honey extractor, by means of which combs are saved, honey obtained perfectly pure and free from any admixture of pollen or brood, with which ordinary honey was usually contaminated. To Major von Hruschka we are indebted for the invention of the honey extractor, which is now considered an indispensable adjunct to every apiary. The idea of employing centrifugal force occurred to hiin by seeing the way the honey was driven out of a piece of comb which his son was whirling at the end of a piece of string. He invented his machine, consisting of a wooden tub, in which a framework of wood was made to revolve by unwinding and winding alternately a string attached to the vertical spindle. This machine he first exhibited in lSUo at the meeting of the German bee-keepers in Briinn, where it received the cordial approval of all. In view of the great importance of the discovery he was presented with an address of thanks. Although the extractors of the present day are improve- ments on the first machine made, they all work on the same principle. At one time Major von Hruschka was a prominent bee-keeper, attended bee meetings, and was a frequent contributor to bee papers. For some years, since he has resided in Italy, he has retired from the bee world, and has neither attended meetings nor written for any of the bee periodicals. Notwithstand- ing this, Major von Hruschka must be always regarded as one of the great benefactors of modern bee-keeping. USEFUL HINTS. Weather and Swarming. — Thunder showers and cold nights have prevailed during the last week, and in the gleamy intervals between the showers swarming has been in the ascendant. Cool, showery weather, with little honey coming in, will increase the swarming fever, even in the best-managed apiaries. .Returning swarms and cutting out queen-cells may retard swarming for a few days, but it is tiresome work and occupies much time. In most seasons, but especially in one like the present, we have found it least trouble and most re- munerative to gratify the swarming propensity by placing the first swarm on the stand of the parent colony and dividing the brood combs between parent and swarm, transferring the super cases to the latter, and treating the parent merely as a nucleus, for uniting in autumn or for wintering as a nucleus. By following this plan we always have on hand a sufficient number of young queens which have been raised in full colonies for superseding old ones, and which demand very little attention. The simpler the plan adopted, and the simpler the appliances in apiculture, the better. There is, we fear, too great a tendency towards the multiplication and complication of bee-keepers' appliances — a necessary evil, perhaps, attendant on the great revival of apiculture during the last ten or dozen years in this country. Italians. — A short time back a correspondent wrote to us from Ireland respecting Italian bees. He had purchased a queen, said to be quite pure, from a dealer, introduced her successfully, and found that her progeny was the most irritable and vicious of any bees he had ever met with. Enclosed with his letter was a box con- taining specimens of the bees. There was not a bee amongst them showing more than one orange band, and several having no trace of the colour ! We quote this as a specimen case. Krp.'atedlv the same thing has occurred to us. Nay, at more than one of our shows we have seen prizes awarded to hybrids as Italians of pure race. No wonder that our gentle and beautiful Italians get a bad name, and that after such an experience ' Blacks ' are preferred. We do not believe in the importation of hybrid or hybridised queens to any extent, but attribute the evil chiefly to the sale of English-mated queens, and failure in introducing queens when obtained pure. Every tyro considers himself capable of introducing an alien queen. He follows the stereotyped rule, and takes no further trouble in verifying the introduction. The so- called introduced queen, after, perhaps, depositing a few eggs, is deposed, a queen is raised from one of her eggs and mates with an English drone, and in due course her vicious children appear on the stage, and discredit the pure Italian race. ^Ye all know the difficulties in the way of obtaining pure fertilisation in this country, and it assuredly behoves dealers and others to be very careful in sending out queens as pure regarding whose fecundation there is even a shadow of a doubt. Carxiolans, with all their pristine gentleness, beauty, and other excellent qualities, may soon have to be placed in the same category of impure or hybridised bees if no greater care is taken in their case than with the Italians. Twelve years ago, at a Crystal Palace Show, Mr. Neighbour exhibited a splendid colony of this race, in which we failed to discover a single bee showing the faintest trace of an orange shade; but now almost all we see have the upper band of the abdomen more or less shaded with orange. We are told that this is the case in their native country, but if this be true, we incline to the opinion that it has arisen from the introduction of yellow- blood. We certainly possess an imported queen which is breeding bees perfectly uniform in colour, and free from the faintest suspicion of orange marking. We should like to have Mr. Benton's view of this dash of orange colour in many of the so-called Carniolans. If it prevails in some colonies, and is absent in others, we should hesitate to pronounce the Carniolans a pure race. Section-boxes.— Would it not be well to use this term solely for the empty folding case, and to apply the term ' section ' to the same only when Jilted with comb- honey ? Section-case might then mean the case for holding sections upon a hive, and the word crate be relegated to the travelling case for conveying sections to market or elsewhere. But cases made of tin or card- board, with glass sides, for holding single sections, have become all but universal at our shows, and are commonly termed section-cases, wrongly, as we think, since the Americans have for many years applied the term to the case which receives sections when in position on the hive, and to call another article by the same name is to create confusion. Section-holder would be a suitable name for these glass-sided cases. If we fail to adopt a 802 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jane 21, 1888. proper nomenclature, confusion will certainly become more confounded. The English language is rich enough to supply all our wants. We seem to have adopted the elegant compound of ' pop-holes ' to express our idea of corner passages in our sections. Who fathers the word we know not, but suppose it is intended to convey the idea of the bees ' popping ' through the holes. In our younger days ginger-beer was popularly called 'pop,' and the association in our mind is that of bees ' fizzing ' through these corner holes. But to retrace our wander- ings. We have received from Mr. Howard of Peterboro' a very neat section-box, grooved on three sides, to re- ceive full sheets of foundation, and split on the fourth side. It is folded upon a block, when the foundation is pushed through the grooves and clasped firmly between the parts of the split side, the entire sheet being held taut. The operation of fixing is very simple and expe- ditious. The foundation forwarded with the section- box is natural-based, thin, light, tough, and of pure wax, and is the best of its kind we have yet seen. Second Swarms, where natural swarning is allowed, will now form excellent nuclei for wintering, if placed in nucleus hives on four frames of foundation, and, if the honey season prove a good one, will gather sufficient stores for winter. Ordinary single-sided hives of so-called inch stuff, with ample roofs, will afford protection enough for the winter months. Lost Swarms. — If an apiary is not carefully watched during swarming hours, most probably swarms will escape, no matter what system is followed. Those apiarists who are absent from home during the daytime will do well to make an evening scrutiny of the bushes and hedges in the vicinity of their hives. Often and often have we found a stray swarm on the evening of a fine da)r closely clustered on a stump or bush. A few days ago, on looking through our apiary about 11 a.m., after an hour's absence only, during which a watcher had been left in charge, we discovered, b)' means of a window at the back of the hive, that a large swarm of Italians had departed. The watcher was called to book, but declared that no swarm had issued. We insisted on having the hedges searched, and in five minutes the swarm was found, closely clustered, and weighing about five lbs., at a distance of 100 yards from the apiary. These back windows are very useful in swarming and at other times, and we should not like our hives to he with- out them. TiEiUNff up will soon become necessary if fine weather prevails after the late refreshing rain. Let the empty section-case always be placed under the partially tilled one. Bee-crushing during the operation may be prevented by a free use of the carbolised feather. We cannot bear to see a bee crushed. Besides, the scent of the sting-poison (formic acid) caused by crushing bees, so irritates the whole colony, that an attack in force is sure to be delivered, and woe be to the timid, inexperienced operator, veil, gloves, and Apifuge notwithstanding. This reminds us that the courteous inventor of Apifuge has most kindly sent us a bottle of his sting-preventing fluid, with which wo have anointed our hands, and find it most efficacious in preventing stinging thereof. To all timid apiarists, and especially to ladies, we commend the Apifuge. Judging from the general use of four-way sections, slotted dividers, and bee-space between rows of sections, we shall expect at our shows of the present year a display of comb-honey in the shape of perfectly finished sections far superior to any former exhibits. Slotted dividers, of a tough, hard kind of wood which will neither warp nor break with fair usage, appear to be a desideratum just now, as many prefer wood to metal for this purpose. Mr. Redshaw, of Wigston, near Leicester, has sent us specimens of such, which lie claims as a speciality and which, apparently, will answer the purpose. They are cleanly cut, light and thin, having a smooth surface, elastic, and yet tough. The wood of which they are made is called whitewood in America — whence it is obtained — why, we cannot understan 1, unless on the Incus a non lucendo principle, for its colour is dull brown or drab. Breeding, or increase of population in hives worked for surplus, should now be a matter of secondary import- ance; the brood-chamber, therefore, in such hives may be circumscribed, since there will now be less danger of swarming, and the surplus department should be ren- dered secure from queen visits by excluder-zinc. When we consider that eggs deposited on the 21st of June will produce workers on July 12th (which workers will com- mence field-work or honey-gathering about July 20th, when the honey-flow is nearly over), we shall see that such workers will be useless for storing surplus, and simply become consumers. Between the present time, then, and the beginning of August, encouragement to breeding may be discontinued, and the queens allowed their well-earned rest preparatory to producing the autumnal batches of brood so necessaiy for safe and successful wintering. Runches.— Under the heading of ' Bee-master of a Century Ago,' the word ' Runches ' occurs; and on re- ferring to Halliwell's Archaic and Provincial Dictionary, the word is given to mean 'wild mustard' or 'radish,' and appears to hi a Cumberland expression. — J. II. N., 14 Essex Road, Watford, Herts, June i)th. — We are also indebted to Mr. W. Lees Maclure for a similar expla- nation of this word. Rkmedy for Bee Stings. — Frank Bier gives the following recipe in the Canadian Bee Journal for allevi- ating pain caused by the stings of bees : — Moisten a piece of alum and rub the wound, and the effect will be felt at once. Coxrcsponbcnte. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for bite opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention viH he taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to unite on one tide of Die paper only, and -jive their full names mid addresses, noi necessarily f>n- publicaHont but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should l>e drawn on separate pieces of -paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports 0/ Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Reviews, Sic., must be addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c/o Messrs. Stnunjeways and Nmi.s, T<>irer Street, Cambridge Ci?cus, IJ'.f V All business communications relating to Advertisements, Ac, must he addressed (•> Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langlcy, Hots (see -2nd page of Advertisements, i %* In order to facilitate reference. Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or Query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the fetter, 'is well as the page on which it appears. BEE-MASTER OF A CENTURY AGO. [1082.] In your issue for June 7th you have a very interesting article under the above heading. I have before me while I write a work on bee-keeping pub- lished more than two centuries ago — in 167o — by a bee- master of those days named John Gedde, who was the inventor and patentee of what is now known as the Stewarton hive. True, Gedde did not have moveable combs, but he so constructed an interior framework that he could remove the entire fabric of comb en masse exactly as it was worked by the bees. Gedde's in- vention, which was patented on the 23rd April, 1675, was laid before the Loyal Society at Givsham College, London, and highly approved of by that institution. His hive consisted of an octagonal box, so constructed that successive boxes could be placed under each other as the bees required room, and each box was provided with a small window to ascertain the state of the interior. Gedde advertised his invention as follows : — ' A new discovery of an excellent method of bee-houses and colonies, to free the owners from the great charge June 21, 1888.] THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL. 303 and trouble that attends the swarming of bees, and delivers the bees from the evil reward of ruin for the benefit they brought their masters, advancing their owners manyfold above whatever any method heretofore practic'd doth. Experienced seven years by John Gedde, Gent, Inventor, and Approved by the Royal Society at Gresham College.' Gedde appears to have been a perfect bee-master as far as actual work was concerned, but in theory he was very much at sea. In the beginning of his book he advances certain fundamental truths on which his system of bee-keeping was based. It may prove interesting to some of your readers if I give his reasons verbatim: — '1. It is natural for bees to begin at the top and to work downwards. 2. That bees swarm from want of room. 3, That a great hindrance of their labour is confusion about swarming, and misspending their time in luxury. 4. That idleness causeth luxury and ex- travagance, and unprofitable increase of bees, which, being by this commodious method of labour and industry prevented, the usual but unkind requital of smothering and drowning is likewise avoided. 5. That great charge and trouble attending upon swarming of bees does dis- courage the owner and consume his profit.' It will thus lie seen that Gedde was fully alive to the importance of allowing ample room, and that much time and honey are lost when bees are allowed to have a lengthened debate on, ' Shall we swarm or no ? ' The seasons must have been very different in those days from what we have experienced in our generation. For instance, lie states that in 1656 four empty hives were placed close by the side of four strong stocks (he does not say there was any communication between the two hives), and the surplus bees at once went to work in these ' bye hives,' and during eight days in April they had gathered and stored nearly four gallons of honey, which he describes as 'pure virgin honey, and white as milk.' With the art of driving Gedde was full}' acquainted, and advocated artificial swarming by the end of first week in May. As regards egg-production, he was entirely in the dark, as he states that the queen only laid eggs for the production of queens, and the worker bees deposited eggs from which workers were reared. One theory he advances which I have proved to be true again and again, — that the sooner the bees are allowed to settle into a state of rest after the honey- flow is over the more forward they will be in the following spring; and late breeding, that is, autumnal breeding, nearly always has the effect of retarding egg- laying in the early spring. I have always maintained that the more rest a queen has between the middle of August and the middle of February, the better she will lay in spring, and no stimulation is then necessary provided there is plenty of sealed store. As regards pollen (meal) feeding, my great difficulty lias been, how to keep surplus pollen out of the hive, except in the case of condemned bees set up late in the autumn. The year 16o2 must not have been unlike to what we experienced here in Cornwall in 188". Gedde states that he had twenty swarms before mid-May, but by midsummer, owing to the drought there were scarce any flowers, and out of his twenty swarms only one survived the following winter. Gedde's book contains two very old receipts for making mead or metheglin. They are as follows. I give them in full, as some of your readers may be curious enough to try them, that is, if you can spare the space in your valuable Journal to insert them : — Mix six measures of water to one measure of honey, and boil down to four measures. To 12 gallons add 1 oz. ginger, ^ oz. cinnamon, 2 drams each of clover and mace, 1 dram pepper grains, in a bag, and boil for a quarter of an hour more. Next day strain through a linen bag, and let it stand three or four days till it work, then barrel it. The second receipt contains the following heading: — ■ ( An excellent receipt for making metheglin, which Queen Elizabeth did so well like that every year she would have a vessel of it.' The ingredients are as follows : — 1 bushel sweet briar leaves, 1 bushel thyme, i bushel rosemary, 1 peck of bay leaves. Seethe all these, being well washed in a furnace of fair (soft) water, and boil for half an hour. To every six gallons add one gallon honey ; let it stand for two days, stirring three times a-day. Then boil again, and skim as long as any dross ariseth ; then let it stand to work for three days, after which put it in a barrel in which is hung a bag containing 1 oz. of cloves and mace. In six months it is ready to drink. If any of your readers should be curious enough to try the above, I should be extremely grateful for a small sample bottle. I must confess I tried it myself on a small scale, and came to the conclusion after I had tasted my brewing that Queen Elizabeth must have been possessed of a strong taste for herbs. Mr. Gedde gives a few more receipts for the useful application of honey, which I quote verbatim : — ' 1. Mr. Remnant had a friend with such a foul itch that he was like a leper, whom lie thus cured. He took an empty wine pipe and knocked out the head, and made a liquor of water and honey, making il pretty strong with the honey, and heat it as Btrong as he could endure to stand in it, and put it into the pipe, and caused him to stand in it up to his neck a pretty while, and this he did three days one after another, and he was recovered as clear as ever. 2. The use of honey with bread to old folks makes them live long, preserving all their senses sound and entire, .'i. Honey will give life to wine after it is flat. Flowers, fruits, and all simple and compound medicines by mixture of it, are preserved from putre- faction. 4. Honey is useful to clear wounds and ulcers. It is very effectual to produce hair in baldness, and to cure agues.' I do not wish your readers — modern and enlightened bee-keepers — to believe all the above, but simply give it as being interesting in showing what was thought of honey in England more than two hundred years ago. — J. O. Ci.k.mmow, Ladock, Cornwall. A VISIT FROM FATHER LANGSTROTII. [1G83.] I cannot convey to the minds of my brother bee-keepers the enjoyment which my family and myself experienced from the four weeks' visit with Father Langstroth, which I shall always remember as an honour, and with the greatest pleasure. I may say that prior to this time, and owing perhaps to his ill-health, I had had but little correspondence with him, always considering it a duty never to write to him except in answer to his letters. I had met him once in Detroit and in Chicago amid the rush and confusion of conventions, but knew so little of his character that I believe what I am about to say will he interesting to the thousands of bee-keepers who have reaped rich rewards from his life-work. Nearing eighty years of age, and not in the enjoyment of very robust physical health, I was astonished to find his mental powers as young and vigorous as those of a man of middle age. Indeed, it wa3 a rare treat to con- verse upon our favourite topic with the man whose clear, practical mind had transformed bee-owning into commercial honey-producing. Together we travelled the past in the field of apiculture, and never was I more interested and edified than in listening to his description of the early days of practical apiculture in this country, as well as to his trials in the introduction and defence of his own invention. Twice while here he preached in the Congregational 304 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 21, 1888. church, and I think I may safely say that many years have passed since our city has been honoured -with such beneficent and well-delivered sermons. His voice is round, full, and melodious, fully equal to four times the capacity of any church in the city ; and this, together with his impressive manner and kind, mural utterances, caused many wet eyes in his large audiences, and created very much favourable comment among our church-going people. His perfectly honest, sincere, and kindly spirit sheds rays of sunshine over every household he enters, and, while all regret his departure when the time for leaving comes, they rejoice in the effects of his presence while with them. Thus I found him whom we bee-keepers have learned to love, and regard as our benefactor, a very exceptional and great man, entirely outside of his greatness as an apicultural inventor. I thank him for what he has written regarding my late invention, and I feel it my duty to make cWr the fact that my own invention, and my knowledge of bee-culture which led to it, never could have been but for his own of thirty-seven years ago. Before we can learn the conditions of the interior of a hive by outward symptoms, we must be able to dissect its interior, comparing these outward symptoms with its internal conditions. Father Langstroth's hive was the first ever constructed which made it practicable for the honey-producer to do this. Now we have learned to almost instantly determine internal conditions by out- ward symptoms, and this and the invention of comb- foundation, giving us uniform combs led to the first functional improvement of any importance in hives which has been made since Father Langstroth's in 1851. The improvements which have been made have all been in the nature of detail mechanical construction ; new and improved clothing for the better carrying out of the construction of Father Langstroth's great invention. — James Heddon, Dowagiac, Mich. (American Bee Journal). BRITISH-MADE COMB-FOUNDATION. [1684.] I read with much interest Mr. John M. Hooker's account of his early filled sections. We in the far north, with a enow-storm and frosty nights in the middle of June, will be very thankful if we can get a crate of sections filled by the end of July. One part of Mr. Hooker's communication, however, is is open to criticism. Without making trial of Messrs. Dadant's foundation, I am ready to back some of our British makers against any American firm whatever. To mention one : Mr. Kaitt, Blairgowrie, supplies a founda- tion that in the unanimous opinion of his numerous customers cannot be surpassed. In these days of free trade, when America is trying to beat British manufactures out of the field at every point, I think the home article should get a fair trial. I would therefore seek to amend Mr. Hooker's general statement and say — Try Dadant's foundation against Raitt's, and if the latter is equally good, I shall not venture to say better, why give the home article the preference. — W. Stokes, Balnastraid, Carr Bridge, Inrernesshire, June 15, HEATHER HONEY. [1685.] Who is ' Amateur Expert P' and where may he be found ? Some of the bee-keeping fraternity in this locality are asking one another the above question. Whether the inquiry bodes ill or well to our genial friend is rather more than I can exactly say. 'He deserves to be kicked to death by butterflies,' I heard one remark the other day ; and as the expression followed immediately after the mention of our friend's nom-de- plume, I imagine it could only have referred to him, and (hat the anxiety for information as to his identity and whereabouts was not connected with any desire to do him special honou». Your readers will wonder what 'A. E.' could have done that he should be thought worthy of so cruel a fate. The cause is to be found in the pages of the B.B.J, for the 0th June, 1»87, where ' A. E.' explains ' How to make the best of the Heather Honey Crop.' Now, without counting the many skeppists, there are about ten bee-keepers of the bar-frame persuasion in this neighbourhood, all within a four-mile range of some two thousand acres of heather. When they read ' A. E.'s ' account of how two hundred sections of heather honey were to be obtained from one hive, glorious visions of fortune-making rose before the eyes of some of them. What an opportunity, too, to have a laugh at the expense of those who stick to their skepi and refuse to follow their more enlightened neighbours 1 Alas ! the laugh was on the other side, and the hopes of great riches ended in ruin. Before that number of the B. B. J. had long been in print, P. 0. O.'swere despatched to the vendors of patent extractors and metal capped honey jars. (What a roar- ing trade those gentlemen must have done if the heather honey fever broke out as badly in other localities as it did here. And I fear it did. For, to my certain knowledge, one of those extractors was an unconscionably long time in coming, suggesting that the maker had more orders than he could execute in reasonable time.) Honey was slung, hives carted, or carried to the heather; sections put on them, and the result awaited with smiling faces. Ah, me ! how those broad smiling faces narrowed and lengthened, as week by week passed away with no signs of honey being stored in sections, till finally a solemn company of men might have been seen with countenances that would have been admirably in keeping in a funeral procession, silently accompanying their hives on their return journey. Sections still on them, but, oh ! so light, — so light. Not a sparkle of honey in them. The smiles were transferred now to the features of the skeppists. and the better halves. They had a fine innings. Their scruples as to the advisability of the outlay for extractors and honey-bottles had been very loftily pooh-poohed at the time; and ' A. E.'s ' 200 sections per hive at two shillings per section flourished in their faces. It was their turn now, and the dear creatures, at least some of them (I will answer for one), made the most of it. The chance was too good to be iost. Such an opportunity might not occur again for years. And now, Mr. Editor, where was the screw loose ? If you, or any of our men of ' light and leading,' would kindly inform us we should be deeply grateful, as it would help us to make up our minds as to whether or no we shall give the heather a second trial during the coming season. Everyone knows what a very dry summer we had last year all over England, was that the reason ? Again, our heather grows on a peat-moss, not on a moor, or mountain. Would that affect its honey- secreting qualities? Perhaps I ought to mention that what we call the heather is only about a fourth part of real heather, the other three parts being ling. Is there so much difference in the honey-value of the two as to account for the utter failure of last year? That both were equally good has hitherto been the impression on the mind of — Spero, Milnthorpe , June 13. [The 200 sections from one hive was not an exaggeration by our genial correspondent, as we know a prominent Scotch bee-keeper who succeeded in getting that amount, large as it may seem, by the methods given by ' A. E.' last June. "We are sorry you had not equally good fortune: try again by all means. The 'screw was loose' in the season we should say, not in the species of heather, as both are good honey yielders. We have many things yet to learn as to the secretion of nectar in flowers. Solar rays, electricity, and moisture, are all large factors, June 21, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 305 and in a way too that we cannot really define, -with our limited knowledge of the subject. As to the future fate of 'A. E.' we must leave him to deal with you about that; but talking about ' kicking ' reminds us that we recently saw our correspondent driving a fine specimen of a class of quadruped remarkable for intelligence (?) in the use of its heels, so we would caution you to beware ! (See ' An Afternoon Out ' in last week's journal.) — Ed.] DE QUIBUSDAM. [163G.] I have not noticed any definite opinions as to the cause of loss of hives during last winter. Here in Cornwall there were many such dyings out, and, to tell the truth, among frame-hives. Of thirteen I lost one, and I am not satisfied as to the cause. There were many pounds of sealed stores left, and the only account I can give of the matter is that it was nut in the right place. I fear I did not take the trouble to cut winter passages, but then two other hives in the same house survived, and I am not sure that I did more for them than for the other. All three were well covered up, but I think we may learn, not only to leave ample supplies of food, but to take care that it is comeatable. But on the south coast I hear a sad story of every frame-hive dead in one apiary, while the neighbour's skeps survive. I inquired whether any one had tried frame-hives with straw sides. Yes ; one of our com- mittee-men in East Cornwall had done so, but his bees, too, had died. Well, I don't know all the circumstances, but matters look grave and want careful consideration, while no good can be done, we are sine, by the im- petuous raid of W. Edwards. What can be the reason why purchasers are unable to get queens within a reasonable time ? If I am asked what 1 consider 'reasonable,' I shall be prepared to answer. Queen-wasps are very numerous. They are as fond of the nectar of raspberries as our bees are. A rapid smack of the hands together very quickly settles them, or a cautious pinch between finger and thumb — gloved for choice. — C. It. S. PKOGRESS OF BEE-KEEPING IN SPAIN. [1G87.] There has been quite a propaganda carried on, both through some Spanish publications, and also in an underhand way, against the Cowan hive. The Dadant partisans of large and deep frames and general unweildi- ness have, from the beginning, made systematic opposi- tion to our introducing the English standard for general use. However, we have have hitherto set up hundreds of the latter to a baker's dozen of the former set up by them. The season is pretty much over at our home apiary, but in the interior of the island, where an apiary of over one hundred hives has recently been established by us, the honey-flow continues, and bids fair to last some weeks. My youngest son, Johnny, yesterday left Mallorca in company with Archduke Louis Salvador of Austria, who has recently laid the foundation of an apiar}* on that island. My son's trip is only for a few days to see how the hives get on. The Archduke has for over twenty years resided in Mallorca, where he is a large landed proprietor, and very much loved by the inhabitants. Some of our products are being shipped to the Bar- celona Exhibition ; general competitors are doing like- wise. Should you visit Barcelona this season, I would thank you to let me know, as my eldest son, Francis, will be there, and would not only be happy to make your personal acquaintance, but, if possible, to be of some use to you in that land of the Dons. We would still be more delighted if you would cross over and pay us and our apiaries a visit. Nothing would be omitted to make your visit agreeable, My son publishes a semi-monthly — Bevista Apicola — a sample of which 1 enclose. — J. C. Andreu, Mahon, May -2-Ard, 1888. [We are sorry if there should be any dispute regarding what hive to adopt. The nature of the product required ought, in a measure, to decide. The large frames, such as the Dadant, ate good for production of extracted honey ; but there is no question about a shallow frame, such as the English standard, being the better suited for sections. We had intended to visit the Barcelona Ex- hibition, but are sorry that our health has been too bad to allow us to face the trying heat of a Spanish summer ; but we hope the visit to your apiaries is only a pleasure deferred. — Ed.] DRY-SUGAE FEEDING. [1688.] In your issue of May 31, 'Notices to Corre- spondents,' you tell ' W. D. Griffiths' it is unwise to put brown sugar on top of frames, with all due deference to your experience, 1 beg to differ with you. Two or three, perhaps four, years ago an 'Old Bee- keeper'said in llie Journal tint after trying a great many methods he found that dry-sugar behind the dummy-board was the best for supplying food during the winter and autumn, and saved the bother and mess of syrup. 1 tried his plan, but when I came to change hives in the spring, I found the sugar had run all over the floor-board, making a nasty mess. The following autumn I placed a piece of muslin over the frames, and then spread live or six pounds of sugar over and pressed it down with my hands to make it firm, then put ou the usual quilts, when I examined the following spring I found the bees had eaten through the muslin, and bur- rowed through the sugar in all directions. What was left came off in cru-ts and left the combs quite dry ard clean. Since then 1 have treated all my hives in the same manner whether they are short of food or not, for this reason. I have read in the Journal that it sometimes happens in cold weather that stocks are starved through the crystallisation of their honey. In a case where tljis happened if there was sugar above the frames there would be sufficient heat and moisture from the cluster to keep it always ready for use, and so a valuable stock would be saved from starvation. After changing hives in spring if the sugar that has not been used be put into one or two straw hives and moistened, and then placed some distance from the hives, the bees will soon find it and clear it away ; it then answers the purpose of spring feeding. I wonder if the roof of W. D. Griffiths' hive leaked if it did, I can imagine the mess there would be. If you would kindly insert this in the Journal, perhaps some of our experienced bee-Iieepers would give their opinion and experience. — G. Whallky. [We think Mr. Griffiths' experience was sufficient to deter otheis from following his example, since there are so many better ways of feeding, and it is so easy a matter to supply sealed food in the autumn, there is no nece.-sity for running the risk of rendering the bees and combs a sticky mass. — Ed.] SHADING HIVES. [1080.] Having got so many useful hints, not only from Mr. ' Useful Hints,' but from other kind writers, who not only give their time to write, but also give freely the experience they have gained — in some cases, perhaps, at a great deal of trouble and expense, I feel in duty bound to try and help some one ; and now that it is of the uttermost importance that bees be kept from swarm- ing— at least if the bee-keeper has got for his object ' honey' — shading hives will be found no small factor in preventing swarming. The following, how I manage to shade mine, will, without doubt, give satisfaction to any who care to try 306 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 21, 1888. it, especially those who have only, like myself, a limited number of hives, say ten or twelve. Get four strong posts, say four or five inches thick, nine feet long. Sup- posing, of course, the hives to be shaded are in a straight row, about one yard apart, if the two front posts are eighteen inches shorter than the two back ones, all the better. Sink theni all four a good yard in the ground, at each end of the row of hives ; give attention to ramming the soil extra firm round the posts as you fill them in, or the whole affair will be a failure. The back posts will stand out of the ground about six feet, the front ones about five feet, at (say) five feet from each other, that is, across the ends of the row of hives. Next get two pieces of strong wire extra strong, each piece four yards longer than the entire length of the hive, or, more s trictly speak- ing, from post to post lengthways : make one end on both posts fast down at the bottom, wrap round post, and take over the fop, having sawn a piece out the shape of a V, to let the wire lie in. You will not want a lot of shading, — the length of the distance from post to post aud five feet wide old sacking, wrappering calico, or any- thing that you can get, the cheapest will do if it be strong. Now ring-stitch firmly about two feet apart ; if you don't want to go to that expense make loose loops with strong string or tape, run these on to your wire, working for your own comfort at the back of your hives as much as possible. Now if you get some one strong to lake a wire each, and lift it over the tops of the hives, placing the wire over the other two posts, which last two ends may be weighted down will] two very heavy stones. Now let two, three, or four line props take a part of the weight in the middle, and you have one of the best shades known by — A Lincolnshire Novice. HALF A QUEEN BETTER TILVN NONE. [1600.] I take (he liberty of asking you to insert the following account of a little adventure I recently had with a swarm of bees, which seems to prove that half a queen is better than no queen at all. While sitting reading near my apiary a few days ago, a lad came to tell me that there was a swarm of bees on a tree close at hand. I at once took a skep to the spot, when I found the bees clustered round the trunk of an ash-tree. I fixed the skep against the tree above the swarm ; and while waiting to see if the bees would go up into it, I was told that this same swarm had been taken once, and that it had returned to the same tree. I found that the bees had been subjected to some very rough usage, stones and pieces of turf havnig been thrown at them; aud this, it seems, had been going on for some days, the ground being covered all round with missiles. Nothing would induce the swarm to enter the skep, though I gave them a cake of brood, and smoked them below, causing them to cluster together — higher up the tree. Having almost despaired of being able to secure them, I was attracted by a small cluster upon the ground some distance from the tree. I went to see the reason of this, when, to my surprise, I found the queen still alive, though her head had been knocked off by a stone. I at once secured her by means of a long thorn to the interior of the skep, when the bees immediately entered apparently quite contented. This swarm has since been housed in a bar-hive ; and though the queen has long since ceased to do duty with the remaining portion of her body, the bees are working well and will soon receive a ripe queen-cell to keep them going. I hope I have not been intruding too much on your valuable space. — John T. Sibbee, Bussage House, Stroud, Gloucestershire, June 10. (£f|mcs from % pines. Wye, Kent, June 12.— The weather here for the past few weeks has been very favourable for bees. The first swarm we had was on the 13th of May, which came from a straw skep. Bses are very busy now working in sections, and I have some 1-lb. sections which will be ready to take off by the end of the week. I hope to hear good reports from other districts. — II. Head. South Cornwall, June l~>th. — Nothing very noteworthy seems to have occurred here for some time. Many persons are under the impression that this must be a very early neighbourhood, but the idea is an erroneous one. Early garden produce comes (mostly) from the west, and early honey — from Earnborough ! Our winter was as long as in other parts of England, and I do not think much breeding went on during that time. By the middle of May matters looked favourable, and during the latter half ot the month rapid progress was made. Had the weather continued fine, we should have had some early supers; but while our London papers reported drought to the eastward, we were getting showers, which were the making of our grass and mangold crops. But, alas! for the hawthorn bloom, which is most profuse. Fair and showery days alternate, so that the chief pro- duce is an immense quantity of very light pollen. Some honey is being brought in, I know from inspection, but there are many mouths to eat it. I had hoped to put on my first crate to-day, but the weather forbids it. The only consolation is that our stocks are getting very strong. The first natural swarm I have heard of came out on Sunday, the 3rd. Two days ago 1 forced a swarm, and yesterday a neighbour's frame-hive swarmed. There had been a super on it for days, and a good deal of foundation was drawn out, but they would go, and they did. Jn the evening the hive was examined, and a newly-hatched queen discovered. I presume this state of things was the result of the variable weather; but is it not rather strange that the elder lady allowed the younger to live P Charlock is becoming plentiful, to the advantage of the bee-keeper rather than of the farmer. — C. K. S. Jlarborne, Birmingham, June 16. — These cold north and east winds we are having, and, as a result, very cold nights, keep our pets from being so busy, as no doubt they are longing to be. The strongest colonies are now at work in the supers which have to be kept very warm. The first swarm I have seen or heard of came off on Sunday (as usual I), June 1 0, and settled in a neigh- bour's garden, which frightened him so much that I believe he locked himself in the cellar, and put a chair against the door. They came from a straw skep in a small apiary near here. Clover, raspberry, and field beans look very promising. — H. J. Sands. Stocket, Aberdeen, N. B., June 16. — As yet we have had a most unfavourable season here, and stocks are in a very backward condition. I have had to unito several of my weaker stocks ; and even strong stocks have com- paratively little brood on account of the excessive cold. Last year my first swarm came off on June 15, but there are no signs of swarming this year yet. Many stocks in the neighbourhood have died during the winter, and spring : in fact, about a week ago a neighbour found one of his stocks almost dead of starvation, and only part of them recovered when sprinkled with warm syrup. I gave my strongest stock a crate of sections a few days ago ; but as yet the bees have had little opportunity to gather even as much honey as they consume. — A. Cadenhead. Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, June 18. — The past week has been showery and \ery cold, with scarcely any sunshine, bees hardly daring to stir out. Hives and supers are full of bees, but no honey coming in of any account, although the fields and hedges are covered with flowers in great profusion, but the cloudy sky and this beastly north-east wind stop the secretion of honey, while the season (which is usually now at its best) is fast hastening away. This morning at 0 a.m. the ther- June 21, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 307 mometer stood as low as 50° and the cloudy sky, and strong north-east wind blowing made one think of Christmas weather rather than of being but a few days of Midsummer day. Fortunate are our friends who have already been able to harvest some honey from fruit blossoms, ,fce., but we must hops on and hope ever. — John Walton. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS. Letters or queries aslcing for addresses of manufacturers or corn spon - dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies oieing such in/ormation, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for thegen-era] good of beeJEeepers, and not for advertisements. Ws wish our Corresp to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for VA to uo to press in advance of the dole of issue, queries cannot nhrays be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communication. All queries forwarded will he attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. W, J. Naish. — Burrowing Bees. — The bees found on the lawn are either of the family of Andren;e or a species of humble bee, of which there is a great variety ; the types may be classed under the three following heads: — Apis muscorum, Linn., the moss garden humble bee; Apis lapidaria, the lapidary humble bee, which builds on the ground among stones, but also uses moss; and Apis terrestris, which builds in the ground, using no moss. We cannot advise their extermination by the use of chemical dressing, as the same would spoil the grass. If the ground was con- stantly and heavily rolled the pressure no doubt would kill the larva', as the holes do not extend very deep. Lincolnshire Novice. — Queen-cells in Ilioe. — No doubt you overlooked i he queen, which is easily done in a hive of fifteen frames tilled with bees. Colonies at this season often make preparation for swarming which, through the exigencies of the weather and other matters, are not carried out — hence your finding queen -cells. T. DAVISON. — Adulterated Foundation. — The sample of super foundation is most unsuitable for comb building, as it is mainly composed of Japan wax (not bees- wax). I'ure white bees-wax is an unknown sub- stance; bees-wax is not white, neither can it — without a foreign admixture — be made that colour. We quote from the highest authority on the Materia Medica, ' I have never met with pun- wax perfectly white.' A large quantity of spurious foundation is now being sold. We are not surprised at the bees neglecting for a time the sections fitted with such foundation, which after being worked out would most certainly taint the hone}' with the odour — to quote yourself — of composite candles, and spoil the sale of \ i mr sections. (See reply to E. G. Elliott.) A Cumberland Novice. — Transferring. — Alter your hives to the Association standard size, or you will regret not doing so in the future. When the bees in skeps are strong, fit frame-hive with whole sheets of foundation, then lay a sheet of excluder-zinc on top of frames, drive the bees with queen from skepand place skep on top of excluder-zinc, stopping up all means of egress or ingress to skep except through the entrance to frame-hive, then run the driven bees in at this entrance. .V portion of the bees with queen will remain in frame-hive and draw out the foundation, while the rest will rear the .brood in skep; in three weeks the skep can be removed and the bees turned into frame-hive, and the quilts or supers put on. C. D. — Bees refusing a Queen. — By this time we should judge the colony to be too weak to be of any use, even if you were to introduce a queen successfully. Unite them to another colony, or portion of another very strong colony that can spare two combs of brood and bees ; when they have settled down quietly introduce a queen. Rev. F. W. 1'udsey. — 1. Foundation for Swarms. — There is no objection against so alternating the foundation, but we prefer all full sheets. 2. Placing Racks on Swarm. — .When all the combs are fully drawn out : except in the case of a swarm hived on the stand of the parent stock, when they are to be put on as soon as hived. •'!. Mason Bees. — From the description of the bees, and from the appearance of the cells and contents forwarded, we conclude that they are those of the Mason bee (Megachiie muraria). They are most interesting structures. For full de- scription of them we would refer you to Kirby and Spence's Entomology, pp. 248, 248, eo. 1800. Wood Green. — 1. Immature Bees thrown out of Hive. — Shortness of stores consequent on the bad weather preventing the bees collecting. -. Swarming. — The queen refus id to accompany the bees or returned to the hive; if she had settled you would have had a swarm. You had better continue feeding during the prevalence of bad weather. 3, Musty Syrup. — Throw it away. E. Or. Elliot. — Adulterated Foundation. — Your sample of foundation is even, if possible, worse than T. Davison's. (See answer to same in this issue.) A treatise is, we believe, being compiled by a well-known bee-keeper OH the adulteration of bees-wax and the methods of detection. Perhaps this may have the effect of improving the quality of much on the market or preventing the sale of such stuff by a few, — we may say a very few. II. he B. S. — Are Bees a Nuisance f — There is a great amount of uncertainty as to what in law constitutes 'a nuisance.' In the year 1885 the question as to whether bees were a nuisance was a subject of discussion. One of our correspondents — a legal gen- tleman— wrote to us very fully on this point. From his letter (Vol. XIII. p. 200) we deduce that there is nothing in books of law touching this precise point, and that therefore the question must be decided upon eral principles and from a comparison of decided cases upon similar questions. The conclusions that our correspondent drew from these cases were, 1, Every person is bound to use his rights without hurt to his neighbour. 2. The injuries caused by ferocious animals are actionable without proofs of negligence. •'!. Any person congregating substances (or anything else) upon his land, is liable for damage done by them on their escape. Therefore, any person having bees (which are ferocious animals) on his land, is respon- sible for any injury (or, it would seem, even discom- fort or annoyance) that they may do to bis neighbour, without any proof of negligence on the part of the bee-keeper. It has, however, been pointed out that it would he difficult to establish the ownership of bees committing the nuisance. A. J. A. — The dead bees forwarded appear to be affected with Bacillus depilis, and, having been thrust out of their own hives, they have endeavoured vainly to find a lodgment in yours. A. W. F. — Dead Queen. — The queen has been subjected, as desired, to a post-mortem examination. She was the old queen, who, being found by her subjects unequal to her duties, was dethroned, and cast igno- miniously out of the hire. Cheshire. — Selling Bees. — We should strongly advise a natural swarm under the circumstances. You need not be afraid of them returning to the parent stock if moved to their new location as soon as possible after hiving. CD. — 1. Adding Swarm to Weak Stock. — We should shoot the swarm and the bees belonging to the weak queenless stock on to a sheet at the entrance of the hive at present used by such weak stock, first cutting 308 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 21, 1888. out the queen-cells. They will run in together, and you should have no difficulty. Or you might let the skep and the weak stock exchange stands some warm day when many bees are on the wing. This would strengthen the frame-hive at the expense of the skep, and most likely prevent them swarming. 2. Doubling Hive. — The queen can be confined to the lower box by excluder-zinc or honey-board; but many bee-keepers prefer the absence of excluders. Woodford, Essex. — lionet/ District .— You should get a fair crop of honey from the hawthorn, clover, and limes, but all things considered, we should much prefer either Old Southgate or Finchley. Malta.— Bees Hanging Out. — This may arise from their finding it necessary to change their queen, which induces a sort of lassitude. Sometimes when stores are not plentiful, and the evening close and muggy, bees will hang out for couvenience sake. James Fleming. — Bead Queen. — There are no outward signs of disease about this queen. No doubt the bees, finding the frame of eggs you gave them, concluded their queen had layed them, and therefore saw no necessity to raise queen-cells, although the fact of their commencing two shows they had reason to doubt her further efficiency. Beginner. — The brood was turned out from lack of food. A fertile queen at this time of the year adds daily 2000 young bees to the population of a strong colony ; the demand, therefore, on the stores is very heavy; and the bees, in their way, are endeavouring to equalise the law of supply and demand. (See J. E. 0.) J. E. O. — The reply to ' Beginner' will apply to your com- munication. The immature brood being thrown out is due to the provident foresight of the bees. We should advise gentle feeding until honey is coming in freely, a quarter a pint per night to each hive. We are pleased i to be able to congratulate you on your cure of foul brood, and should be glad to receive an account of your experience. F. 3.— Mouldy Po/len— The comb was quite healthy and wholesome; but the cells being filled with mouldy pollen, it was the reverse of nice, and we should advise that foundation should be used in its stead. T. O. Scrivener, Bicester, describes a gentleman's lawn quite perforated by Andrense for a space of fifteen yards, and would be obliged by any bee-keeper giving advice as to how they may be got rid of. He has forwarded us some bees and cells. The bees are Andrena Trimmeranee. SHOWS TO COME. July 9-13.— Boyal Agricultural Show, Nottingham. Secretary, J. Huckle, Kings Langley. Entries closed. July 10-20. — Cambridge Agricultural Society at Cambridge. Secretary, II. Peters, 7 Downing Street, Cambridge. Entries close June 25th. September 5-7. — Lancashire and Cheshire Association at Lancaster. Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Lees McClure, The Lathoms, Prescot. Entries close August 1st. business ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol. Bakes, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Eoad, Gloucester, Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C. , 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott ^3ros., Soutball, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, NewarK. Baldwin.'S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. * 127 High Holborn. Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepeus' Stores, 0 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. * Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. <£ 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godman, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster How, and may be obtained of ail local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minurca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., iviuskhaui, fiewarR. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C.| Bewdley, Worcestershire. DDRRANT «• Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 14y Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHINSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. ^s^ iRITISH Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stranqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 314. Vol. XVI.] JUNE 28, 1888. [Published Weekly.] tifoitaxhl, Igotias, #r. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Prizes for houey open to members of the British Bee-keepers' Association are offered for competition at the Annual Show of the Notts Association, to lie held at Sutton, in Ashfield, on July 25th, entries for this Exhibition close on July 9th. Application for schedules to be made to Mr. F. H. K. Fisher, Farnsfield, Southwell, Notts. NOTTINGHAM. Members and other bee-keepers who may bo willing to forward specimens of bee-flora for decora- tive purposes are requested to communicate with the Secretary, J. Hucklc, Kings Langley, without delay. Arrangements will be made for the carriage of small parcels of such from those who may be willing to assist. A BEE-MASTER OF A CENTURY AGO. {Concluded.) Our previous notices of Bonner's book will have re- vealed to our readers the large acquaintance he possessed with both the theory and the practice of bee-keeping. We have had to point out some evidences of errors on his part, and to notice his dogmatism combined with much common-sense. We have seen also, here and there, a specimen of bis quiet humour. He can occa- sionally deal some heavy blows of irony after refuting theories of other writers. Here is a sample of the way in which he speaks of such theories : ' This hasty begot child will have few to patronize it ; if its father does not strangle it soon, it will die of its own accord. Mr. Keys has lent it some lusty blows already, and wher- ever it comes it is sure to meet with the like treatment. Its safest course is to stay with its father, unless it wants its own ruin and his folly exposed.' His power of grapliic description and the striking good sense running through his book are so suggestive, that, in conclusion, we cannot forbear giving his quaint ' history of an uncautiuus man's bees.' It runs as follows : — ' It is generally observed, and there is too much truth in it, that Bees thrive best with people for two or three years after they get them at the first. The way this happens is thus: When a person bivys a stall at the first, she is generally a good one, is SO lbs. weight, has plenty Bees and honey ; then, if next summer bo good, she will probably swarm twice, and then ho asks his neighbour's advice, and he advises him to kill the second swarm, and keep the first and her mother, which are good stalls, and hid defiance to the three capital enemies, viz., cold, robbers, and famine. ' The second summer being good, they both swarm twice again, and the owner thinks he is a thriving Bee-master (as so he is), lie again, with his neighbour's advice, kills both the casts or second swarms, and still keeps the two old hives and their first-born which makes four good stalls. Again the third year is hut a middling summer, often cold and raining ; however, his stalls were good, two of them swarmed once, and the other two twice. In harvest he again kills both his two second swarms as usual, and begins to think now he knows as much about bees as any man, and asks no more his neighbour's advice how to set aside his stalls, and thinks that a; he always kept the mothers and their first swarms, and they did well ; therefore, he sets aside the four old hives and their top swarms, which make eight stalls. Now his counting faculty begins to operate, and he assures him- self of twenty hives next year ; but, alas! how is he per- plexed when he thinks his bees increasing so fast, his yard will soon not hold them ! Ready-wit, his bosom friend, relieves his agitated spirits, by informing him that it is only to make his garden larger. Now he is at great pains to get his bees covered and made fit for winter, and lets them stand in hope of a good increase next summer, and falls too to make sixteen empty hives, and as many boards to receive his next year's swarms. ' A fine day about Martinmas causes the owner to take his friend along with him to see his nourishing garden full of bees, where he entertains him with a lecture on the profit of those useful insects. He goes by two or threc> of his hives, and they are flying smartly out and in, which pleases him well. The next he comes to is not so brisk. He may stand before her entry without being the least injured "by her stings; he excuses her laziness by informing his friend that they do not come out of the hive all alike at the same time. However, to satisfy him that she is a good hive, he raps on her side to let him hear her sound ; but as ill-luck would have it, she will not answer that summons. He turns her up, changes colour, and says, " Surprising ! She has not a "bee in her, but some honey at the top of the hive. What has happened her?" says he. Tells all his neighbours the astonishing news ; turns a little more pensive about the profit of bees. However, he still has seven ; he wishes they may stand the winter and spring. A cold storm conies on", and lasts eight or ten weeks, after which fine weather again ; the bees go an airing, and the good man comes to see how they come on now. Passing by some 310 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 28, 1888. of them, he sees how throng they fly about, and rain away their ordure from them, as appears on everything that is white. He .sees one at some distance, not so throng as he could wish ; runs to her, fears the worst, raps the hive. Out jumps a mouse at her entry (which was rather large) ; turns her up ; dead bees half eaten, and a good many shorn combs on her board ; a great many bees sitting very close (rather over) betwixt her combs. The peaceable bees never offer to fly at his face; he can view them as he pleases, and never receives a single sting. He concludes she is dead. Gives over making empty hives. ' He has still six. Says, " I wish they may not all die." In March four of his hives carry loads "hard. The other two are as busy, but not carrying so fast. A bee loaded in half an hour is a good deal for them. However, the enti ies have full as many bees about them, and rather to the rather, and far more dead ones, and many a gallant soldier crawling about in his wounds before the gates of the hives. The owner thinks, " Some man's bees are for robbing mine, but they had better stay at home," says he, " for my bees kill them fast." In a day or two at night the good man goes to hear how his bees sound. The four carriers please him well by giving him a good song. The other two are not so loud. He claps their sides to make them speak better out. They turn sulkily on him, and obstinately refuse to answer. He grips at them to feel their weight, but by pulling them up too hastily, he almost falls backward by their coming too quickly from the board. When recovered, he is startled again to see other two of his hives full of nothing but deaf combs which the robbers have left. He throws them from him as useless, and the fall breaks all their combs. When come to himself again, he says, " I have still four yet, and am richer than when I began." The four carry briskly all April, and he thinks all danger is past now ; but, alas! eight days misty weather in May keeps his bees all close prisoners in their hives. A fine day returns again, and three of his bee-hives fall to work heartily, as if they meant to hurry home all the honey in the neighbouring flowers before another rainy day comes. The other is not so careful. She appears as if she did not value a good day much. Not a bee to be seen about her gates, except here and there one something like dead. The owner begins to quake again ; says it is not possible she can be dead after carrying so much : is afraid to lift her from the board : must do it : she is motionless, and the board covered with dead bees, and her combs full of dead young. Oh, foolish man ! why did you not ask your honest neighbour's advice, who would have advised you to kill all the five hives that was light and scant of bees, which at harvest, one with another, was worth fifty shillings, but now is worth scarce eight altogether ; besides all the vexed hearts you have got with them ? Be sure you never do the like again, if you be wise. Rather kill all your light hives, and purchase heavy ones with their cash. Suppose it should take the price of two of your weak hives to purchase a strong one, you will have more profit, and fewer to laugh at you in the end. Would people never keep any but thirty-pound ones, their bees would thrive all along as well as at the first. I have given the above history to deter others from taking the same steps, which this imprudent man did.' As we have been taking this telling extract from Bonner, we have thought what a good exercise it would be for novices in bee-keeping to sit down and both think out and write out the reasons of the ' uncautious man's ' failures with his several hives. Nor would it be a bad plan to read Bonner's story to those who persist in old methods of bee- keeping, and then to point out to them the various ways in which, by the use of bar-frame hives, the touching dis- asters of the ' uncautious man ' might have been avoided or remedied before the fatal point had been reached. Once more we repeat our desire that our notice of ' A Bee-master of a Century ago ' may induce many of our readers to ascertain for themselves, by observation and by reading standard works, important facts relating to the natural history, the habits, the possibilities, and the peculiarities of our favourite insects. Perhaps it is always true in apiculture that ' a little knowledge is a daugerousthing.' It cannot but be good to obtain all accessible information on this most engrossing subject. GLEANINGS. Respecting hibernation, W. Malone says in the American Bee Journal: One thing that b^e-keepers should recollect when writing on the subject of hiberna- tion is, that if hibernating animals, such as ants and snakes, be exposed to cold, freezing air for thirty minutes, there is no reviving theui. They may be surrounded with frost for months and live ; but thirty minutes of exposure as before stated will kill them. Try it and see. In the City and Country A. II. Duff says: Queenless colonies may for a time do well, but certain destruction is sure to follow if they are not provided with queens in due time. If a colony in the act of storing surplus should swarm, and the swarm hived to itself, the surplus receptacles should follow the swarm, as they can be brought to the condition for storing much sooner than the parent colony from which they issued. All second or after-swarms are a failure if surplus honey is the object. After-swarms may be prevented by removing all queen-cells but one, or, what is better, remove all and introduce a fertile queen, of which a supply should always be on hand for such emergencies. According to the Revue International we find that the French Government has conferred the honour of ' Chevalier du Merite agricolo ' on M. C. de Ribeaucourt, honorary president of the Socidte Romande d' Apiculture. He is the author of a manual which has passed through four editions, and was translated into English by A. F. G. Leveson Gower. At his instigation the Societe Romande was founded in 1870, and for six years he was its chairman. In the Deutsche Illustrierte Bienenzeitung, M. Graven - horst referring to Apifuge says, that a similar substance has been spoken of in some of the German bee-papers and is called ' Apiol.' M. Eduard Metzger says that Apiol is an etherial extract of parsley seed, and kills any bee coming in contact with it. Spraying with Apiol is not admissible, but with certain precautions it can be used to prevent robbing and in uniting bees, owing to its strong smell. From three to five drops are placed on blotting-paper, which is put on the floor-board under the frames. In a few seconds the scent of the Apiol permeates the whole hive. If used in larger doses the bees become stupified. For uniting two colonies each one is scented in a similar manner. In the American Bee Journal W. Klintworth describes how foid brood was cured in Germany by G. Danker, a leading bee-keeper, who lived near Bremen. As he de- pended on bee-keeping for a living, foul brood breaking out in his apiary was a serious matter to him. The remedy he employed was sulphuric acid, which he mixed with honey, and fed the diseased bees. The proportions are not given, but it is said that the bees got well. Another instance is given of Mr. Wendelkin in the State of Ohio, who also cured the disease by administering sulphuric acid mixed with honey. When he first com- menced to feed it he gave it so strong that they would not eat it. Then he weakened it with sugar syiup. If it is mixed with honey, Mr. Klintworth says, it can be fed to bees stronger than when mixed in sugar syrup. A correspondent of the Deutsche Illustrierte Bienen- zeitung,\. Stachelhausen, says, that in Cape Colony, Africa, is found a honey plant, named l'rvtea mellifera, called by the natives sugar-bush, sugar-tree, and tulip-tree, which June 28, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 311 is so rich in nectar that the sweet juice is collected, evaporated to a syrup, and used as a medicine. The aroma of this syrup is very pleasant. The plant blooms in the autumn, and the blossoms are half filled with the sweet juice. [This plant was alluded to by us. and the experiments made by Dr. v. l'lanta on the nectar of this and other plants were described in British Bee Journal for 1886, p. 542.— Ed.] A. II. Duff, in the City and County, says: One of the most important points in securing large crops of honey is to give abundance of room for the bees to store it. This is also one of the best preventatives of swarming. In the Italians and the other new races, however, this is not a decided prevention, but has some effect. But if this fails, and preparation is commenced (which will he the construction of queen-cells), we can postpone it by removing the queen-cells. This may be followed up just as long as it will produce the desired effect. This will oftentimes wear out, and the swarm being tired of this kind of treatment, will come forth, leaving behind no trace of queen-cells whatever. There is but one remedy left, provided wo wish them to occupy the hive as formerly. This is to take their queen away from them, and put them back again as before. This compels them to remain until young queens are reared, which will require eight or ten days. In the Bee-keepers Review, W. F. Hutchinson says, That it is unprofitable to devote tillable land to the cultivation of plants that produce honey alone is well- nigh universally admitted; while alsike clover and buckwheat seem to be about the only farm crops that can he planted with the hope of also securing a crop of honey, the chances being largely in favour of the alsike. Of its excellence as a honey-plant there is no doubt, while it only requires suitable soil and treatment to make it a valuable plant for other purposes. For sowing in waste places there is probably nothing equal to sweet clover. Pleurisy-root may be equally as good, perhaps better, but it has not yet been so thoroughly tried. Let all remember, however, that little patches of honey plants are of no value, may even be a detriment, that to be of any value there must be acres and acres of bloom. In the Farmer*' Review W. S. Culliman says, That many specialists who work their bees for comb honey contract the brood-chamber to five or six frames before giving the first case of sections. This gives the bees less room below, and less brood to take care of, and so drives a greater number of them into the supers, by which means, of course, more surplus is secured. Should any one wish to practise this method, all they will need to do is to remove one or two frames from each side of the brood-chambers, and substitute a division-board or dummy in their stead. The division-board should be of the same dimension as the frame, and have projecting tops, so as to hang in the hive just as the frames do, and one of them should take the place of each frame removed, for if the space occupied by a frame in the brood-chamber be left vacant, the bees will certainly fill it with honey when they become crowded for room. The Canadian Bee Journal recommends stimulative- feeding by placing syrup in the combs. Empty combs are filled with honey diluted with water or sugar syrup by holding the frame at an angle of 45 degrees. The mixture can be poured into combs without any trouble. The frames are then placed in the rear of the brood- nest, and the inmates of the hive feel that honey is coming in plentifully, and their efforts are turned in the direction of brood-rearing. Another advantage of this plan is that it is inexpensive, there being no outlay for feeders. In the Indiana Farmer, J. K. Hubbard recommends equalising the strength of colonies in the spring, and instead of having a few very weak and the rest very strong, to bring up the weak ones by taking from the others and giving to them. He says the reason why this can be profitably done is, that giving brood to a weak colony will do more good than to have it in the strong colony. A good colony can spare a frame of brood and still keep full of bees; but if enough brood has been taken to show, in a few days, that they have materially weakened, the matter has been overdone, and it would have been better to leave them alone. A full colony will gather many times more honey than several weak ones ; but, by intelligent and careful management, all colonies may be brought up to the same standard, and the good ones not materially injured. The American Agriculturist says that the annual Jiroduet of honey in America is 28,000,000 pounds, or uilf a pound a-piece to the population. In 1880 1'en- nessee made 2,l:il,000 pounds; New York, 2,089,000; Ohio, 1,627,000; North Carolina, 1,501,000; Kentucky, 1,500,505; and seven other States — Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia — produced more than 1,000,000 pounds each: altogether in the states named more than half the entire product of the country. In the Revue International, Dr. A. de l'lanta says that cane sugar which we give our bees is transformed in their stomachs, atom by atom, into two substances, namely, levulose and dextrose ; the bee has, therefore, always the advantage of the combination of the two substances. It is the same with honey and nectar which contain two substances, therefore the bee does not nourish itself exclusively on either the one or the other. In the American Agriculturist, H. Alley says: It was claimed that b}' reversing the frames at the proper time the bees would remove the honey stored in the brood-combs to the sections above, the change to be made just before the close of the honey season. Ex- perience has proved that such claims were premature, and also that there is no great advantage in reversing the combs for such a purpose. He tinds it a great advantage to reverse the brood-nest in order to have the combs fastened on all sides of the frame. Bees will not build the combs down within about half an inch of the bottom bar. Now, if this space be filled, it is plain to any one that there will be many more cells in the brood -chamber than will be utilised either for brood or for storing honey. This item is no small affair when there are eight frames," 17 inches long, used in a hive. The brood capacity, by reversing, would be increased 136 cubic inches, and as there are 52 cells to a square inch, you will see that the difference between having tile frames filled solid with comb or left as the bees naturally leave them is 7072 cells for eight frames. When the frames are filled with comb and fastened on all sides, as they are sure to be if reversed, they may be handled with much less danger of breaking. This is a great advantage when the apiary is run for extracted honey. [We accomplish the same, without inverting, in wired frames by filling the frames with foundation, and when not wired by cutting the combs from the attachments at top and sides, and allowing them to drop on to the bottom bar, keeping them in place by a couple of pieces of tape until fastened. — Ed.] LANGSTROTH FUND. The following additional subscriptions have been re- ceived, with thanks: — £. s. d. A Scotchman 1 1 0 T. F. L 0 10 0 O.P 0 5 0 C. H.W 0 5 0 Henry Dobbie 0 2 G C. J. S., Fleet 0 2 0 312 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Juno 28, 1888. CANADA. Owing to the peculiar spring- it has been difficult to make any report as to the result of wintering' our bees. Fruit bloom is, however, in now, and all danger from spring dwindling passed. The poor honey season left many colonies last fall short of stores, and ignorance, carelessness, and in a few instances circumstances over which the bee-keeper has had no control, have given us many cases of loss from starvation. Otherwise, despite the somewhat severe winter bees were in good condition early in spring. The cold and back- ward season has very ranch increased the percentage of loss and spring dwindling and robbing frequent. There are not as many bees for sale this spring as in the spring of 1887. Prices range from $0'7o to $8 per colony. As to the prospects for honey, nothing can be said as our honey season is brief, and during that time all depends upon the atmospheric conditions. A backward spring in my estimation is likely to be followed by a good honey season rather than a poor. The general crop obtained, however, is less, as bees are not in a condition to take advantage of the nectar secreted in the flowers. My own bees, with few exceptions, are good, and this day, May 26, I have a good many supers on partially tilled. A comb with brood is taken from the lowerstorey, a frame with foundation to be drawn out taking its place. The upper storey is then partially rilled with the comb of brood and more frames with foundation added on. This gives the bees room, preventing swarming and utilises their energies in a satisfactory manner. It is very pleasant to have frames with foundation partly built out and fastened securely to the combs upon which to hive a swarm. Clover is less plentiful than usual, owing to the very dry summer of 1887. Canada has not suffered as much as the United States, and from clover at least we have reason to expet a greater yield. Linden has not given much surplus for several years, if there are ' off years ' for it there is certainly nothing to pre- vent a very good honey flow from this source. Eight weeks from date will tell the tale ; our surplus is secured in that time. Canadians are under the impression that the new one- sided comb-foundation will be of no use to bee-keepers. — II. F. Holtehmann, Brantford, Canada, May 26. Sclettcb ($xtcrjr. [14.] Do you recommend the contraction of the brood nest before put tiny the cases of sections on; if so, when, how, and to 'chat client should this be done ? Should the sections when placed on the hive run parallel to or across the brood frames? When should cases of sections be put on? TVhat space should be left between the top of the brood frames and the underside of sections? Is a queen- excluder or honey-board necessary to prevent the queen laying in the sections ? The brood-nest should be contracted to eight frames, having those with the most brood in them ; and the cases be put on as soon as the bees begin to build out bits of white comb at the top of the frames. They should be by preference parallel to the frames below, but if a -inch space is left under the sections it is not very material. If full sheets of worker foundation are used JEsections, a queen-excluder is not necessary to prevent he queen laying in them ; but if starters only are used he bees will build drone-comb down to the bottom, and here being little or no drone-comb in the hive below, he queen will frequently go up to lay drone-eggs ; a lueen-excludmg honey-board should be used in this case. the sections are cleaner where one is used.— John M. Hookeh. When swarming is allowed, yes. Otherwise not. The ' when and how ' depends entirely upon the district. The direction of sections is immaterial. If any space is left between bars and underside of sections it must be what has correctly been termed a 'bee-space' — barely j-inch, but not more than /,T-inch. The queen-excluder is decidedly unnecessary. — Samuel Simmins. If one case of twenty-one sections only is used, frames may be contracted to seven or eight. For tiering up, I should not contract. It makes no difference whether across or parallel if hive stand level ; if not, and hive has a dip to the front, sections must be lengthwise from front to back. Leave a bee-space of rV-inch, or if a honey- board or excluder is used leave this space each side of it. The use of excluder is a debatable question ; a properly constructed one is no doubt of advantage, but not a neces- sity.— John Edey. We have proved the entire contraction of brood-frames as meddlesome ; entailing as much loss as gain, all things considered, but at the time of supering, when the two outer combs contain more honey than brood, they are removed and dummies put in their place ; if not, the)' remain, and any colony on twelve frames so treated with us has given a good surplus. Two seasons ago we proved sections running with the frames at right angles to the entrance far ahead of any other work, and, continuing on those lines, we have garnered sections of beautiful fit and finish, wrought from honey which, when extracted, will not stand competition. Section cases should be put on when the capping of honey stored in frames is being begun, just a little in advance of the colony's requirements. A colony boiling over with bees and supered in the midst of a honey flow, is certain to give fishbone work, even with starters ; but if the first case is given a little in advance of such a state, and cases so tiered, by giving the new work placed below all others, then full sheets of foundation are drawn out equal to natural work, and to the greater certainty of a perfectly filled section. One quarter of an inch should always be left between the tops of frames, honey-board, or excluder, and the under- side of sections. Between super work and established colonies it is more safe, if not to be desired, to place an excluder or honey-board ; but with swarms we have never found need for either. — John II. Howard, Holme, Peterborough. 1 . I should not contract the nest below nine frames, and if a fairly good colony and outside comb contained honey, I should uncap the whole of it, and place the frame in the centre of nest, when I should hope to see the bees take to the sections at once, and store the honey from the centre comb in them, premising the weather and season were right and honey coming in. 2. I have worked crates of sections both parallel and across brood-combs and have never noticed any advantage in either position. •">. When the hives are full to overflowing with bees, and when they can gather honey in sufficient quantity to store, in most districts about the first week in June, it would be detrimental to extensive ovipositing to super too early, as it would reduce the temperature of the brood-nest unless the weather should be very warm. 4. A full quarter of an inch, say fo. 5. No, an excluder is not necessary, I do not get one section in a thousand spoilt with brood — have never used any honey-boards (except the old crown-boards), do not consider them necessary in a practical apiary. — W. Woodley. No, not necessary to contract the brood-nest when putting on sections. When placing sections on hive they should run parallel to the brood-frames, and put on when they seem to want room, three-eighths of an inch is sufficient to leave between top of frames and underside of sections. A queen-excluder under section is only a hindrance to the bees.— William McNally, Glenluee, Scotland. Not necessary ; but if a stock is strong and full of bees, sections being on a few days and not taken possession of, plenty of honey about, then you might force the bees up Juue 28, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 313 by removing one frame and contract. I have generally worked them across, my frames being at right angles to the entrance, but it is quite immaterial. Sections should be put on when the stock is strong and plenty of honey about. Not more than a quarter of an inch should be allowed between top of frames and boitoin of sections. Queen-excluder is not at all necessary, the queen seldom goes up into the sections when she has sufficient room in the brood-chamber. — William N. Griffin. No, except stocks are not quite full when the honey flow comes on, in my experience I do not think it matters which way the sections run. When the weather is fine and warm, and honey is coming in rapidly, and stocks appear to be full enough, so that they inight be glad to take advantage of the extra room offered them. A quarter of an inch. Among forty or fifty stocks last year, I did not have them go up, though I had no ex- cluder on, the only one I put excluder on did not take well to the sections, but swarmed. — John Walton, Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington. 1. I do not contract the brood-nest before putting the cases of sections on. 2. I always place the sections on the hive to run parallel to the brood-frames. 3. As soon as the bees commence to draw out to their full extent the top rows of cells of the brood-combs, which will be known by the white appearance of the new comb at the top of the frames. 4. A v's-inch space I find most suitable. 5. With separators of proper width and a fc-inch space between the top of the brood-frumes and the underside of sections, a queen-excluder or honey-board is not necessary. I have never used either, and brood in sections is unknown in working my apiary. — II. Wood. No; it matters little if with bee-space underneath. When hive is crowded, and bees have just commenced to elongate the top cells of combs in body box ; witli adepts this can be done before by noting the flowing of honey, providing plants of the neighbourhood and the condition of stocks. 4,-inch. Yes, if it is absolutely essential she does not enter. I never use any, taking my chance of such occurring, and consider that I am a gainer by the omission. — W. B. Webster. 1. Unless very anxious to get a lot of sections filled quickly I would not reduce the number of frames belowten. 2. I think it is quite immaterial. •'!. I know no rule beyond ' ichen the honey glut comes.' 4. |-inch. o. The case of a queen entering a well-made super is so rare (unless the brood-nest has been too much contracted) that I should never think of using queen-excluder. — W. E. Bvrkitt. My object is to obtain hives full of bees by the time the honey-flow commences. A hive containing ten standard-frames, crowded with bees, will require no con- traction of the brood-next. It is immaterial which way the sections range. Cases should be put on when honey begins to come in freely — when bees begin to lengthen the cells at the tops of "frames by adding new wax. A bee-space of J-inch between frames and section case is necessary. I prefer the use of a properly constructed ' queen-excluding honey-board.' — George Raynor. 1. No; unless honey is desired from a certain source as fruit-blossom, for instance, which comes at a time when the majority of stocks are not particularly strong, and the nights are cold ; they should be contracted to not less than eight frames, and supers placed on before the honey-flow. Some of the best results in my experience have been where supers have remained on during- winter, through negligence. It does not signify so long as the foundation hangs perpendicularly in the section. 3. Be- fore the bees need room, and before the honey-flow. 4. j-inch, i>. If the brood-nest is contracted, yes. In the early part of the season, yes. With plenty of combs below, and sections filled with worker-foundation, the queen seldom spoils the supers. — Roland Green. Contspanbmtc. The Editor docs not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will he token of anonymous com* munications. ond correspondents are requested to voiite on one tide of the paper only, and give their full names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drown on separate pieces of paper. Communicate pus relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Bonks for Reviews, &c, musl be addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," do Messrs. Strangeways ond Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge ( m cue, W.C All business communications relating to Advertisements. &<:., must be addressed to Mr. J. Hdckle, Kings Langley. Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements.) %* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or guery previously inserted, tout oblige by mentioning the number of the h-tter, as well as the page on which it appears. IN THE HUT. 'Among the trees, where humming bees At buds and flowers were hinging o'.' — Burns. [1691.] First (in answer to a recent inquirer) I must admit that by a slip of the pen I described a plumber's scraper as a right-angled triangle instead of an equila- teral triangle. It was a remarkable coincidence that 'Amateur Expert' should see at that particular time a description of a similar thing in an American paper. Speaking of American papers reminds me that I ought, in justice to our postal authorities (with whom we are, perhaps, too prone to find fault), to give them a word of praise for recently delivering a copy of Gleanings to a bee-keeper I have the pleasure of knowing— -the paper simply bearing his name and the address, 'Crag Hill, England.' Crag Hill is not a village, it is scarcely a division of one, and is not three acres in extent. This is quite as creditable to them as a post-card finding myself with the bare initials of my name and ' 13 C. H. Sq.' Thanks to ' A. E.' for calling our attention to Father Langstroth. It is not everybody's luck to have his book, but those who have read it have perused the most in- teresting book, facile princeps, ever written about bees and bee-keeping, at least in the opinion of ' X-Tractor ;' and the rising generation who will read his book with the same veneration for its author we now feel for the early fathers in bee-keeping, will 'think shame' that they didn't give their mite when they had the chance to comfort the declining years and smooth the final footsteps of their good and great-minded ancestor in bee-keeping. Wo hope he is not ' Whom the gods desire,' and that many years may pass before that noble intellect be touched. I see one of your correspondents has also honoured you, as well as your excellent contemporary, The Recwd, with an account of his successful manipulation of bees in a chimney. This is scarcely ' good form,' I think. Each paper would probably thank him for a different commu- nique, but neither, 1 trow, for a simultaneous verbatim letter. At sowing time I intend to try the plan of asking one or two farmers in my neighbourhood to sow some white clover amongst their other seeds, and I will give them the seed on condition that they let it stop a week when in full bloom instead of doing as they do now — cut it just when we want it. Their object in cutting clover fields so soon is that it so readily casts its seed after being fertilised by the bees, thus lightening the weight yield per acre. If clover stops uncut till the head withers, the seed falls to the ground instead of adding weight and nutriment to the hay-crop. I have never tried it, but I think a good non-alcoholic drink, with plenty of fizz in it, would be made by sub- stituting honey for treacle or sugar in the making of herb, horehound, balm, ginger, or treacle-beer. What a pleasant sight it is for a bee-keeper when 314 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 28, 1888. travelling to pass slowly through a village, and from the railway carriage window see a swarm on an apple-tree, bee-keepers at hand preparing to hive the bees, under the gaze of the usual interested villagers. Such was my luck about three week3 ago when riding somewhere near Nuneaton ; and the happy sight took my mind back to the ' The Hut ' and its surroundings. By the way, how very near the uninitiated will come when one is hiving a swarm ! I suppose it is on the principle that — ' He laughs at scars who never felt a wound. X-Tbactok. HONEY YIELD. (P. 205.) [1692.] In reference (1077) to one of cottager's ob- servations, I feel someone ought to reply, viz., 'Do we get as a rule an all-round average statement as to honey yield?' I turn to the issue of Bee Journal of May 10, p. 241, paragraph headed ' Modern bee-keeping, progress in bee-keeping,'and he asks, ' Why is it the army of bee- keepers is so small?' The reason, I think, is because many begin from reading false glowing accounts, and failing to get the results promised, give bee-keeping up in disgust. He says no bee-keeper in a favoured part of the country now-a-days is content with less than 100 Eounds of honey per hive, and even in the suburbs of .ondon as much as 40 or 50 pounds per hive may be realised, and that there is little time or trouble necessary to attend the bees or take the honey, and that when taken there is little trouble to dispose of it at one shilling per pound. Now what are the facts in our county, Middlesex? By statistics in the hands of most of our Association what do we read ? — •2| »K 1 a o CQ l CO 3 o o CO O o SB H Blacks ... Italian Garniolao . Hybrid ... 2C0 29 14 181 41 7 11 47 ISM 100 3 B24 007 65 82 1019J 8-8 774 62 13-88 Just over 8 lbs. per hive. 71 lbs. 6 lbs. nearly 14 lhs. „ 3572 Divide by four gives au average of about 8] lbs. per hive. In Skeps. 158 4 11 51 200 in 70 100 1-89 S-5 6-36 Black Italian Hybrid ... 10-30 Divide by three gives a little over 31 lbs. per hive, or a general average of 6 lbs. 10 oss. Now when a ordinary man reading the paragraph mentioned (taken from Good Words for May) and com- mences bee-keeping in the hopes of realising such an ideal, and after trying several years with the average results of Middlesex bee-keepers, I think he will be ready to give it up in despair, and if any friends should speak in his presence about starting bee-keeping, his advice will be, Don't. Now the average take of honey per hive that I have mentioned (6 lbs. 10 ozs.) is from stocks. Now if we add to the 007 stocks 160 swarms, making a total of (167, the average take then would be about a quarter less or a little over 5 lbs. per hive. We must also remember that this is the report from the workers (I don't know what the average would be if the drone bee-keepers were included), members of the Association, men most advanced in the knowledge and art of bee-keeping. Now I think if we could go back, say, 100 years, I do not think we should have much to boast of. Last year, 1887, was a very bad year, but I have hopes of better results this year. I have commenced to take a few very nice sections, and as I wanted some extracted honey for customers I took from very nice sealed frames 18 lbs. from two hives; trusting we may get 40 or 50 lbs. per hive this year. — Alex. Mitchell Hillingdon, June loth. BRITISH-MADE COMB-FOUNDATION. (1634.) [1603.] Mr. Stokes takes exception to my remarks respecting Dadant's comb-foundation (page 204). I am sure nothing could be farther from my thoughts than that anything I wrote should injure those British manu- facturers who make a genuine article. I repeat that this foundation surpasses, so far as I am a judge, any- thing I have seen, and I said, ' I hope your readers will try it against some other makers' and report to the Journal which they prefer.' I think Mr. Stokes cannot say that there wras anything prejudicial to the British manufacturer in my suggestion. Indeed Mr. Stokes himself suggests that we should try Dadant's foundation against one maker, whom he mentions, and whom he is ready to back. I have had some opportunities of seeing foundation of most of the makers at the shows, where I have acted as one of the judges. I have also from the introduction of comb-foundation used a considerable quantity myself. Some years ago I had some from Mr. llaitt, and I was quite satisfied with it. I have more recently used that made by Messrs. Abbott and also by Messrs. Neigh- bour, with which I had no fault to find. There are several others who make equally good foundation, and who would, no doubt, be willing that their manufacture should be tried against that of Messrs. Dadant or any other American makers. There have, however, been many complaints of failure made to me when speaking on the subject. I have had some curious e::perieuce with comb-foundation of British manufacture of other makers thai those above referred to. In one case I lixed some foundation in a square super four inches deep, that had slides similar to the Stewarton supers. This was put on a strong colony in the height of the season, and the bees did not work it out at all that year. The following year I put this super on another colony (not. knowing that there was anything wrong with it), the bees being crowded for space went into it at once, and soon filled the super with entirely new combs, they built between the strips of foundation, which were used as separators, and had not been altered in the least from the time they were put in. This foundation I brought home from one of the shows, it was well made, but had the appear- ance of having been bleached almost white. This was some years ago, before foundation was in such general use, and so much was known about it. White is an un- natural colour for cither thin or thick foundation, should be avoided, and looked upon with considerable suspicion. I have also been greatly annoyed with other makes breaking down, leaving about an inch or so in depth fixed in the saw-cut, and becoming fastened together in a mass in the bottom of the hives. A week or ten days' work of the bees after swarming was entirely thrown away, to say nothing of my disappointment at such a catastrophe, loss of the value of the foundation; and the time and trouble of fixing a .second lot, and putting the hive in order for another start. Some foundation shown at one of the exhibitions last year, when examined by the judges, was thought to have a peculiar smell. A sample of this was sent to Mr. Otto llehner for analysis, he pronounced it to be commercially pure; in a letter accompanying his report, he said it con- tained a small percentage of fatty matter. On my return I gave a piece of foundation, similar to that sent to Mr. Hehner, to my little boy ten years old, and asked him what it smelt of, and he said, 'Candles' June 28, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 315 With this experience I think that you will see that I ought not to he criticised too severely for recommending a comh - foundation which I believed to be not only ' commercial!)',' but absolutely pure. The bees are not bad judges of pure beeswax comb-foundation. It is, I am afraid, too much the case when purchasing beeswax to select a few pieces from the bulk to send to the analyst (what would be known in Mincing Lane as parlour samples). If this is found to be genuine it is no guarantee as to the purity of the whole, and before we can say 'pure,' or 'pure analysed comb foundation,' the whole must be melted down in large quantities, and a sample from each melting submitted for analysis. The abovo was written before I had seen your reply to the inquiries of T. Davison or that of E. G. Elliot : ' Adulterated foundation.' I quite agree with you that beeswax in its natural state, such as the bees love to work it in, is not white, but yellow, although by expo- sure to the light of the sun it will, after a time, be bleached white without any addition or adulteration ; but its whole nature seems to be altered, it is no louger soft and easily moulded — as the bees like it — but is hard and more brittle. Let anyone take a section that has been exposed until the foundation is bleached white, and take one filled with recently-made foundation of the natural colour, and see which will be tilled first. There is, I believe, as you say, a large quantity of spurious foundation beiny sold at the present time ; and although white wax may be pure.it is not suitable for foundation, and is the colour of Japanese wax, and of wax other- wise adulterated. The time and labour occupied in bleaching are considerable, and it is not likely that any- one would take the trouble for the purpose of foun- dation. It is in the interest of bee-keepers and for the adcince- ment of bee-culture that I write. At the same time I hope British manufacturers will be put on their mettle, and take more care in the selection of wax, that they may compete successfully with all the world in comb- foundation. — John M. HoOKEB. ADULTERATION. [1694.] As I have always vigorously fought against the adulteration of honey and wax, and indeed, I believe, was the lirst to publicly denounce those who brought adulterated honey and wax into the market, you will not suspect me of any lurking sympathy with sophisticators, when I protest against the statement made in your reply to Mr. T. Davison concerning adulterated foundation. Pure white bees-wax is not an unknown substance, and bees-wax can readily, without foreign admixture, he bleached so as to be white to all intents and purposes. By the action of sunlight, by that of peroxide of hydrogen, or by bichromate of potash, the yellow colour natural to wax can be removed without bringing into the product any admixture foreign to it. These bleaching processes are practised on a very large scale, ■ and there is no difficulty whatever to procure unlimited quantities of pure bleached bees - wax, the highest authority in the Materia Medica, which you quote, notwithstanding. Since my exposure some years ago, in the interest of honest dealers, of the frauds then current in the honey and wax trade, an immense improvement has taken place in the purity of honey and wax ; indeed, the grosser forms of adulteration have almost disappeared. While a few years ago no dealer dreamed of getting his wax analysed, brokers and merchants now supervise that article most carefully and sell it upon the basis of care- ful analysis ; glucose with honey has practically disappeared. I admit that adulterated specimens of wax are still to be met with, but I think it is unfair to the trade, and to those who control it, to belittle the good results that have been produced.— Otto Hehner, Analyst to the British Bee-keepers' Association, Hon. Secretary of the Society of Public Analysts, 11 Bilker Square, London, June 2\st. [We are fully aware of the services that Mr. Otto Hehner has rendered to the bee-keeping industry by his exposure of the once prevalent practice of adulterating honey. Yet we must be somewhat at variance with him when he says that wax can be bleached white by sun- light; we know that it can be bleached, but we have never been able to bleach it absolutely white, not only have we failed in this particular, but are supported in our assertion by vory high analytical authority ; ' l'ereira on the Elements of Materia Medica,' says, ' White wax {cera alba, cera dealbatum) is yellowish white. I have never met with pure wax perfectly white. The circular cakes of commerce always contain spermaceti which dealers add to improve the colour.' We must own that we have never treated wax with peroxide of hydrogen or bichromate of potash ; these must be quite recent in- troductions, as we cannot find any allusion to them in works of high authority. We had some samples funded to us of what was called white wax bleached by a new process ; it might have been the above. We might term it commercially white, as some wax is called 'commercially pure,' though impure. From the treatment it had been subjected to there had been imparted to it an element of rancidity which detracted from its purity as an article to be used as a food, as foundation in a section is so used, and anything but fragrant to the smell : can such wax be called pure ? We assert it cannot any more than putrid water can be called pure water. In the early part of the present year a sample of wax was forwarded to us for our opinion on its merits for foundation purposes. We were obliged to speak un- favourably of it. We were not aware whose wax we had been testing. But the manufacturer of it was, and forwarded us a justificatory letter from the wax-mer- chants from whom it had been purchased, from which we make the following extract : ' The wax you have had belongs to a brand which Mr. Hehner lias analysed and pronounced to be pure, but at the same time the wax has some properties which render it unfit for foundation purposes unless when mixed with a considerable propor- tion of natural yellow wax. It seems to us suspiciously white, and we are of opinion that it derives its peculiar smell from the bleaching process.' Wo were of the same opinion. At the same time we feel it our duty, as it is a pleasure, to speak favourably of the general purity of the wax in the market. — Ed.] NOTES ON CUHKENT TOPICS . [1695.] I fear I am so far behind that I can never make up my lost ' bee ' way, but I desire, before I begin to criticise some little matters which have appeared lately, to thank the writer of 'Useful Hints' for the excellent practical suggestions he has given lately — nothing could be better. Four Bee-way Sections. — These are an abomination to all who have to handle them when filled. Super Foundation. — Like Mr. Hooker, I have found the Dadant foundation very good, but the Van Deusen 'flat-bottomed' is thinner and easier put in with the Parker machine when the weather is cold, which it always has been this year. Neighbour's flat-bottomed super foundation is alike excellent; but I have found none equal to Mr. Howard's natural based; it is very thin and good in every way — his method of fixing full sheets of it in sections leaves nothing to be desired. I am sorry to learn there is so much adulterated stuff in the market. No one knows better than I do the annoyance of having this rubbish give way just when it is worked out.— F. Boyes. 316 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 28, 1888. (&t\m from % Ijto. North Leicestershire, June i'-ird. — Previous fortnight very cold ; highest readings of thermometer 52°, gone- rally below 50" ; cold north-east winds, great dearth of nectar, clover and beans not yet in bloom ; bees starving, driving out drones and carrying out drone-grub ; supers off and feeders on. Newport, Isle of Wight, June 2ith. — Some would think, situated so far south as this is, that one would get an early flow of honey ; and as this is my first year with bees in box-hives I have kept a sharp look-out for the honey-flow. But up to Thursday last, the 21st, there had been very little brought in, but on Saturday, June 23rd, I could see the honey-harvest had begun, for as soon as the young bees leave the cells in the top box the workers fill it up with honey, but have not sealed it down yet. I don't suppose they will until all the brood is out. Bees are pulling out section-foundation beauti- fully. About the glass sections I saw mentioned in your valuable paper some few weeks ago, I, having a diamond, started to make a crate of them, 2 x 1 J inch bottom piece, and also glass dividers, which I made in one piece, resting on three-eighth inch strips at each side, sixteen on glass. I think they will look very pretty if they till well. I tried cement to hold the glass to- gether, but found small strips of calico (as recommended) wet on one side with glue the best. I have an abund- ance of drones in all my hives. AVhat is the inference to draw from that? In conclusion, permit me to thank Mr. Bonner-Chambers for the idea of the glass-section. —J. A. A. Wood. Ascott, Oxford, June 2o. — Bees have gathered no honey here since June 4, owing to north-east winds. The thermometer has kept usually at about 50° to 55°. Previous to that date a few sections were made. In the meantime, the season is quickly slipping away from us, and I fear it will be a poor yield of surplus honey. I had seven stocks last season, and my best hive yielded seventy-four 1-lb. sections. Another of my hives, besides giving thirty 1-lb. sections, gave a swarm which I first put into a box. It weighed eighty lbs. netton August 1. I had also three other swarms which I hived in the usual way, but as I wanted surplus honey and not increase, I threw each of them out on to a table just before dark, sorted them out with a goose-wing, found the queens, and put them back in their hives again, putting under an extra super in each case. I cannot think why hive-makers do not always send an extra super with their hives — charging, of course, a little more. No hive is, I think, complete without two or three super crates of sections. If the beginner has only one super, he is obliged if the honey is coming in freely to take out some sections every other day — crushing many bees, disturbing most of them, and getting mueh stung over it. And even then they will probably swarm. A super should be placed on the hives May 1, and be carefully wrapped up. When it is half full an empty crate of sections should be placed beneath it. This is the only way, as far as my experience goes, to stop swarming. I usually keep my unfinished sections instead of extracting them and put them over the bees, as mentioned before, on May 1 . The honey, if the season is backward (which it generally is here), helps the bees, and I always find them take to the supers better for it. It seems to teach them why the supers are put on ! — Amateuh. Beverley, June 22nd, — It is I believe ten years since we had such a wretchedly cold season (so far) for our bees. Here we are on the 22nd June, and the weather has been all along, and is, colder than Christmas, with scarcely a bee on the wing, and every hive thrusting out and killing drones, as well as drawing brood and ejecting the white over shells. The early part of the season gave great promise, and the bees, which were in good strength, stored abundantly from the gooseberry and currant trees. Then came the fruit-blossoms and the (best of all trees) sycamores, covered with bloom; but, alas ! the bitterly cold N.E. wind prevented the bees from getting it, except on one or two occasions. Last year 1 had hundreds of sections tilled and sealed from these sources. Next came the whitethorn (May), but it, too, has passed away almost unvisited. The worst part of it has been that we have had occasional glimpses of sunshine, which tempted the bees out ; then the sun suddenly disappeared, and the cold wind chilled the bees by thousands even whilst they were on the flowers. I verily believe my hives are weaker now than in the middle of May. — P. BoYES. Co. Wexford. — Weather most unfavourable for bees since June came in; storm after storm. Skeppiste are getting small swarms all round, but bar-frame hive bees are working in supers, building out foundation, &C. Little or no honey coming in up to date (16th June, 1888), but a nasty east wind on. — T. E. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Letters or queries asking for addresses oj manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purc/iascd, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt oj their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. C. Coventry. — Transferring Bees. — Cut the tapes when you find the combs are nicely fastened. Pass a warm sharp knife between combs five and six, gently press them up into position, and slip pieces of wire over top bar bent, so that they hold the comb on both sides in position under the top bar, try the same plan with seven and eight. The knife will work easier if placed in a jug of hot water to warm. In about a week notice whether the queen-cell is sealed, also whether there are any eggs or newly-hatched grubs. If you find either eggs or very small grubs, cutout the queen- cell. If not, you may conclude the old queen is dead, and you may then allow the cell to remain. Ask any further question you may find necessary. We regret we were not present to help you. Ai'is IIibern'icus. — Heceijie for Metheglin. — We select the following from a number of recipes for making metheglin : ' Select " combs " free from brood that have had the honey drained from them ; place the combs in a vessel, and put as much lukewarm water on them as will enable them to swim ; let them stand two days and stir occasionally ; strain the liquor ; let stand one day ; skim the scum from the liquor carefully, and filter the sediment ; when clear, boil an hour. The liquor will be sufficiently strong if an egg will float in it. To three gallons of the liquor add 1 lb. raisins, 1 oz. ginger, and seven or eight laurel-leaves. When cool, add a little brewer's barm, and after standing a day, barrel it, leaving the barrel open for a few days to work, then cork it up and let it stand for some months before bottling it. — Thomas Bagshaw.' Enwuiueb,. — rutting on Crates. — L)o neither; lift the full one off, and put a crate filled with empty sections underneath. Any difference in size may be adjusted by using strips of enamel cloth. You need not mind about a strip of wood to separate the crates ; allow- ance is made underneath in making the crate for a bee-space. A. II. — Drone-eggs. — The bee turned out on the successful introduction of the new and fertilised queen was the former reigning sovereign, who probably was produced in the previous autumn, and had not been fertilised : hence the drone-eggs in your hive. ,r Juno 28, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 317 Invicta. — Suspicious Wax. — It is not desirable to insert your letter. The sample sent, though nnflt for found- ation, may not be a fair specimen of the foundation generally sold by the dealer named. Attention has been drawn to the adulterated wax now in the market, and the notice may produce a good effect. T. Morrison.— Queen cast out. — It is not probable that your swarm is queenless. The queen you sent is a tine young one, and is, we should think, one of two which accompanied the cast. C. N. Parkin. — Busy Bees— No doubt your bees are very strong, and are busily working and readily getting honey from some convenient neighbouring source. Ai'.s. — Treatment of Smarms. — As you are unable to move the old hive from its position, you clearly cannot take advantage of the method you refer to. As the swarm is likely to be a large one, we should not hesitate to put it in a new position, and treat it in the manner you propose, with starters about one and a half inch deep, using your excluder-zinc on the top of the frames and under the crate of sections, which should have full sheets of foundation fixed. Xo doubt you will obtain Borne well-filled sections this season. X. Y. Z. — Clover Honey. — After the refreshing; rains we have had, it is mire than probable that the white clover will spring up again after the hay is carried and yield some honey. In must districts the white clover is only just in bloom, and there are few places where other sources of honey are not accessible for the next six weeks or two months. East Kent. — Queen-rearing. — It is feasible to raise queens after the lime-honey harvest. The methods of queen-rearing have frequently been set forth in the pages of the Journal, and we must request you to refer to them for details. No. 1 Qlanrafon, Bangor, N.W., writes us that having Saturday afternoon at liberty, he would be pleased to nssist and exchange opinions with bee-keepers in N. AVales on apiculture. Will bee-keepers in the district therefore be kind enough to communicate with him? AGood Swatim. — The Rev. C. C. James, of Papworth, St. Agnes, hived on June21st a swarm weighing '2\h lbs. It completely filled two large skeps, and is now in a long hive upon eighteen frames. [We should conjecture that the weight mentioned would have been arrived at by the junction of several swarms. — Ed.] Messrs. Woodley & Flood have forwarded to us a Gold- man's atomiser and sprinkler. It is an American invention, which, besides being of service to bee-keepers as a spray diffuser or for spraying swarms, may be used for many domestic purposes, such as damping clothes, disinfecting sick-rooms, clothing, &c, sprinkling flowers and house- plants, die. It will be found to be a most useful article, and all housekeepers will be pleased with it. SHOWS TO COME. July 0-13, — Loyal Agricultural Show, Nottingham. Secretary, J. Huckle, Kings Langley. Entries closed. July 10-20. — Cambridge Agricultural Society at Cambridge. Secretary, R. Peters, 7 Downing Street, Cambridge. Entries close June 25th. September 5-7. — Lancashire and Cheshire Association at Lancaster. Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Lees McOlure, The Lathoms, Present. Entries close August 1st, business ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bkos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Bakes, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hotchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadhasi, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 llegeut St. & 127 High Holborn. SrorHARD, G., Welwyn, Hert3. Walton, E. C. , 82 Emminuel Street, Preston. Webstek, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 26 Djnnington Boad, Beading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H, Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 119 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour m our kind friends in the bee-keepers' paradise on the broad flats of Essex, with their swallows' nests under their porch ; in their parish, whose bounds July 5, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL 321 are beaten daily by their own bees' flight. We must return to that immense sweltering hive which never swarms, because, I suppose, foundations are drawn out into cells ' in anticipation of the insects' requirement.-.' Is it not necessary there should be 'a fly in the ointment,' a cloud, in order that we may enjoy the sunshine ; Is it not fitting that a tinge of gloom should mar our pleasure ? This was not wanting then, for as we drove to the railway station, our driver pointed out a thatched cottage which had been burnt literally to I he ground, leaving nothing standing but two chimneys as monuments of the late inmate, who, with his three children, were recently burnt to death. A bent iron bedstead amongst some burnt brick told a mute, sad tale. So we returned to London, Sir. Harris a prince of raconteurs, ' The Sage ' a sapient critic, and the inveterate smoker — X-Tn ACTOB. USEFUL HINTS. Weather. — Throughout the third week in June cold northerly winds prevailed, and during the nights the temperature sank nearly to freezing point, On the 20th and -list of June our study fire was burning cheerily all day lung, and was as much enjoyed as ell a cold w inter's day. (hi Sunday, the 24th, and two following days, so great was the change that tin' thermometer in our bee- house — under the shade of trees be it noted— registered i)0° Fahr., and the bees evacuated their hives and clustered outside to preserve their combs from melting. Some colonies swarmed, deserting sections and supers, and, after gyrating for ten or fifteen minutes, returned to their deserted storehouses, finding them cooled, wo suppose, by the short evacuation. Then, during the night, came thunder-storms, with pouring rain and hail. Afterwards, up to present dale (June 30th), more threateiiiiigs (if thunder, with breaks of sunshine en- couraging the bees to rush afield, only In return pell- mell, laden with a little pollen and watery nectar, alarmed by the overhanging thunder-cloud. 'Still no indications of settled weather;' ' Cold showers with bright intervals.' Such are the forecasts of our meteoro- logists, while the summer is dipping away and our bees are gathering no honey. True, our meadows are still intact, and the white clover in full bloom, lmt secreting little nectar, and when liner weather comes the ceaseless hum of the ' mower,' simultaneously with that of our bees, will lloat over the flowery meads and mark its ' lchabod' on the honey .-i ason of 1888. But the season is late, the flowers are still in bloom, the bean-fields and white clover will continue to bloom for some time after the late refreshing rains; the linns will soon lie giving forth their delicious scent, and the hives are crowded to overflowing with labourers eager and longing for the harvest, if only a month's dry weather and sunshine he vouchsafed. A few more days will determine the crisis, CabniolanS. — Anent our remarks as to the true colour of these bees, Mr. Blow writes to us that — 'the 1 s shade off (leaving the yellow bands at Trieste) to the genuine article up in the. mountain valleys. I have had over 100 stocks this spring and I have not one bee that shows yellow markings.' He also refers us to his pamphlet, page •'!", where he speaks of the bees around Trieste as a ' rather mixed race, being in many cases slightly striped with yellow, quite different to those I saw later on in the mountains.' He also speaks of a ' Mr. Doukoupil, residing at Itadmansdorf, who possesses a large apiary of Cyprian, Syrian, Ligurian, and Car- niolan bees' — all in the same apiary! — 'and exports queens to America.' Notwithstanding Mr. Blow's re- monstrances, this gentleman was unable to see his error. We hope he does not export queens to England ! Mr. Blow's ' genuine article,' then, in Carniolans, is a bee en- tirely free from yellow markings. Let us adhere to this, and endeavour to keep the ' genuine article ' pure. The Carniolan colon}', of which we spoke in our last ' Hints," coiit iiiin s crowded with bees in its large brood compartment and supers, utilising every moment of sun- shine as energetically as Cyprians, but shows no inclina- tion to swarming, although its neighbours have been indulging the swarming instinct. So gentle, beautiful, prolific, and hardworking, is the Carniolan race, that we sometimes feel inclined to wish that our entire apiary consisted of it and none other. ATiiah Sniuv. — Our apiary adjoins a meadow, still unmown, which abounds tti loads, a wire fence alone separating the two. Late in I lie summer evenings toads may he seen craw ling around the hives, but it never struck us that they were intent upon devouring bees. < hir hives are placed on stands about eighteen inches from the "round, and ill front of our strongest colonies we place a board, sloping from the ground upwards to the hive- en trance, for theconvenieiu I heavily laden lues return- ing homeward-. While lazily watching beside an Italian colony thus provided a few mornings ago after a heavy shower, admiring the eagerness of the bees for work while the brief sunslii e lasted, a toad appeared on the scene, and most deliberately, step by step, crawled up the hoard to the entrance, and there took up his station, surrounded by departing and returning bees. Flies occasionally settled on the creature's back, but were dismissed instanter h\ a quick tion of its hinder i Jaws. Several bees of inquiring minds were similarly treated also. At length one, more inquisitive lhan its fellows, carefully and minutely examined the fore-paw of the toad, but, alas! as it ares i wine from the scrutiny, snap went the huge jaw of the toad, and poor bee disappeared down the capacious throat. All this was done quick as a flash of lightning, indeed, so quick that the eye could scarcely follow the motion. The operation was repeated again and again by the toad, till at last, realising that the Tumi might prove more destructive of bee-life than the Tit, we interfered, and tying the toad securely in the position it had voluntarily assumed, we applied to the hive sundry kicks and shakes, with the object of infuriating the bees lo attack their assailant, lint no, although thousands of angry bees surrounded the marauder, not one dared to attack, not a single lanes was unsheathed ! So great seemed the dread of the bees that not ore alighted upon the toad, not withstanding its struggles to free itself from the hands by which it was bound. Following Virgil's advice respecting a 'bad king ' — dede neci — we beheaded and dissected the toad, and discovered in his capacious maw thirteen of our beautiful Italian bees, which bad all been swallowed alive during less time than it has taken us to write the Btory. Moral : Don't place boards in front of your hives for the convenience of the bees (toads ? ), and don't adopt the American plan of placing your hives upon the ground. Why cannot toads content themselves by picking up the dead bees, as 'tits' and sparrows are said, by their apologists, to do? No, these and many another enemy of the bees prefer the living to the dead. Garden Bee -plants. — Echinop* SphtBrdkephaloa flourishes amazingly from our sowing made March 1887, some of the plants having reached the full height of seven feet. It is not yet in bloom, but is fast approach- ing that stage, and we hope carefully to note the bees' visits to its blooms. Teucrium (Germander), a plant of the Labiate family, is greatly loved by the bees. It is very hardy, easily propagated by layers or slips, bears a pretty purple flower, and blooms through the summer. Xepeta (cat-mint) so highly prized in America as a bee- plant, and by many termed Ground Ivy, is very similar to the above, and is equally patronised by the bees. Lamium (Dead-nettle) commonly known in our northern and midland counties by the name of ' Bee-nettle,' is of four colours, purple, white, spotted, and yellow, grows wild by hedges, walls, and road sides, and is very common, but is capable of improvement by cultivation, 322 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 5, 1888. and is well worthy of a place in our gardens. This again is of the Labiate family, and is frequented by the bees. The yellow variety is extremely pretty. Scrophularia (flgwort) of two kinds, purple and yellow, and Echium (viper's bugloss) bearing a brilliant blue flower, and well known in our cottage gardens, should both be cultivated for the sake of the bees. Mignonette, sown now, as well as Idmnanthes Douglasii, will form excellent autumnal forage, the bees being very fond of both. Trifolium. — A contemporary, the Morning Post, of June 22nd, makes the following interesting reference to the two kinds of trefoil or trifolium, cultivated in our fields and meadows, and from both of which the bees derive pollen and nectar in abundance : — ' A noteworthy circumstance in the present season is the extraordinary abundance of the yellow suckling clover, Trifolium minus, in meadows and pastures. It is an excellent little forage plant, makes good bottom herbage, and where the pas- tures are at present being sheep-fed, it is eagerly eaten. It is only an annual, and its present abundance appears to be a result of last summer's heat and drought. In hot dry summers kerbacious plants, particularly annuals, devote their energies to the formation of flower and seed rather than of stem and leaf, hence, whilst the indi- vidual perishes, the species is preserved. Last year this was notoriously the case with Trifolium minus, and before the end of the summer much of the brownness of the pastures arose from the scorched remains of this little plant, whose perfectly matured seeds were scattered in large numbers upon the ground. There they rested till spring, when germination took place, and the resulting plants now form an unusually conspicuous feature in the bottom herbage. Trifolium minus is often confounded with a totally distinct but equallj- useful forage plant, Medicago lupulina, called trefoil by seedsmen, often termed " hop " by farmers, and frequently sown with rye-grass as a crop of " seeds." Of the two plants, Medicago lupulina is the more robust, its flower-head is larger, contains more florets, and is of a brighter yellow than that of Trifolium minus. Its seed-pods, moreover, turn black when ripe (hence the name black medick, by which the plant is likewise known), whilst those of Trifolium minus never do, but are enveloped in tin- brownish shrivelled remains of the flower. Feeding Swarms is now more necessary than ever. "While writing, on this 30th day of June, a bitterly cold north wind is blowing, and scarcely a bee is to be seen on the wing. On reference to our ' Hints ' of June 24th, '86 (B.B.J. Vol. 14, p. 279) we find mention made of 'Midwinter in June, cold and cutting winds, disastrous prospects for the honey-harvest;' and, under the head of ' Feeding,' the cheering remark that, ' If the strength of the stocks is thus kept up (by feeding), the small outlay will be well repaid when the honey-flow arrives.' Thus, it appears, we anticipated a late honey-flow. Let us then not despair now, but hope for a change of weather, and the tilling of our hives and sections. Removing Sections from the hives will, we fear, involve little labour or trouble at present, but to those happy apiarists who have, or may have, any filled and ready for removal, we advise the use of the carholised sheet, a piece of coarse canvas, strainer, or ' cheese-cloth.' sufficiently large to cover well the top of the section- case. Let this be steeped in carbolic solution, wrung out dry, and spread over the case, when the bees will quickly disappear, rushing downwards into their hive below. The case or rack must then be raised slightly by the leverage of wedges, and allowed to fall gently back into its place, when it may be slowly screwed round and carried into the honey-room, or any outhouse, where the sections can be removed one by one, and the few adhering bees, being brushed off with a feather, will quickly return to their hive. On removing the super, we spread the cloth over the hive to clear off the bees before placing on another case, which is generally advisable, in order that the bees may clear up the honey from the fragments of comb which remain attached to the bars of the frames. By this operation, if carefully performed, there is no danger of the sections becoming tainted with the scent of carbolic acid. The scent, being on the cloth only, is carried upwards by the current of warm air ascending from the hive and passing away through the canvas. On this plan we manipulate all our hives with the least possible disturbance of the bees, which, having been driven downwards by the dreaded scent, ascend to tho top of the frames again immediately on the removal of carbolised cloth. The method only requires to be known and tried in order to be appreciated, and then, assuredly, the days of smoke and smokers will speedily be numbered. Jfomign. BEE-KEEPING IX RUSSIA. A Floating Exhibition. Bee-keeping in Russia is making great strides. The committee of the bee department of the Imperial Society of acclimitation in Moscow is taking the most worthy and effectual steps to make known and encourage a taste for this science, particularly in the country. From a return made up by this Society it would appear that in the district commonly known as the ' Moscow Government ' there are no less than 3148 agriculturists owning, among themselves, 5100 stocks of bees, and yet this district is not one of the most favourable for apiculture. Instruc- tion in bee-keeping has been very limited in this district. Bee shows are rare and not at all within the reach of the people living in the country. It is, therefore, mostly with the object of remedying this state of things that the Committee of the Imperial Society has organized, at Mr. Nassonow's suggestion, a free, floating show, which has effectually excited the curiosity and interest of the inhabitants of the villages through which it has passed. Prince W. Dolgoroukow, the Governor-General, who was good enough to become honorary chairman of this Exhibition, and which had already been patronised by Mr. Podgorozky, President of the Committee, Professors l>ogdainp\v, Krasnoewhow, honorary members, and other members of the bee committee. Mr. Nassonow and Mr. Krotkow, Russian ecclesiastics, have more than any other occupied themselves with the bringing together of the necessary exhibits of the show, which was brought before the public for the first time last year, when it consisted of only one ship, towed by a steamer. Narrow as the space was on board this boat the collection of the different styles of hives left nothing to be desired. Some of these hives were stocked with bees, and there was a good assortment of diagrams and engravings explanatory of the natural history of the bee as well as an interesting collection of literature on bee- keeping. The collection contained, moreover, a complete assortment of utensils most useful and simple of construc- tion. There was also a laboratory on board, specially fitted up for the collection and preservation of any bee flowers to be m^t with along the banks of the Moscow river. The deck of the ship was converted into a garden, and numerous were the choice flowers and rare plants which were to be seen among the displayed bee-hives. The exhibition left Moscow on the 14th of July, and in the course of its journey stopped at Bronniog, IVrerva, Ougrecha, Kalomenskoe, Ostrow, M jatschkowo, Rogest- weno, Markowo, and Lophjenock. Wherever it stopped visitors, about e must be satisfied with what we had last year; only the worst of it is it is all gone. — John Walton. Dundalk, Ireland, June 27th. — The season here, up to the present time, has not been favourable for bee-keepers. We bad very mild weather in the latter part of January and beginning of February. The high temperature enticed the bees out, and caused a great loss of life. This was followed by a long spell of extreme cold, lasting up to the middle of April, which helped further to depopulate the hives. In May there was a slight change for the better, ten days in the latter part of the month being splendid bee-weather. I had two stocks sufficiently strong to work in supers, and got a few sections rilled from the sycamore and fruit bloom. Then the rain came just as the hawthorn burst into flower, with the result that it yielded nothing but a quantity of light- coloured pollen. Up to the 18th inst. my bees did nothing in the way of storing surplus, except as mentioned above ; but, notwithstanding all my efforts, two of the strongest stocks swarmed. I made nuclei of the frames containing queen-cells, filled up the stocks with frames of foundation, and returned the swarms. Since the 18th the weather has been good, and the bees have worked hard on the white clover, but for some reason which I cannot explain, the honey has not come in so fast as it should. This evening the rain has commenced to fall again, but with a fortnight or three weeks of fine weather, strong stocks would still do wonders. And now a word with regard to excluding- adaptors. When returning one of the swarms to the parent stock, I placed an adaptor over the frames, with bee-space above and below, but the bees absolutely re- fused to use it, and would not work in the two crates of partly drawn out sections placed on the top, and which they had previously occupied. I left it on for two days, and then removed it, when the bees at once ascended to the sections. I find the same difficulty in using the excluder-zinc at the back of a hive, and am determined to discard it altogether. Queen-wasps were very plentiful here this year, and I am rather curious to know if that means a corresponding number of nests later on. In 1886 there were plenty of queens and very few nests ; last year, just the converse. — II. O. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS. Super. — Feeding with Honey. — Your plan will do, but beware of robbing. II. F. W. Hamilton. — Swarms. — We should say the second swarm, or ' cast,' is now doing well. No doubt the bees you saw round the chimney were scouts. We know of a tower quite 200 feet high where the attendant annually secures a fine early swarm of bees by putting a skep on the top early in May. He has no idea where they come from, as he is quite in a forest. Watch next season, and if not much labour, put a skep in position early in the season. No doubt these bees have joined your first swarm. Put on another rack of sections under those already on. II. Marrs. — Foul Brood. — We are afraid you have got this pest. Does it smell bad ? Spray the combs in the evening with phenolated syrup, so that the cells all round the brood get a fair quantity. As fast as the brood hatches out, remove the comb and insert new frames with sheets of foundation. Destroy those re- moved. If possible, remove the bees into a fresh hive. Well scour the present one several times with hot water, carbolic acid, and salycilic acid, allowing an interval of a day or two between. Take every pre- caution with the second swarm. We would recom- mend you to drive the parent stock, as that is apparently the cause of the mischief. 2. Comb in Section. — Worker size has the neater look, but well- filled sections sell well whatever the size of the cells. F. D. Maxwell, Burma. — Sloio Feeding. — For slow feeding we prefer giving only so much at sundown as the bees may take down in one night, say, one third of a pint. This will be all down before sunrise, will keep them in good heart, but will not allow their queen being crowded out. This mode also is not so likely to cause robbing as day feeding. You do not sa3' what slow feeder you use, but the Ray nor principle is the best. [Bee-keeping in Burma is a subject we should very much like you to favour us with notes upon. We have seen Rev. Bunker's contributions to Gleanings, but if not inconvenient to you, we should appreciate your assistance in the matter. Any remarks on the habits or peculiarities of the wild bees, and any native method of securing wild honey, would, we are sure, be also highly appreciated by our readers. — Ed.] Dorset. — Paint. — Bees frequently resort to new paint, as it contains substances from which propolis is obtained. A Learner. — Ripening honey. — If the bee-keeper waits till all the cells are capped, much valuable time is lost. When a large amount of unripe honey is extracted, it can be brought to a proper consistency by means of an July 5, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 327 apparatus called the Kapid Honey Extractor. But possibly the cost of this may be a consideration, and then it would be advisable to keep the honey in vessels in a room at a temperature above 80° Fahrenheit. Inquirer. — Bees Imputed. — The bees found by you impaled on the spikes of the fir were placed there by the shrike or butcher-bird. Pee note to 'A new Enemy in the Apiary,' p. 325. C. Truscott. — 1. One Pound of Bees. — It is computed that .3000 bees weigh one pound. 2. Bees to cover six Frames. — In the summer months three pounds of bees will cover six standard frames, in winter it would require four for the same purpose. •'!. Laying Pincers of Queen. — H. Taylor is right when he says that the queen-bee lays from GOO to 900 eggs a-day ; but in the ' height of the season ' the queen is capable of laj ing as many as from 2000 to .'1000 eggs a-day (see our Guide Book, p. 7). 4. Drone and Worker Eggs. — A healthy queen has the instinct-power to lay drone or worker eggs in the cells constructed for tlie same. If for any reason the queen is not fertilised, or if her powers are exhausted, she will lay only drone eggs. W. W. — Suspicious Comb. — This is foul brood beyond a doubt. Spray combs in other stocks with phenolated syrup at once. Donald. — Management of Bees. — Put twenty-one sections in super on hive at once. Watch for their completion, and remove when ready, inserting fresh ones in the place of those taken out. We are not acquainted with your neighbourhood. X. Y. Z. — You shall have a full reply to your interesting query in our next issue. Ho.v. Distbict Secretary. — Doubling Hire Neg- lected.— Vou can either put a third box underneath, which plan would give you the largest return of ex- tracted honey, or you could make an artificial swarm of nine or ten frames, placing super on it at once. If you decide to give them an extra box only use starter of foundation in it, as they will not swarm until the combs are brought nearly to the bottom. Extract in August before the bees begin to carry stores down. A. Smith. — Messrs. Abbott I?ros. have signified their intention of publishing in a sheet form the photo- graphs of the most eminent bee-keepers in the United Kingdom. When ready for publication, they will no doubt give notice thereof through the usual channels. Wilfrid Stephens. — 1. Fighting. — Your bees were not fighting witli each other, but were defending their home from the intrusion of stranger bees who were intent on robbing. 2. Presence of Queen. — We should consider that the queen had accompanied the swarm in its return to the parent hive. 3. Bumping. — We must refer you for an explanation of the ' Bumping system,' to our account in the previous volume of the Journal, see No. 268, page 312. 4. .Drones.— Have you much drone-comb in your hive ? if so, this would account for the abnormal number of drones. We pre- sume there is worker brood hatching out ; if not, your queen is probably a drone-breeder. Frank Nell. — Bees Swarming. — Itisoftenthe case that bees that are about to swarm are prevented doing so by such rainy and cold weather as is now prevailing in every part of the country, in which case the queen-cells are again prepared, often causing the delay of some weeks, and often the bees do not swarm at all during the season. It. Williams. — Turning out Drones. — The drones, being the most unprofitable inhabitants of the hive, during a time of famine arising from bad weather are turned out in order that the working population may not starve. W. C. Thomas. — Close of the Honey Season. — Is it not early to assert that the honey season is over in your district as there are few parts of the kingdom where there are not some sources of honey-getting still ac- cessible to the bees ? Foul Brood. — There are many modes of treatment of this disease ; that recommended by Mr. Cheshire, has been found successful, the pro- cess adopted by him will be', found in Cowan's Guide- book, page 151, last edition. See reply to II. Marrs. Mr. F. Mackel, Campbelltown, near Sydney, New South Wales, is desirous of receiving catalogues from English manufacturers of bee-appliances. Mr. J. H. Bolton, of Southgate, intends exhibiting samples of honey products at the show of the N. E. district of Middlesex, to be held on July 21st. He will be glad to receive samples of any really good preparations containing honey, or specimens of different well-authenticated varieties. SHOWS TO COME. July 0-13. — Royal Agricultural Show, Nottingham. Secretary, J. Huckle, Kings Langley. Entries closed. July 10-20. — Cambridge Agricultural Society at Cambridge. Secretary, It. Peters, 7 Downing Street, Cambridge. Entries close June 25th. September 5-7. — Lancashire and Cheshire Association at Lancaster. Hon. Secretary, Mr. \V. Lees McClure, The Lathoms, Present. Entries close August 1st. ^Business directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Applf.ton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hotchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C. , 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 20 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 0 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simiiins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 5, 1888. Godnan, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 HighHolborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keeplks' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenehurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godjian, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Oo., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of aillj al Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, Lwidon, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., MusKbam, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewaley, Worcestersbire. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHLNSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading WREN, L., 130 High street, Lowestoft. GUIDE-BOOK PAMPHLETS. No. 1. DOUBLING AND STORIFYING FOR Extracted and Comb Honey, and the Prevention of Swarming. By T. W. COWAN, F.G.S., F.R.MS. Post Free, Threepence Halfpenny. J. HtTCKILE, KIH-GS LANOLEY. GUIDE-BOOK. PAMPHLETS.-KO. XI. HOW TO MAKE AN EXTRACTOR, AND A BELLOWS SMOKER. By T. W. COWAN, F.G.S., F.R.M.S. Post Free, Sixpence Halfpenny. J. HTJCKLE, KI1T&S LAHQLEY. VOL. XV. of lUhe ^British jBee Journal, IFOZR, 1887. EDITED BY THOS. W. COWAN, F.G.S., F.R.M.S., Containing nearly 600 pages, with numerous Hlustrations, and Complete Index. Bound in Cloth, price 10s. Cloth Cases for Binding, Is, each ; post free, Is. 3d. KENT & CO., 23 PATEBNOSTEB BOW, LONDON ; J. HUCKLE, KINGS LANGLEY, HEETS. T 1HIS Hive has Bar-frames, Standard size, and Section-body containing 24 1-lb. Sections, Dividers, Quilt, &c., all complete, except legs Is. extra, free on rail, 10,6. BEST METAL ENDS> 3/- per 100 ; 4- post free. Send W. Stamp for Sample, and see for yourself. USEFUL ARTICLES BOB BEGINNEBS. 1 1 'inspect Hive 1 Bee Veil . . . A-lb. Foundati»n . Ulb. Super ditto . The Lot for 15 rye 1/- 1/- -/'■> 1 Smoker, best . . . 3/- 1 Pair Gloves . . . 1/6 1 Feeder 1/ 1 ' Modern Bee keeper ' /(i Returnable if not approved. FOUNDATION and SUCTIONS at lowest price when ordered with HIVES. Catalogues Fbee. JOHN SIOORE, Troopect Farm, Warwick. PUBLICATIONS OP THE BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATING BEE-CULTURE and the Belation of Bees to Flowers. Drawn by Frank 1!. Cbeshirb, F.R.M.S. Approved and recom- mended by the Science and Art Department. 8s. per set. WINTERING BEES. By Thomas W. Cowan. The most complete work on the subject of Wintering published. Third Edition. Price 3d. BEE-HIVES AND HOUSES. By the Rev. George Raynob. Second Edition (enlarged). Price 6d. MODERN BEE-KEEPING. An Illustrated Hand- book for Cottagers. Forty-fourth Thousand, con- siderably enlarged and revised. The soundness of its information, the simplicity of its instruction, combined with cheapness, make this Handbook invaluable to all intending Bee-keepers. Price Id., post free. THE MANAGEMENT OF STRAW SKEPS. Designed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best results at the least possible cost. By attention to its teachings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more profitable source of income than hitherto Price Id. Ditto in Welsh, Id. Per dozen, th, heavy rain ; no honey coming in. June 28th, rain and cold north-east winds; no honey. June 30th, line ; full of bees supers. July 5nd and 3rd, wet again, with a strong gale from south-west ; all hope abandoned. — W. W. Lismore, Ireland. — It is about time for me to send you a report from this part of the country. I cannot say I am quite satisfied with the wintering of my stocks. Two, which certainly had old queens, turned out re- publicans in the spring, and soon came to an end. A third, which went into winter quarters with a young queen, gave the same result, and two 'condemned-bee' lots succumbed to spring dwindling. Thus from sixteen stocks I am reduced to eleven, one mora than I began 1887 with, but these have, all but two, young vigorous queens, and are, save one, in good forward condition. But only one stock is what I think all, or most all, ought to have been, i.e. a really first-cla?s hive, with one set of twenty-one sections sealed over, and at work in forty-two boxes. Why this hive should be so much better than the others, I cannot tell. All were well muifled up, and had abundant stores; indeed, my main anxiety as to food was the over-abundance of it, and on April loth I took three superb slabs from a colony where I feared the queen had not enough space for laying. Though I got such a lot of comb honey last season, and extracted, as I thought, the ' uttermost, drop,' the hives were all thoroughly well supplied, and spring feeding was almost a nominal thing, uncapping the stores taking its place. November was a fine month here, so I suppose they got a lot of ivy honey. None of the stores seemed candied, and they had a cake of candy apiece overhead, which they amused themselves with, but did not quite consume in any case. The season was very open, and July 12, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 337 bees flying till January 15th or so, when it became cold, and we had some severe night frosts in March ; but every hive was thoroughly healthy, and I saw not a trace of disease of any sort, or even of chilled brood, which might have beeu expected. There has been a magnificent bloom on the hawthorn, and had all my hives been ready by June 1st (as I feel they ought) a splendid early harvest might have been had, such as my one ' show ' hive has secured. I have now seven hives with bees well settled to work in section supers, and two hives supered and working for extracted honey. I am trying these with queen-excluder this season, as my results have not been satisfactory without, my three-tiered hives giving me less honey last year than my inverted skeps worked with excluder. I am inverting one skep to-day. My second one, I regret to say, is rather weak, the queen having evidently given out. I have a chance swarm, with which I will strengthen it to-morrow and invert next day. I hope to have as good results with this plan this year as last. Certainly nothing could be better than the way it answered last year for extracting, but I had only a middling success with sections over inverted skep. There is an improvement in the weather, and bees are working furiously. My two remaining hives will be ready for supering with bars for extracting in a day or two, and I have plenty of old combs ready for their use, so there will bo no time lost comb-building. — F. W. C. P.S. — Since writing the above I have inverted a cottager's skep. It was inverted last night, and ' risered ' with a box containing nine bars, and they are all up in it this morning, working splendidly. I gave one old comb in centre, with a few ounces of honey in it; the rest bars with foundation-starters only, and they have started. The floor-board has an opening, covered with excluder-zinc, about G in. square. NOTICES" TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRE R S • Holmfield. — 1. Young Queens. — The three bees sent are unfertilised young queens, and they also appear to have been somewhat retarded in their development, but show no signs of disease. 2. Uniting. — Wo should recommend you to unite the second swarm (cast) and stock, and at the same time requeen the first swarm either with a purchased queen, or, if expense is an object, then with the queen from the cast, destroying the old queen now witli the first swarm. .'!. Trans- ferring.— To get the old stock into an Association sized hive, get your new hive ready with about three or four frames, having sheets of foundation fixed ; set it where the stock now stands, place stock on ground close by the side of it. Lift back frame from old stock and shake the bees into the new hive ; if that comb has no brood, set it on one side in a box ; pro- ceed with remaining frames one by one, but when you find one with brood, cut out the comb and fix it in one of the new frames by tying it with tape, which can be removed in about three days. Take care to keep thecomb right way up. Now, if your cast is on Association-sized frames, you can space the frames in new hive to double distance. .Spray this lot and also the cast with thin syrup scented with peppermint ; place combs and bees from cast alternately with those already in the new hive, taking care that the queen belonging to the cast is not put into the new hive : she should be caught and placed in a box with a piece of honey- comb and a few of her own bees and kept warm till after dark. Catch the old queen with the first swarm, destroy her, cover up that hive, leave till after dark. Take the queen to be introduced out of the box in which she has been kept, and put her into an empty box for thirty minutes, keeping her warm (about 70 to 80 degrees). Now, by the light of a lamp, raise the quilt at the back of the hive, puff some smoke in among the bees to drive them down ; let the queen run down between the frames, cover up, and leave the hive untouched for quite forty-eight hours. Trusting you will succeed. J. Holden. — 1. Best Covering for Bees next Frames. — Enamel cloth at all times, providing the colony of bees is strong, over the enamel quilt plenty of warm covering and suliicient bottom ventilation. 2. What proportion of Drone-comb should there be in a hire /taring tin frames f — Forty or fifty square inches will be suliicient ; we usually insert the comb from a sec- tion 4j by 4}, and find this ample. J. Fenwick. — Dead Queens. — Both queens were virgins. Queens reared by introducing a frame of brood into a queenless colony — they usually being weak — are almost certain to be stunted in their growth, and are not at all suitable for the production of good colonies. A Puzzled Lady. — 1. Expert of Lan ashire and Cheshire B.K.A.— Apply to F. C.'t'arr, Higher Beb- ington, Cheshire. 2. Combs fallen down. — This is a job that would be best done by an expert ; the above-named gentleman will put 3011 in the way of obtaining such assistance. •'!. Condemned Bees. — They ought to be put on combs, but combs alternated with foundation is very successful. 1'. MonxiMEn. — Hive dying out. — Yours was a bad case of dysentery. Tho.s. Griffiths. — Dead iey,' ' Bees starving,' ' Ghliijedtofeed] ' There will be no hvney.' Seldom have we had such a spell of cold weather, and it becomes a question what is best to be done. Examine all colonies and feed in small or large quantities, according to their requirements ; this soems the first thing to do, if the weather continues to prevent their gathering natural stores. Swarms. — This year swarms have been numerous, but have had little opportunity of getting sufficient food to support themselves, build the comb, and feed the brood. We have repeatedly advised the feeding of swarms for some days after they are hived, and we feel sure those who have neglected it this year will much regret not having followed our advice. 344 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 19, 1888. In fine warm weather swarms may do very well without feeding, but in a season like the present they will not have had an opportunity of getting out for days together, and they have no stores to fall back on, like those left in the old hives in all probability have. The food they take with them when they leave the parent hive was all consumed in comb-building in a short time ; and if unable, on account of cold wet weather to get out, they become half starved, weak, and thoroughly demoralized, and the queen ceases to lay, and they are a long time before they recover their strength and energy. During a continuance of cold and wet weather after swarming, the bees will consume a large quantity of syrup in the elaboration of wax for comb-building, &c. If we supply them with this judi- ciously, the combs will be built out, the queen will fill the cells with eggs as fast as they are built out ; and when we have a few fine days, the bees will be in a vigorous condition to take all the advantage they can however short the change for the better may be. Swarms should be confined to as many frames only as they can well cover, closing up with dummies or division- boards, so that they may be kept as warm as possible. We would urge all bee-keepers to feed swarms at once, taking off any supers put on at the time of swarming from the old hive, and keep them off until the weather is improved and honey is coming in freely. Old Colonies, on which we had tiered up cases of sections, we found had partly deserted them. We have taken the hint and reduced the number of tiers, which we shall put on again as soon as the weather improves and honey is being collected. Casting out Nymphs and Drones. — This is a sign that the colonies are on the verge of starvation, and feeding must at once be resorted to. The strength of the colonies is thus kept up, and wo shall be well repaid for our small outlay when the honey flow comes. Sections. — Those living in favoured localities having well-filled sections shoidd take advantage of their oppor- tunity and not allow the dealers to make too large a profit. They will in a time of scarceness naturally keep up the price, and it is only fair that the producer should have his share to help to make up for the small quantity he obtains. &BXX£S$avfotML The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for piiblication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, Jtc, must be addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British. Bee Journal," cjo Messrs. S£ra?igeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C All business communications relating to Advertisements, Ac., must be addressed to Mr. J. Hucelb, icings Langleyt Herts {see Tend page of Advertisements). •»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speafctno of any letter or query previously inserted, wilt oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. THE BEE DEPARTMENT AT THE ROYAL. [1714.] During the past week the only great show held under tho management of the B. B. K. A. during the present year has become an accomplished fact at Notting- ham in connexion with the Royal Agricultural Society of England's Annual Exhibition. The exhibits of honey showed unmistakably the effect of the weather we have been getting in the islands during the past six weeks. The shelves set apart for the large quantities of honey entered for exhibition looked very bare and meagre. The few lots that were exhibited were remarkably good samples in quality, the only fault is, we should have liked to have seen more of it. There was a good though small collection of appliances, all the leading makers being represented. The exhibition of foundation-making created great interest, and the interest always shown in the manipulation of live bees was as keen as ever. The observatory hives, stocked with bees, were centres of groups of visitors all anxious to get a glimpse of the queen, for which they were chiefly indebted to the courtesy of the several appliance- manufacturers at the show, who mainly divided the time they could spare between attending to their friends and customers and these throngs of curious, eager inquirers. Mr. Howard, of Holme, Peterborough, was the expert in charge of the bee-tent, who is in himself a fair representative of the happy, genial class of people of which the great army of bee-men is composed. He always managed to keep his audience in good humour as he in stentorian voice discoursed of the profits, fiains, and pleasures of bee-keeping. Were I a lady bee-keeper, I would make a new flag and give it to theB.B. K. A. — -ours looked decidedly shabby. The bee-tent, large enough for ordinary local shows, is altogether inadequate for the throngs that visit it on such occasions ; moreover the one used last week at Nottingham sadly requires a new netting. The internal arena is sufficiently large for the purpose, but the outer canvas circle requires to be larger and not so low down on people's heads. A crush-barrier is actually imperative on such days as last Thursday with its crowds of visitors. While I am making these criticisms I may as well add that, in my opinion, our Committee would do well to make a few alterations ; more opportunities should be given to the appliance-manufacturers to make a greater display than they now do. I do not mean by adding to the number of articles exhibited, but by having facilities to show what they do bring to greater advantage. In the classes for inventions, I have long contended that exhibitors should be allowed to explain their inventions to the judges ; I repeat the contention, and am certain the Association will profit if the Committee adopt the method advocated. The Royal Show would not be possible but for exhibitors, and only by the efforts and rivalry of manufacturers is it what it was made at Nottingham. The B. B. K. A. may well take the hint, as it might have done another hint from the show at the 'Colonial' in 1886, and the Canadian Exhibition the same year — quantities of honey might have been sold in small tins and bottles, and a taste for honey created, which would have resulted in a future extended demand. I fear the request for flowers for decoration was but feebly responded to, as those I saw were poor faded things. I reproached myself when I saw them for not taking a good parcel from my own garden. I confess I left the Exhibition where all the other departments were looking so bright spick and span with a feeling that the bee department did not redound greatly to the credit of our Association, and it is with the hope of inducing the Committee to endeavour to do better next year at Windsor, that the risk of objection by penning these criticisms has been run by — Amateur, Expert. A VOICE FROM THE WEST. [1715.] On Saturday last I received a most courteous letter fron Mr. F. C. Andreu of Minorca, asking me to accept one of his native queen-:bees. I turned to the accompanying packet, and taking it up missed the customary hum indicating the presence of live bees. I removed the paper covering cautiously, and found that the box had already been opened during transit, and, judging from appearances, I concluded that on the bees endeavouring to escape, the lid had been hastily replaced and the queen with two or three workers forced into the food, where they were found firmly embedded and dead. The lid, which had been nailed, was found loose, and only held in position by the paper and string. I will say nothing as to the vexation I felt, not so much for my own disappointment though great, at for that of the July 19, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL 845 kind and courteous donor who bad taken so muck trouble unavailingly. I had hoped to have made a report of the merits or the demerits of this singular race of bees indigenous to the Balearic Isles, a race of which possibly more may yet be heard ; and if from the writer, it will not be from one who is prejudiced against the British bee, which in his opinion, if less prolific and more soberly marked, possesses certain sterling qualities which will always enable it to hold its own. If her Balearic Majesty should ever arrive and take up her abode in this quiet western village, she may depend upon a hearty welcome with a fair field and no favour, and a true report of the qualities of her progeny shall duly appear in your columns. I have not made any complaint to the postal authorities, judging it would be useless under present regulations, and possibly the out- rage was committed outside our own jurisdiction. I have been somewhat disappointed that the columns of the Journal have given so little evidence of the great disaster that has fallen upon us this year. Everywhere the inclement weather, the low temperature, and the cold rains, have brought dismay to the hearts of bee- keepers and emptiness to their hives. This morning I received an order for a hundred pounds of honey which I am quite unable to execute. Methinks many a young and some old bee-keepers will find their experience considerably enlarged before the season of 1888 closes. May I be permitted to ask your readers whether they find wooden feeders safe to use in the apiary P My own experience is that when the wood becomes saturated with syrup, fermentation soon sets in and the feeder becomes useless. — Joiin Peel, INTRODUCTION OF A MINORCAN QUEEN. [1716.] According to promise made on receipt of the queen, I with much pleasure record the means adopted to secure her safe accession to ' a vacant throne.' I confess to having been considerably startled about mid-day on Friday last on being visited by Mr. Henderson, so well kuown through his connexion with the B. B. J., who produced from his pocket a small parcel, about the size of one's two fingers, with the announcement that it con- tained a Minorcan queen, and that he hoped this time she ■was alive. Mr. Henderson on a former occasion paid me a similar visit, when we were both much disappointed on finding the queen in a moribund condition, but this time we were delighted to find her in splendid health and vigour, and so frisky that I was afraid to give her the slightest opportunity of escape ; and it was well I took precautions, or she would inevitably have been lost, and losing her was not to be thought of under the circum- stances. Mr. Henderson will doubtless give her early history, and explain the circumstances in which great care was deemed desirable ; I am more concerned with the means which secured her safety. Firstly, then I made an artificial swarm from a very strong stock of hybrids, which latter, now minus its flying element, viz., the old warrior bees, was at once removed to a new stand, the swarm being placed in its stead. The stock was then searched for queen-cells, but none being found I felt satisfied, and proceeded to cage the queen. She was in a travelling-case, consisting of a piece of wood with three holes bored in it, all communicating on the underside, and one of which held some sugar-cake. The holes were each too small to admit a finger and thumb, and she was too lively to make a dash at, so I released her in a bee hat, the veil being held round my wrist, and in an instant she and all her attendants were on the wing, and but for the veil would have escaped. I was thus able to capture her with ease, and in a few moments she was safely within an introducing cage between two of the central combs of the deprived stock. After twenty-four hours' imprisonment she was found as lively and sprightly as ever, and was replaced until the lapse of another similar period when, being still in full vigour, I laid the cage containing her on the quilt and watched the bees' conduct towards her; and there being no demonstration of anger I pulled out the imprisoning wire and gave the bees access to her and hersslf the opportunity of escaping into the hive. For some minutes the bees that had gone into the cage remained with her, and had evidently been paying her attention, for when I tapped the cage with the wire I had withdrawn, they all marched out of the cage and escorted her into the hive ; where two hours after I found her as happy apparently as if she had been born there ; and I trust that in a few weeks she will give me the opportunity of describing her infant progeny. Of the queen herself I can only say, with my very limited acquaintanceship, that she is as black as anyone could wish, and her attendants were the blackest I ever saw — like polished ebony, but that may have been caused by their rushing about through the passage in their travelling case and rubbing against each other. Mr. Henderson can give evidence of the ferocity of the ' old guard ' of the hive when the swarm was being made, and I am sure he would have been astonished had he been 'present at [the later manipulations at the perfect gentleness of the young bees, who permitted themselves to be twice overhauled without showing the slightest disposition to sting. I felt so sure of this that on neither occasion did I use any protection or any smoke or othor ' frightener.' So much for young bees when valuable or scarce queens require introduction. — C. N. Abbott, Fairlawn, Southall, July 16th. JOTTINGS BY ' WOODLEIGIL' [171T.] Packing Sections. — As an old hand in tho honey-packing business, and also (without egotism) a successful one, I beg to give ' A Lincolnshire Novice,' and others interested in the subject, my system of packing. In the first place, I always endeavour to find the grocer who will supply me with ' empties ' at the cheapest rate — ' A L. N.' will find that grocers" have various charges for the same kind of empty box, one will charge '2d., while another will want Ad. for the same size. Now supposing you have an order for half gross of 1-lb. glazed sections, ask your grocer for a cwt. cube sugar box (cost M.), make some holes at each end with gimlet or stock-and-bit, and put some strong cord handles for the porters to lift or move it about with, then tie up your six dozen sections in six parcels of one dozen each, tied tightly with strong string ; now spread some clean, soft (barley or oat) straw, or better still some meadow hay, all over the bottom of your case about one inch thick, then place side by side, with a little packing between, two of your parcels of honey, pack well all round some more packing, making the parcels as tight as possible, then spread another layer of hay and two more parcels, and proceed as before, then on top place your last two dozen sections, and over all pack more hay, and then screw on the lid of case, cord same, and label, ' Comb-honey, with care, This side up — Please lift by handles.1 Smaller orders, of course, will only require smaller and cheaper boxes, but I pack all my orders in the same manner and very rarely have any complaint of damage, not even a glass cracked. I have sent parcels of honey to all parts of England, also to India, packed as directed above, and they have arrived in as good a condition as when they left my hands. Sections per Parcel Post get broken, often smashed. Hives on the Level. — Allow me to endorse Mr. F. Boyes' note on setting up swarms. I always have my hives level, no forward tilt, but then my hives are on the Combination principle, with frames parallel to entrance ; and I think Mr. ' U. H.'s ' are all, or nearly all, with frames at right angles with entrance, consequently a tilt forward 34 G THE BRITISH BEE JOUKNAL. [July 19, 1888. so that the wet may rim off the roofs on the alighting- boards in a veritable shower-bath, makes but little difference except to the poor sentries on duty at the entrance of the hive, who cannot have a very comfortable position with the drip and splash of the miniature cascade from the regions and roof above. The Season. — The season has been a most disastrous one from a bee-keeper's point of view ; the farmer with his damaged hay has some set-off in his fields of roots and promising spring corn, the poor bee-keeper has lost his harvest, and has no redeeming feature to compensate him for all the care, anxiety, and expense he has had with his bees in the past trying spring, and no outlook except further expense for food in building up for the next season. Stocks in many instances are hardly getting a living, with St. Swithin on us and barometer falling we have every appearance of a thorough christening of the apples to-morrow, and if the old folk lore holds good of rain more or less for forty days if it rain on St. Swithin, our outlook is gloomy indeed. Writers in the Dailies have tried to show that '88 is in the cycle of nine years, asserting that '61, 70, 70, and now '88, have been wet, cold seasons. I have no record myself, per- haps others of your readers have, who may be able to verify the ideas set forth. Queen Cells. — In reply to the query the young queen is often left in the cell or cells, as in some instances I have found queen-cells on eight out of ten frames and cut out all except one in a warm part of the hive, say centre of brood-nest, I should not think of leaving a queen-cell at the bottom of frame if I intended the swarm to remain out, as possibly she may get chilled ; a good place for a cell to hatch out is one of the winter passages in the top part of the combs. Inverted Sheps. — Skeps are inverted and then supered with a queen-excluder between the combs and super-case, and the bees go in at the usual entrance at the top of hive instead of bottom, when it is turned up. A small alighting-board may be extemporised by driving two pieces of strong wire into a piece of wood and thrusting the wire ends into the skep, the edge of wood intended to fit the side of skep should be hollowed out. — WoODLEIGlI. VARIOUS MATTERS. [1718.] I cannot help thinking that 'Sherborne' gives vent to a sardonic chuckle now and again during this detestable weather. ' Now for your hundredweight reports!' I imagine him to be gleefully ejaculating. "Guess we shall be somewhat on a level this season. Such level expressed in pounds being — nil.' This Thoma-ian unbelief will not allow him, I fear, to credit any statement recording a big surplus during the year 1888. This season, following the bad one of last vear, will, it is to be feared (or hoped ?), induco many a tee-keeper to quit his business. I feel equal to another season or two of a like character (like in their results), but if, after that, another similar season should follow, then I should feel it my duty to bid adieu to my bees and their belongings — that is, if I should not in the mean- time develop into a dealer in bees and appliances, in which case I would do my utmost, short of actual pre- varication, to induce people to enter upon the highly remunerative and sure business of bee-keeping. Natives v. Foreigners. — The high character which many eminent bee-keepers, among them our Editor, the writer of ' Useful Hints,' and ' Amateur Expert ' (I refrain from naming those who deal in foreign bees, not because I doubt their veracity when they praise the bees they have to soil, but because the fact that they have them to sell may unconsciously affect their judg- ment), give to the foreign bee as compared with the native, that I often feel that, as one who aspires to be an advanced bee-keeper, I should, without delay, intro- duce foreign blood into my apiary. No sooner, however, is this resolution formed, than Mr. F. Boyes, or some one else, shatters it. I fancy that Mr. Boyes a few weeks ago challenged discussion on the relative merits of the native and foreign bees. Will he favour the writer (and with him, no doubt, many others) by giving reasons for his preference for the blacks or browns ? I trust that he can give satisfactory reasons, else I shall be under the necessity of introducing alien blood, and, as a consequence, hybridising the bees of the neighbourhood, which latter may cause unpleasantness. Already one of my lady neighbours feels rather sore towards me becauso my bees have been taking liberties with her flowers, thereby altering their colours. Another matter that requires more discussion is that of superseding queens. My experience is limited, but, as far as it goes, it is in favour of the let-alone policy — that is, while the queen's conduct is satisfactory. — Welsh Novice, July itk. Since writing the foregoing, I have seen ' Sherborne's ' Echo ' in the Journal of the 5th inst., and beg to express my sympathy with him in his futile attempts at reaching the 100-lbs. record. I cannot help thinking, ' Sherborne,' that your very moderate results in the past are due to the same causes as occasioned your loss of one sixth of your stocks during the winter. What those may be I cannot tell, but perhaps I should not be far wrong in lumping them together and calling them mismanagement. Anyway, it appears to me that a bee- keeper of ' Sherborne's ' experience ought to be able to record better results.— W. N., July 7th. PACKING AND SENDING SECTIONS BY RAIL. (1703.) [1719.] I have frequently packed and sent 1-lb. sections 200 or 300 miles by rail without their getting damaged as follows : I get small hampers, like sports- men's hampers, made at workshops for the blind, Carlisle, size 10 in. long by 0 in. wide by 9 in. deep, no handle, price one shilling. This holds six or seven sections. My sections are folded in paper, with a piece of cardboard or thin wood at. each end of the row. Put hay three or four inches deep in bottom of hamper, place sections,more hay on the top and all round, tie down lid, and cord hamper. Having no handle, the hamper must be lifted by the cord in the middle, which keeps the honey lovel. Label, l Honey. This side up. Care.' Sections should be well built to the wood to travel well. Hampers of honey could not be sent safely by Parcel Post, as they might be turned every end up, but empties could be returned so. A hamper 14 in. square and 9 in. deep holds a double row of sections, and costs Is. 3d. I give inside measure, but the hampers are not made exactly to half an inch. They ought to be as wide at bottom as at top. — Beeswing. FOUL BROOD. [1720.] I see you invite a correspondent to state his experience of a cure of this disease, so send you par- ticulars of my case — pour encourager les autres. In your issue of July 28th, 1887, you inserted a letter from me upon this subject. The disease seemed cured in this hive last autumnj but it broke out again this spring. I first noticed it on May 12th in a mild form, although I had frequently sprayed the combs, ♦♦♦*♦♦««♦*♦♦♦•♦♦♦♦«♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦ ^'SSSS LITTLE WONDER, 7/6. CYLINDER EXTRACTORS. Very strong, useful Extractors, with Honey valve. Extract Sections. 2 Frame, 20/- ; with gear, 23/- | 1 Frame, 26/-; with gear, 30/- SELF-REVERSIBLE EXTRACTOR. Extracts both sides of the Comb by simply reversing the handle, and is the best Extractor made. 3 Frame, 38/6 ; 4 Frame, 45/- Conib Foundation, Smokers, Wax Extractors, Mills, Metal Ends, &c. CATALOGUE POST mEB. LAST DAY OF ENTRY, 1st August, 1888, for CLASS L; 15th August, 1888, ALL OTHER CLASSES. LANCASHIRE & CHESHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION, PRIZES LIST over £.4 0. EXHIBITION of BEES, HIVES, and HONEY, in connexion with the Royal Manchester, Liverpool, and North Lancashire Agricultural Society's Meeting, at Lancaster, on the 5th, Oth, & 7th Sept., 1888. A — For the best and most complete Collection of Hives, Furniture, and Appliances B — For the best and most complete Frame Hive C — For the best and most complete Storifying Frame Hive, price not to exceed 12/6 unpainted D — For the best Observatory Hive, stocked E — For the best Exhibition of Honey F — For the best Comb Honey in Sections G — For the best Extracted Honey in glass jais In Class F the Silver Medal, and in Class 6 the Bronze Medal, of the British Bee-keepers' Association, will be awarded as extra prizes to tho best exhibit uiado in these classes by a member of the L. and C. Association residing within tho Counties of Lancashire and Cheshire. H— For the best 12 to 20 lbs. of Granulated Honey I — For the best sample of Beeswax, not less than 3 lbs K — Novelties and Useful Inventions connected with Bee Appliances or the products of an Apiary L — County Competition Schedules can be had from WM. LEES McCLTJRE, Hon. Secretary L. db C. B.K.A., The Lathams, PRESCOT. 3 Prizes . .. £6 0 0 3 „ .. 2 10 0 3 „ . 2 10 0 3 „ . 3 10 0 4 „ . .. 6 10 1) 4 „ • .. 2 10 0 5 „ . .. 2 12 6 3 „ . 1 IS 0 3 „ 0 17 6 . 3 0 0 3 „ . 15 0 Q British Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Strangewats' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 318. Vol. XVI.] JULY 26, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (^bitorial, itotias, &. PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY. Making Artificial Swarms. Besides the methods of artificial swarming described on page 319, there are several others which will now occupy our attention. An apiary can be very rapidly increased by the first method, and when a swarm is taken from every hive, the number of colonies can very quickly be doubled. Where the full number of colonies have been reached, and it is only desired to make a few swarms, either to replace those not healthy or make up losses, the better plan is to utilise several hives in order that the swarm can be made without weakening any of them. It is impossible to get a large amount of honey and a large number of swarms the same season ; and if a strong swarm is taken from one hive only, the chances are that neither will yield much honey. When to make the swarm is also a point to be considered. Our plan has always been to do so after the main honey-flow, because we shall have secured our harvest from the early fruit trees, and also from the clover and other honey- yielding plants flowering usually in June. In many places there is little gathered between the end of June until the heather comes in, and during this interval is the best time for making the swarms, which, if provided with good queens and plenty of bees, should be fit to lay up for themselves a sufficient provision for winter use. We can make three colonies from two by proceeding in the following way : — On a fine day, when most of the bees are flying, remove five frames containing brood and eggs from a strong colony, and shake or brush the bees back into the hive. Place the five frames into the centre of new hive and place empty comb or comb-foundation on either side to fill the hive. The other hive from which the combs have been taken should be treated in the same way. This hive is now done with, and can be covered over and left. We then remove another strong stock to a new stand and place the. new hive containing the combs of brood, but no bees, where it stood. In this way one hive supplies the combs and another the bees, because all the bees belonging to the hive which we removed to the new stand will return to the old spot and will furnish the new hive with the necessary popu- lation. These will at once commence queen-cells, and the hatching bees will provide the nurses for taking care of the brood. Of course, if we wish to save time we will not wait for the queens to leave the cells but will at once introduce a fertile queen. In this way almost any number of colonies can be utilised in making a swarm. For example, if we have four colonies we may take two combs of brood and eggs from each and brush all the bees back into their hives. Fill up the vacancies caused with empty combs. Insert the eight combs into a new hive and place a frame of foundation on either side or close up with division-boards. Then remove a fifth stock to a new stand, and place the hive containing the combs of brood in its place. The returning bees, as in the last ca^e, will furnish the population to protect the brood and raise the queen. It will be seen that in the same way six, seven, or eight hives may be made each to contribute its share towards building up a swarm, and that without any detriment to themselves. On the con- trary, it often does them good to take away some of their brood and give the queen more room to lay. In all these methods we make our swarms from bees that have flown and depend upon our young bees to hatch from the brood-combs inserted; but there is another way of making a swarm entirely of young bees. We place the hive we wish to tenant on its stand iu the apiary and then select from five to eight strong stocks to provide the combs of brood and bees. Then go to the first hive and take out a frame filled with brood and eggs and examine it well to see that the queen is not removed with it. Then carry it to the new hive and with a jerk shake off all the bees on to the alighting-board in front of the entrance and place the frame of brood inside. Then go to the next hive selected and remove a frame of brood and treat it in the same way, and do the same with every one you take out to form the new swarm. W hen as many frames have been inserted as are required the hive is closed, and we can either allow the bees to raise a queen or can introduce a queen amongst the bees as they are running into the hive. All or most of those bees that have flown will return to their own hives, whilst the young bees will enter the new hive and remain to protect the brood. The bees all being young will take very readily to the queen. By this method a comb and a few bees are taken from a number of stocks, so that none of them are appreciably weakened. If it is thought advisable to make swarms during the honey flow we should recommend either of the two last methods as being the least likely to cause a diminution of the surplus collected. Even where a considerable number of swarms are required matters may be so arranged that they could be made once a-week during the whole season. A hive that has only had one comb of brood and bees taken from it will be quite strong enough to yield another in a week or ten days if the queen is a good one, and this could be continued every ten days throughout the season. We must caution our 352 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 26, 1888. readers not to neglect feeding swarms, more especially during such inclement weather as we arS now having. If the swarms are not fed they are sure to perish. With January weather also in July we must keep them warmly covered and reduce the space by division-boards to the number of frames occupied by the bees. Fortunately for bee-keepers such a summer as the present one does not come very often, and those who kept bees in 1879 will remember that year as very simi- lar to this one. We shall certainly never forget the mud at the Kilburn Show, and how it rained at almost every exhibition of bees we visited. This summer is not quite as bad, although it is very nearly so. Let us hope that we may have a fine autumn and that our swarms may collect enough stores for their winter provision. Sltte ye grcatc Sfjotoe. There was nothyng muche, wen alle ys fayde, to make a note of atte ye Nottynghamc Showe, after that wone hath viewed ye divers novell devyces vvyche aperc from tyme to tyme ; ye fayme olde barrfrayme hyv, ye fayme olde feder, ye ydentical olde fayces of menne difplaing their wayrcs as were fenc of yore. Wonne varyetic there was, mayde by yc Committee of Brytifli Bekepers, wych atte ye firll fyt was barelie relyfhed by fomme, to wit : — ye dif- playcement of yc olde veteran Experte-in-chefe Baldewyn from ye be tent. We were tolde that ye chefe reafon of this furpryfe was that ye mynde of ye B.B.K.A. did lede them ynto chofyng a rite deft manne wych would do hys werke atte les code of ye peces than erltwyle, by reafone of hys Iivyng yn ye neborode of ye fhowe. Thys foundethe rite wele, but yt il affortyth wyth fome olde-fafhyoned notions of ufyng ye fervante wele wen he fervyth wele, in alle ye hete and^burdene of ye daie, yn fay re wether as well as fowle, but do not put ym afyde for eke doeyng nothyng amys. Yt behovcth wonne to fe ye Committee tak a lyke mynd unto wifdome ynto alle tbeyr doyngs. Agayn, 1 have onelie prayfc to fayc of Mailter Howarde, ye godeman that dyd hys werke yn ye be tent ryte nymblie, and hys talkyng was alle common fenfe. So wele dyd ye byilanderes lyk ye difcours of Maiiler Howarde that they prefled them- felves ynto ye faycred ynclofure ytfelf atte grete ry(k of geten yltabed with be-ltyngs. There was atte tymes barelie room eno' for ym to go onne with hys fhowe. I had almollc to pufh rudelie to get withyn hearyng of yc myftcrics of handlyng ye bes. There was a jouflyng or tryall of (kill of mills for rollynge, and alfo the werke of makyng bes-waxe ynto flietes yclept foundation, wcrewyth to fyl ye woden fraymes yn ye hyv ; there were who gotte their fyngers burned wyth ye boylyng waxe, and there were who fmyled at yt. There were fome fearfullie and wonderfullic mayde dyverfions yclept Extractors ; fome were not eafily underftanded of ye people, for Darby and Joan would afkc yf ye thyng were for churnyng but ere, and Joan would foe often turn yt round about, that wonne niakere dyd perforce tyc hys up agayn and agayn. I could not but remark on ye lykenefs of people to fome animals yn Regent's Parke, for whatever could be moved, lyfted, or turned round, had to be fenlelefllie werked jult as ye laft wonne werked yt. Maillers Abbotte, Blowc, Godeman (of Saynt Albans) Neibor, Gryffyn (of ye dubbin), Meadowes, ye two Dickfons, were alle to the front with their wayres, and prefent themfelves. Maillers Raynor, Seager, Hookere, ye fon of Clure of ye Lathams, and W. B. Carre (ye devyfer of ye metaille endes) were alle there. (' May my end be lyk hys,' W. B. C, myt be ye motto of ye next inventor, or elfe ' hys end was (i) pece.' Wonne of ye judges was a young man, but I wot he was an olde judge by ye waie he applyed hymfelftoye be furniture. Ye judges, Mr. Carre, Rev. G. Raynor, and Mr. W. Martyn, were alle there, and yt ys to be hoped we fal here no more murmuryngs of ye pail by refbn of the paynes they toke to do what ys fayre among men. I elofelie fcanned their fayces and ufed my fmokere till I was wcarie of waytyng, fo how tired ye judges mult have bene ! I trow ye judge is alwaies wrong by ye nature of thynges, for he cannot pleafe alle altho' he tries. Hys office ys lyke unto ye drawing waterc out of a well with a feve. To ufe an old joke, ' ynfled of honey he getteth but whackes.' So we know ye very bell upright men are ye judges and awarde ye prizes to ye bell godes. A brave and godelie fhowe of floures likelie for bes to cull ye neilar out of, was mayde by yc firm at Southall and got its mede of prayfe. Of ye glafs hyves there, ye feders and fraymes I will not prayfe wonne over another, and of new fangled notions there were alle too manic. There were liyves bigge and hyves tal, Hyves brode and hyves imal, Hyves nYilovve and liyves depe, Ye routes flatte and ye roofes ftepe, But hyves to plefe ye alle. X-Tr ACTOR. ASSOCIATIONS. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Committee-meeting held at 105 Jennys Street, on Thursday, July 10th. Present, the Rev. George Raynor iu the chair, Dr. Bartrum, Captain Campbell, the Rev. F. S. Sclater, Rev. F. T. Scott, Rev. F. Clay, H. Jonas, W. O'B. Ulennie, treasurer, and the secretary. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The secretary presented the award of prizes in the Bee department of the Royal Agricultural Show. Resolved, that the same be paid, and that the statement of accounts relating; to this exhibition be forwarded to the Finance Committee as soon as completed. The consideration of the amended rules for conducting third-class examinations was resumed and completed. Several judges and exam- iners were appointed for country shows. Third-class certificates were signed in favour of Messrs. H. W. Perkins and J. T. Ambrose, having passed successfully at the Aylesbury show ; and of Messrs. W. Keene, O. Lambert, W. T. Marlow, and Edwin Stannard of Hamp- ton, having passed at the Middlesex Exhibition held at Hampton Hill. Quarterly meeting of County Representatives held at 10-1 Jerrayn Street on Thursday last, the Rev. George Raynor in the chair. The following county representa- ti\es wore present: — W. L"es McClure, Lancashire and Cheshire; C. N. White, Hunts ; F. H. Meggy, Essex ; W. B. Webster, Berks; F. Cudd, Kent; Rev. W. E. Burkitt, Wilts. The minutes of the last Quarterly Conference having been read and confirmed, the chairman explained I he nature of the amendments which had been made in the rules and regulations for conducting third-class examin- July 20, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 353 ations. The amendments having been fully discussed and some additions added thereto, it was resolved, that the same be printed, and come into force on the earliest possible date. We are requested to state that owing to the illness of the secretary at the time, no report of the Committee meeting held on June 21st appeared in our columns. There were present at this meeting, Captain Bush in the chair, the Rev. Dr. Bartrum, Kev. J . L. Seager, Rev. R. Errington, and the secretary. The Quarterly Conversazione was held at G p.m., in the Board-room of the R.S.P.C.A., 105 Jermyn Street, St. James's. Among the audience present were Mr. Glennie, Mr. II. Jonas, the Rev. Mr. Scott, Mr. Meggy, Captain Campbell, Mr. Webster, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Lee, the Rev. Mr. Burkitt, Mr. Blow, Mr. Hooker, Mr. Groves- Watson, Air. White, Mr. Grimshaw, Mr. Cudd, and Mr. Alexander. The Chairman (Mr. Glennie) said that there were several articles bearing on bee-culture for exhibition, and consideration that evening. They were, (1>, Section- holders in various forms, designed by Mr. E. McNally, and sent by Mr. P. Stubbs, 2 Britannia Street, Leek; (2), Glass sections by Mr. Skermer, Swan wick, Alfreton ; (.">), Swarm-catcher by Mr. Webster of Binfield, Berks ; (4), Cottager's hive witli (a) Combination feeder and (6) Combination floor-board, by Mr. 0. N. White, Somers- ham, St. Ives, Hunts. The proceedings would open with a paper entitled, ' The Red-backed Shrike, or Butcher-bird, as an Enemy of Bees,' written by Mr. AVebster, who had kindly consented to read it. The Red-backed Shrike, or Butcher-bird. In England, bee-keepers have but a few living enemies to contend with ; in fact, so few are their numbers that, they may be counted upon the fingers. By living enemies I mean such creatures that prey upon bees or destroy the produce of same ; and when speaking of their numbers, I alludo to them, not individually, but collectively, in their different classes. By many, and also by most writers upon apiculture, the Tit family, embracing as it does in England four varieties, namely, the great tit (Varus major), the blue tit (I'arus cf another year. This prepara- tion should be begun early ; in fact it cannot be commenced too soon after the honey-How ceases. Each bee-keeper should know enough of the flora of his locality to be able to determine when no more honey should be ex- pected, and should then at. onco take care of the gathered crop, and begin putting his colonies in shape to with- stand a long winter's siege. It makes but little difference in preparation whether the bees are to be wintered on summer stands or not so far as early labour is concerned, as the principles governing the matter are the same in both cases. The first thing necessary is to see that ample stores will be left in the brood-chamber, and in position such that the bees can get at them at all times. I used the Langstroth hive, and consider that seven frames spaced in the room allowed in summer is about right. I have all prepara- tions completed by October 1st, and they consist in having seven frames filled and capped with pure honey in their upper half at least. The queen should be urged to deposit eggs as long as there is a prospect of their rearing brood that will take at least one flight before the winter sets in. Localities differ, so that it is im- possible to set a date ; each must decide for himself. I have not found that it makes much difference wintering on summer stands whether chaff or single-walled hives are used, as I have been equally successful with both. On or about the 1st of October I see that ample stores are contained in the frames as stated above ; I then put a' Hill's device ' or its equivalent over tops of frames, covering the same in with a piece of old carpet, or something of the kind. I then put on an upper storey, and fill in the same with forest leaves pressed loosely down, cover the bees up, givo a large entrance, and leave them alone till the following spring. Tho ' Hill's device ' gives an inch or more of space over tops of frames, and allows inter-communication with every frame in the hive, without breaking up the cluster. I do not think that the cold of itself kills our bees, but that want of stores or excessive moisture does do so. By giving ample stores we can guard against starvation. The ' Hill's device ' allows the bees to travel freely and safely from one side of tho hive to another, and the forest leaves allow the moisture to pass off out of top of hive, while at the same time retaining the necessary heat. Want of space demands that I should outline briefly, but I think that any bee-keeper can understand the principle stated. This may be varied as circumstances seem to require, but by usiug the principle as indicated, I have been able to winter on summer stands for years without '2 per cent of loss. — J. E. Pond, No. Attleboro, Mass., U.S., June 8th {Canadian Honey Producer). SKEPS REVERSED. (1697.) [1730.] Having noticed that the letter of tho Rev. W. E. Burkitt in your issue for July 5th remains un- answered, and believing that I am the friend at Swindon alluded to, I venture to give your readers my experience with tho above system. I really do not think I can do better than refer them to the excellent article written by yourself, vol. xiii., page 401, where I first borrowed the idea. To begin with, having procured the head of an old barrel, I cut with a running saw a circular hole, slightly smaller in diameter than that of the sleep I wished to reverse. To this I fitted four legs of sufficient height from the ground to allow my skep (which I should say was a flat-topped one with a hole in the crown for supering), to rest on an old cheese-vat. All I had then to do was to cut a passage for bees to pass through crown-hole of skeps, which is very easily cut with a chisel in the vat or floor-board. The crates I have always used are an adaptation of the Hereford Simplicity, made by myself from a copy supplied by Mr. Hole of Ledbury. They can be tiered to any height you please; and I have had them three and four deep. I generally work fifteen to eighteen 1-lb. sections in a crate ; and in no case have I ever had a queen enter these, though I never use an excluder. My thanks are also due to Mr. Garratt, for his excellent description of this system, illustrated with a capitally-made hive and crate, which he exhibited at our show at Swindon. Unlike tho Rev. W. E. Burkit 1 1 have never had a swarm issue from a reversed skep, but I think due allowance must bo made for the season, as swarming has been very prevalent this season. My first reversed skep was in 1880, when I tried it after the hive had swarmed twice, and then I managed to obtain a fine bell-glass. Tho best, however, was last season, as one single hive yielded July 26, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 361 eighty-seven 1-lb. sections with about forty from another. The present season being a bad one my highest amount of sections on a skep is thirty, some of these are near completion. I think this system will compare favourably with many frame-hives, though I must say it is rather more trouble. My apiary at present consists of thirty stocks, six being skeps, This is a splendid locality for honey as we have abundance of white clover, which the unfor- tunate weather wo have had has prevented the bees from visiting. I don't however, despair of a slight honey yield from limes, should the weather turn favourable. I am afraid the Rev. Mr. BurMtt has placed a far too high a value on my experience of this system. I enclose samples of wild flowers from which my bees gathered more honey than from any other source. I should be pleased if you would give me the names of thorn. (Sec Notices to Correspondents.) I hope this description will sat isfy your correspondent ' Amateur.' Further questions he, or any of your readers, may choose to ask, 1 shall bo pleased to answer. — John 0, YVhatley, Grove Farm, Brunsdon, Wilts. TOADS AND BEES. (1710.) [1731.] My bees being high busy, I placed a sloping board from the ground to the alighting-board. Passing in the evening 1 noticed an impudent toad sitting on the edge of it, watching for a victim. On seeing me ho took a header iuto a wide ditch three or four feet below. The next evening I mounted guard and found the fellow had climbed up to the same spot on the same business ; I had not long to wait before out came his tongue like greased lightning and snapped up one of my little pets. 1 soon dislodged him from his perch and taught him never to come there any more. Toads are not dead body-snatchers, they never take anything unless it is moving. — lv. GotJGH, Llanjihanyel Station, near Dort/i, R.S.O., July 20. Sudden Death : Stung by a Dee. — Miss Ella Baker, youngest daughter of Mr. T. Baker, of the Inner Temple, and Kingscote, Wokingham, was stung under the eye by a bee in the garden, about 12 on the 13th instant. She treated the matter lightly, and suffered no pain after the customary simple antidote had been ap- plied, saying that she had been stung before, the swelling woidd rim its course and go down again, and she con- tinued to be quite cheerful down to 8.30 on the 14th, when she fell asleep on the sofa. At 9.15 she suddenly woke up in a convulsive fit, and died from syncope within a minute, aged twenty -nine. Miss Ella Baker was highly intellectual, and the author of ' Bertram do Drumont' and other tales for young people; also ' Stories from Old History,' ' The Sovereigns of England,' ' Songs of the Season.',' and other fugitive pieces. — Newspaper Paragraph . Respecting the foregoing Mr. W. B. Webster writes : — ' We have made inquiries into the above case and find that the young lady was stung by the side of the nose near the eye on the morning of Friday the 13th July; her eye was somewhat swollen after, but no ill effects were experienced from the sting, as during Friday and Saturday she performed all her household duties and ate her meals (vegetarian) as usual. Late on the Saturday evening she was seized with convulsions and died just before or immediately after the arrival of the doctor. The medical certificate state that death occurred from convulsions and syncope. We have this latter information from very gcod authority. She had been slung twice before, but, except from local swelling as in the former case, she experienced no ill effects. She was a lady of exceedingly delicate constitution and suffered from abscesses in her neck. Her sister died very suddenly some few years ago at about the same age. REVIEW. Hooker's Guide to Successful Bee-Keeping. By John M. Hooker, member of the Committee of British Bee-Keepers' Association. Published by John Huckle, Kings Langley. — The author is well known as a contributor to our Journal, and has been a member of the managing committee of the British Bee-keepers' Association from its commencement. He has also acted for several years as a judgo at many of the shows held throughout the country. He has kept bees since he left school, and has therefore had a long practical experience in their manage- ment, more especially as he has practised the methods adopted both in Europe and America. The object of the book is to comply with the wish of friends that he should give a few plain instructions as to the best way to commence bee-keeping, so as to help beginners in the selection of such appliances as are useful and necessary for the purpose of carrying on the pursuit with the object of adding in a slight degree to their incomes. Mr. Hooker has been a successful exhibitor of both hives and honey, and received the first prize in the Bligh Competition, open to all England, for the largest return from one hive, and confines his remarks to such elementary and practical remarks as may be most useful. The price of the book precludes the possibility of entering as fully as he could wish into the details of the various methods of management. It contains sixty- two pages, and many of the more recent hives and appliances for the production of comb and extracted honey are illustrated. (&t\ut% front % Jjibcs. Freestone, Bath, July 2\st. — The weather has been no better here than in any other part of the country; we have not had a single real summer day such as we had so many weeks of last year. It was fortunate, indeed, the weather was so fine during May, my bees filling their combs three inches from the top bars, but it is all gone now, bees having had to live on it Ear the past six weeks. I am generally content if 1 can make my bees bring in enough to cover expenses, but this yew it is all expenses and no returns. Whydon't 'John Peal'(1716) paint his wooden feeders with wax, it would help to make them w ater-tight and prevent any syrup from soaking into the wood ? Honey Cott, Leamington, July 2.".. — Rain ! rain ! rain ! The merciless rain puts one in mind of a season in the infancy of the B.B.J., when there was a sketch of a bee with an umbrella given as the trade-mark of the season. Boor drones ! being terrified and driven out before their usual time, while those not come to maturity have been lugged out of their cells, and cast out of the hives. Poor bees ! when it is a bit of fine weather, off they go in their thousands, ofttimes to be driven back before they have had a chance to get even a little watery honey ; many, no doubt, being cut down by the heavy rain showers we have had during the past week, while others have just managed to get through after a heavy down- pour of ten minutes or more. Poor bee-keepers ! what does all this bad weather mean but that later on we shall have to dip rather deep into the pockets and the sugar tubs ? Well, even if this season is a failure, we must hope for the next to be better. Perhaps it would not have been good for us to have two good seasons together. All I know is, that if at the last moment we have a good shower of honey, as the Yankees say, my pots are right side up to catch it. — John Walton. Behoboth Cottage, Warhlelon, Sussex. — Never before in my bee-experience have we had such a summer, bees actually brought to death's door by starvation at this 302 THE BRITISH BEE JOUENAL. [July 26, 1888. (.'3rd) middle of July. I believe in all my twelve hives there are not five pounds of honey. Some I find, on examination, are quite destitute, and have drawn their brood from the cells, both drone and worker, and the majority of drones are despatched. The question is, Will it pay to feed them up for twelve months, or sulphur the lot at once, the meadows nearly all mown, and no prospect of better weather ? I suppose we must wait and hope a little longer yet. — H. Neve. N0TICES~T0 CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS Letters or queries asking for addresses oj manufacturers or correspon- dents, or "where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt oj their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. W. T. — Parsley. — Bees are fond of the garden parsley ( Carum Petroselinwm), though the flowers do notsecrete much honey. Apium is the generic name given to celery, &c, the deviation of which is obscure. J. C. W. — The flowers enclosed are : No. 1, Centaurea nigra, No. 2 is probably a scabious, but we are unable to determine which in the absence of leaves. A bed Amateur. — 1. Destruction of Drones. — You hived a swarm, presumably in a hive not containing stores, and the bees brought into action their Draconic law of destroying useless ' members of their community ' by at once by killing off drones. They certainly treated them with more consideration than you have treated their remains, for these arrived — a shapeless, squelched compound, abdomen, thorax, and head, being inti- mately mixed together. 2. The Wind's Influence on Direction of Swarms. — If you refer to the direction of the wind on the days the swarms went to the garden you speak of, you will, doubtless, find it blew in a south-easterly or easterly direction, and that they took up hill also. We know of no reason why they should not settle near home if there are bushes or trees near. They may have so settled and risen again. The good wife who says she knows when a swarm is coming by the conduct of her bees, probably recog- nises in this the slight excitement caused by the efforts of scouts to find a new home. A. WlLSON. — Dead Queen. — Your dead queen seems to have been in full laying, and has not been stung to death. It is evident that for some reason or other best known to the bees they have thought fit to super- sede her. If you have not overlooked a queen-cell in your examination, you will, no doubt, find some by this time. Rev. A. Booker- Hill. — Your letter has been for- warded as requested. T. Bonner-Chambers. — When a number of inventive minds are brought to bear on the improvement of any appliance, it is remarkable how many slight gradations there are, all of them leading on step by step to perfec- tion. This has been noticeable in the various improve- ments in making sections, and there is a difficulty of deciding where one maker begins and another ends. Thomas Boycott. — Italian Strain. — Some one in your district has, or has had, Ligurian blood in his apiary, producing hybrid drones, and these have mated with your black queen, thus giving you a slight strain of Italian blood, and, consequently, improving your breed. I). II. Durrant. — 1. Planting for Bees. — Your space is far too limited to be of real use to the number of colonies you name. You cannot do better than try Arabis( white), crocus (yellow), wallflowers, mignonette. Limnantb.es is grand when grown in masses, we have beds 100 feet by 1:3 feet that everyone admired, but in small patches it is untidy. 2. Space for Apiary. — To accommodate twenty -four hives set in quincunx fashion, you should occupy at least 40 feet by 22 feet. You would find this too close in case of family quarrels between the different colonies. Ashes o.- sawdust would make a good coating under your hives. We should prefer ashes. H. Neve. — Name of Plant. — This is not the truj heather, but one of the British heaths. The yield of honey from this is small, and not of the exquisite flavour of heather honey. N. T. — 1. Samples of Wax. — These appear tobeallright. 2. Bleaching Wax. — Scrape this into thin flakes, ant if ever the sun shines again expose the wax to the full sunlight, spreading the wax out, thinly. 3. Im- proving Strain. — We should recommend you to obtain an English-bred Carniolau queen, and allow no drones to be raised except in her hive. T. 0. — Strong Stocks. — Your position is the same as the majority of bee-keepers. It' the weather should im- prove your bees would certainly find the limes. If you can spare room for more stocks we should divide, and introduce fertile queens of 1888 at once. You would most likely get some fine section honey if you supered at once, and gave the swarms starters only. But do not forget to feed if there is no better weather. L. W, JR. — 1. Variety of Bees. — Either pure Ligurian or but slightly crossed. 2. Peculiar Bee. - Andrena fulva (female). ;!. Fertility of Queen. — As you have capped worker brood we consider your queen fertile. 4. Emptiness of Comb. — Caused by bad weather. 5. Number of Frames. — These may remain at present. No more should be added. 0. Super. — Yes, let it remain if weather improves now that the limes are in in bloom. 7. Feeding. — No feeding necessary if bees can get out, but if wet they must be fed slowly. 8. Egg. — An experienced eye will easily detect eggs in the cells. They are white. 0. Lumpy Matter. — This is pollen, which appears to have become very dry and hard. We attribute no importance to it. X. Y. Z. — Pollen-carrying. — This is no absolute sign of queen being fertilised or otherwise. Notice the capped brood. If necessary put further questions. Wood Green. — Wax. — Your sample of wax was sent with others to be tested. The reply was that none of the samples were absolutely pure, ' that of " Wood Green " being the best, only two degrees in melting from pure beeswax.' The adverse weather was the cause of the bees not drawing out the foundation. Herbert. — Suspicious Comb. — Foul brood decidedly. We are informed by Mr. T. Blow that he has been favoured by Mr. F. Andreu with a Minorcan queen, and successfully introduced. The extent of our report of the Quarterly Meeting of (he D. B. K. A. has obliged its to postpone a number of communi- cations. SHOWS TO COME. August 1, 2. — Glamorganshire Agricultural Society's Show. August 0. — Berkshire Show at Clewer. September 5-7. — Lancashire and Cheshire Association at Lancaster. Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Lees McClure, The Lathoms, l'rescot. Entries close August 1st. business directory. 1 ♦ « HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. iiTTSH J HZ % ^^^si Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Strangewats' Pbiniinq Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 319. Vol. XVI.] AUGUST 2, 1888. [Poblished Weekly.] <£bit0rial, 'Batitts, #t. BRITISH AND IRISH STANDARD FRAMES. We have been asked by a correspondent from Ireland to advise on a few points respecting' standard hives and frames. We are informed that the Irish Bee-keepers' Association, in their standard hive, recommend that it should be 0~ in. deep, and that the frame be 8$ in. deep, the same as the English standard. It is much to be regretted that the Irish Association did not adopt the same size frame as the British standard, the depth of which was fixed after considerable thought had been bestowed on the subject. The chief reason for finally settling the depth of the standard frame at 8i in. was to admit of the hive being made 9 in. deep, this being the depth of the deals (9 in. by 3 in.) imported into this country, so that they could be made with as little waste of material and as cheap as possible. It will be seen that this would give i an inch under frames, but in practice it is found necessary to reduce the 9 in. board a trifle by planing it smooth, leaving it 8g in. full, so that the space below the frames would be | in. full. This is sufficient for all purposes, although we should not fear any comb being built under the frames if J in. was left between the bottom of frames and the floor-board. If the depth of hive is 9| in., it has either to have a thin piece nailed on to make it up, or it has to be cut out of 11-in. stuff, which makes it more expensive on account of the If in. waste piece left, the wider stuff also being more expensive. Frames of standard size are 14 inches by 8i inches outside measurement, the top bar being preferably 17 inches long, the thickness of frame may be varied, but the outside dimensions must be the same. We have always considered the frames that have the sides tenoned into the top bars the best, and there ought to be no difficulty in putting them together in a satisfactory manner. A frame-block is necessary, and before the tenons are driven into the mortices, they should have a little glue brushed over them, and before the glue dries, they should be examined to see that the top and bottom bars are true with one another, and tried on a board having two strips of wood nailed at right angles to see if they are square, and if not they must be pushed into shape, and then put away piled one across the other till the next day, when they will be set square and may have a shaving taken off the top to clean off any glue and projections of tenons if any. This is very easily done by a quick lad after a little practice, and makes a very strong frame. There is no difficulty in getting frames correct in size from our leading hive-makers, and if tried in the manner above described, they will be perfectly rectangular and give the proper space of \ inch between the ends of frames and sides of hive when they would also hang true, if the metal ends, if used, are put on properly. It is most important that frames hang quite parallel and true in the hive, or the combs will be attached to more than one frame. Lee's dovetailed frames are made with for h inch top bars as required, in both cases the outside measure is 8A inches. The \ inch top bars are made to work with ordinary § top bars having the usual pattern metal ends, which raise the frame an ~ inch on its supports, which is now generally left A inch down from the top of the hive. THE ITALIAN EXHIBITION. Bee-keepers visiting this otherwise interesting and successful Exhibition will doubtless make it a point not to leave its preciucts without first examining what there is in it to be seen in that branch of industry lying nearest to their heart, and they naturally assume that an Italian exhibition without honey could hardly be possible. Owing, however, to the number of applications for space in almost every branch of the Exhibition having by far exceeded the most sanguine hopes of its promoters and of the London Italian Chamber of Commerce, who took such a conspicuous share in its arrangements, it soon became a matter of imperative necessity to erect special buildings or pavilions, as they are generally called, for the accommodation of Classes 1, 2, and 3. It is in Class 2 (Farm and Dairy Produce and Preserved Food) that Apiculture has been grouped. Unfortunately for these three cks*s, which represent nevertheless one of the most important branches of Italy's resources, these specially erected pavilions or courts are absolutely severed from the main building, consequently, one of the results most to be regretted is that they are passed unobserved by nearly nine out of ten visitors passing through the turnstiles. Nor is this all, for, with very few exceptions, agricultural exhibits have not only had to accept the lion's share of these unfavourable circumstances, but have had to content themselves with one of the most out-of-the-way, and consequently one of the least - visited corners of the whole Exhibition. A few hints, therefore, how to find it may possibly be acceptable to some of our readers, as they may save time. 364 THE BKITISH BEE JOUKNAL. [August 2, 1888 Therefore, after having given a glance to what there is to be seen in the main building — where paintings, sculpture, art-furniture, and the like, are displayed in profusion — the visitor ought to make his way across the gardens, by going over one of the bridges, where he soon will be attracted by the unceasing noise of the Alpine Switch-back Railway opposite, or the harmonious sounds of Exhibition or other bands playing almost continuously on the Italian temple on the left. Once here, he will have no difficulty in discovering the buildings where 'Alimentary classes ' — as they are advertised about — are laid out for inspection. It may be here added that a bar has been opened within these buildings where almost every item of food and beverage exhibited can be tasted at most moderate charges. The exhibitors in the classes in which we are most interested are a dozen or thereabout in number, of whom the following are the most conspicuous : — Giacomo Bertoli, of Varallo-Sesia, northern Italy, awarded diploma of honour. This is undoubtedly the most imposing show of honey to be seen. His exhibits consist of about 150 large tins, containing a kilo, or about 2|- lbs., of the most delicious honey ever produced. The tins are elegantly got up, and very convenient for export. It may be here explained that Mr. Bartoli's honey is collected at an immense altitude, called Alagna, the highest village on the Italian side of Monte Rosa, where Mr. Bertoli takes his bees in June, when most of the aromatic herbs are in blossom. After this is over, his stocks, about 100 in number, are brought down to a pretty village near Varallo-Sesia, called Civiasco, where they are wintered and attended to by this most intelligent and practical bee-keeper, who makes Alpine nomade apiculture a speciality. His exhibits are in charge of Messrs. Cirio & Co. at the Exhibition. Domenico Rovagnati, 25 Corso S. Celso, Milan, has a very tastefully got up stand, full of fancy glass bottles and jars in the form of a skep ; also a few frames of the Italian standard size and wax-candles. The whole is tastefully arranged, and well deserves the diploma of merit it has received. Lucio Paglia, a well-known farmer and wine-grower in Castel S. Pietro, Emilia, shows a large number of glass bottles with metal stoppers full of his finest honey. There are also on his stand a large cake of wax, specially made boxes for sending honey by parcel post, and sundry other items relating to apiculture. This exhibitor owns one of the largest model apiaries in Italy, and his queens are favourably known in this country. Mr. Paglia has been awarded an honourable mention, and is also ex- hibiting in the wine class. Gajani-Bonaghi Sr Co., 13 Via Barbiera, Bologna. Besides purified honey and wax, these exhibitors have on show a stocked Italian bee-hive of Sartori's pattern, and a hollow trunk of a tree full of comb. The bees in the hive have, however, all died, not having been liberated on arrival. They have been awarded an honourable mention. Paolo Rossi, 207 Via Rossi, Sondrio, shows about 100 glass jars with metal stoppers in a pretty stand all to himself, and of attractive appearance. The jury awarded him an honourable mention. Milesi Ferretti <5(- Co., 63 Via S. Stefano, Bologna, exhibit a large pot of purified honey. Gaetano Sartorio, 43 Via Polacchi, Palermo (Sicily), makes an attractive show all to himself, in a tastefully arranged stand, in which he also shows preserved oranges, meddlars, and sweet herbs. Eusebio Pint 8f Co., of Grossotto (Sondrio), in the Valtellina. This firm have their exhibits in a stand exclusively to their service, of a pyramid shape and full of glass bottles with metal stoppers full of Alpine honey. They also show a few frames of honey-comb, and make altogether a pleasant exhibition. Cha. Paolo Bensa, 10 Via S. Bernardo, Genoa. In conjunction with honey, this exhibitor shows a consider- able quantity of tinned meats. Enrico Brum', Macerata (Marche), has a display of purified honey. Count Gugliehno De la Feld, Castelrovere, Salerno. Purified honey and cheese. Orazio Orazi, of Servigliano (Marche), exhibits purified honey, honey-comb, and preserves with honey. Antonio Garulli Pascucci, Recanati, Marche, exhibits honey. Nicolo Zonghi-Lotti, of Fabriano, Ancona. Honey. Rocchi Carotti, Chiaravalle, Ancona. Wine, dried fruits and honey. Besides the above, there are sundry other exhibits connected with apiculture, mostly placed among other farm products generally, and preserves. USEFUL HINTS. Weather and Prospects. — The weather does not improve, and affairs now look very serious indeed. We hear on all sides not only of hay rotting in our fields, but of wheat, barley, and oats iu little better condition. Wind-storms and pouring rains have ' laid ' the crops, and an almost total absence of sunshine, with a very low temperature, prevents the ear from filling, the grain from forming, and mildew has already appeared. Surely in Ovid's words we may deprecatingly exclaim : — 'Aspera Eobigo, parcas Cerealibus herbis, Et tremat in summa lreve cacumen humo. Tu sata sideribus cceli nutrita secundis Crescere, dum fiant falcibus apta, sinas.' Grass and corn-crops would seem to have no better fate in store than ensilage, and farmers who devote them to this are probably the wisest of their class. In an equal degree with vegetation do our little sun-worshippers, the bees, suffer. The white clover has failed to secrete nectar, the limes are in bloom, and beginning to fail, and the bees have little or no opportunity of visiting either, if, indeed, it were of any use for them to do so. Swarms. — Still, in the midst of all this discourage- ment, swarms have rarely been more abundant. The aim of all skilled apiarists is to obtain colonies over- flowing with bees by the arrival of the main honey- flow. When that comes, with bright settled weather, the spreading of the brood-nest is checked by the storage of honey, and a limit is placed on the production of bees, the queen being said to be ' crowded out.' During the present season there has been no honey to check the fertility of the queen. Hence every cell is filled with brood, and the hives, being overcrowded (almost to suffocation) with bees, swarming follows as a necessity. In our own apiary we have instances of the departure of large swarms before even a rudimentary queen-cell had been commenced. Returning swarms to the parent hive, queen-cells having previously been cut out, would seem to be useless, since the swarm, in a few days, reissues. Many of our colonies, overflowing with population, have less honey than they possessed in April, and we are feeding largely both swarms and swarmed colonies. What is to be done ? Feed on, say we. ' Double up,' as our American friends would say, i.e. unite in the autumn. If we are not greatly mis- taken, ' Bees will be bees next spring,' as our factotum sagely remarks. In seasons like the present, when honey fails and the population increases fast, with prolific queens and healthy bees, we have discovered no panacea for prevention of swarming. Nostrums without number have been prescribed : combination hives, un- limited brood-space, doubling, extracting (when there is nothing to extract !), tiering-up, &c, &c. ; but experience teaches that all iu turn fail. Do those who recommend such methods of prevention ever take into consideration the labour — and hard labour, too— implied thereby in an August 2, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 365 /f, apiary of, say, a dozen hives ? How much more, then, ■where four or five dozeu are kept ! The thing is simply impossible. One cannot be always pulling hives to pieces, removing and replacing section-cases, cutting out queen-cells, only to find new ones substituted. No, time will not suffice, except where two or three hives only are kept, under the system of ceaseless overhauling, and in that case we pity the bees. The best preventive we have found is full ventilation below, and giving of shallow frames below — as well as above — the brood-nest. If this be done before the swarming fever has set in, the bees may be induced to employ themselves (some- times, but not always) in comb-building in prefer- ence to swarming during a cold, wet, and honeyless summer like the present. True, something, perhaps much, depends upon the race of bees cultivated. For our own part we have always found the most prolific races the best honey-gatherers and the best swarmers. A prolific queen means a crowded hive. A crowded hive, together with honey-dearth, means swarming. Feeding, during the present cold and stormy weather can only be discontinued at the risk of losing the colony, whether it be ' stock ' or ' swarm.' On this 28th of July we are still writing by our fireside, the rain is down- pouring, and the temperature more like that of December than of July. For several days the poor bees have been unable to leave the hives — hives devoid of stores. Our only advice, therefore, must be ' Feed, feed ! ' Prevent starvation at all events. Feeders are more in demand than sections ! The summer of '68 will not, we think, be soon forgotten. Let our watchwords be ' Courage and Endurance.' The merchant, the tradesman, the farmer, all have to suffer in turn. Losses come to all. Why should apiarists alone bo exempt ? Last season was good, but prices were low. We shall not hear much about 'sixpenny sections' — pleasing alliteration, of which we hope to have heard the last — during the present year of grace. Last year's honey season in America and Canada was about as great a failure as our present one. He who cannot bear adversity, but always expects prosperous seasons, is unworthy of the name of English apiarist. Let us all take courage then, appliance-makers and appliance-buyers, and hope for better times and seasons, putting our shoulders to the wheel and struggling against adversity. Removal of Supebs should take place at once where not already made, and colonies with small population should be enclosed by division-boards, simply contracted to the number of frames they are able to cover. Then feed the bees on syrup. Don't feed syrup to the bees. That expression jars unpleasantly on the English ear. Save all the colonies you can — you will get few con- demned bees this year — feed up for winter early, that stores may be well sealed over ; then ' Trust in Provi- dence, and . . . keep your powder dry.' Olla Podrida. — Our reminiscences of the Notting- ham Show are of a pleasanter kind than those of 'Amateur Expert,' expressed in his letter (1714, p. 344). The number, quality, and ingenuity, of many of the articles and appliances displayed in the Bee Department surpass those of all previous shows. ' Spickness and spanness ' of flags, tents, and other externals, are all very well, but the B. B. K. A. will do well to look more to the kernel than the shell. The subject of space for appliance-manufacturers is one entirely for their own consideration, being merely a matter of £ s. d. On the first two days of the show the space appeared to us amply sufficient for the display and explanation of the uses of the various articles exhibited in the collections and in other classes; but to provide effectually for the enlightenment of the 88,000 who were present on the fourth day would tax the ingenuity of a far more powerful body than ' our Association.' The B. B. K. A., we feel sure, will be only too happy to pitch the new and spacious bee-tent at Windsor, and to nail the bril- liant new colours to the mast-head when these shall have been supplied by the lady friends of ' Amateur Expert.' As regards exhibitors explaining their inven- tions to the judges, we maintain that the first great principle in all shoics is, and must continue to be, that the judges shall remain in ignorance of the names of the exhibitors of the articles brought into competition. Competent judges and short-written descriptions of new inventions are all the requisites desirable for obtaining just awards. We have a vivid recollection of the heart- burnings and jealousies engendered on former occasions by the application of the principle advocated by 'Ama- teur Expert.' Then, again, we are reminded that ' the Royal Show would not be possible but for exhibitors.' A truism, certainly, which we apprehended might be predicated of all shows. We venture to think that self-interest is a powerful motive with many exhibitors at shows of every description. But we are told that ' the bee department did not redound to the credit of the Association,' and 'A. E.' hopes, by these criticisms, ' to induce the Committee to endeavour to do better at Windsor.' Truly, land Mentor ; the Committee will, no doubt, feel thankful for such paternal advice, and endeavour to follow it. Meanwhile, we feel assured that its members will feel equally thankful to ' A. E.' if he will use his powerful influence with county associa- tions, and in procuring new members for the parent society, with a view to replenishing the coffers of an Association worthy of the support of all English bee- keepers. Frame-range. — We by no means turn a deaf ear to the suggestions of Mr. Boyes and ' Woodleigh,' re the Right-angled v. Parallel systems ; but the subject has been so fully discussed of late, that few points, for or against, can have escaped the advocates of one or other of the systems. We advised the raising of hives an inch at the back. Half an inch would, no doubt, effect the ' objects we had in view, viz., causing the bees to com- mence their combs at the back (the highest point) and to build vertically and towards the front, and also to render the carrying out of ref uso and the free escape of moisture easy. Any danger of throwing foundation out of the perpendicular, and upsetting the ' pull ' (of which Mr. Boyes speaks), is avoided by inserting whole sheets of wired-foundation, with the horizontal rows of the cells in accordance with the pitch of the hive. In prac- tice we find this is jquite unnecessary with the half-inch pitch, as, practically, combs are built quite straight. To the method of planing floor-boards, recommended on the parallel method, we decidedly ohject ; a smooth, flat board, which can be easily scraped, being a sine qud non with us. We have several hives on the combination and parallel system, but do not like them, especially as re- gards manipulations and summer and winter qualities ; and let us assure ' Woodleigh ' that our sentries expe- rience none of the discomforts from shower-baths and dripping roofs which his fertile imagination conjures up. Sundries. — We have been much pleased, and in several points enlightened, by the perusal of Mr. Hooker's elegant little brochure, The Guide to Successful Bee- keeping. It is, like its author, thoroughly practical, and the advice given may be fully relied on by the inex- perienced. We have to thank Mr. Griffin for a packet (received a long time since) of his ' Honey Dubbin,' — ' Leather Preservative and Waterproof Compound,' which we find a most excellent composition for pre- serving harness and boots. It ought especially to be patronised by all bee-keepers. At the Nottingham Show we were sorry to notice two very likely hives, belonging to Mr. J. H. Howard, left out in the cold — not entered in the catalogue, and so disqualified for competition- through the informality of three entries having been made in one line in the entry form, owing to want of space, and thus escaping notice. Enlarged entry forms will, no doubt, be issued on future occasions, 366 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [August 2, 1888. jkktcb $aerg. [18.] -Do you advise patting the swarm in the place of the old colony, removing the latter _ to a new position ; or putting the swarm in a new position and leaving the old colony alone ? If the swarm be an early one it will be best on a new stand. If the swarm be a late one it will stand a better chance of providing for itself, and perhaps some surplus if it be placed on the old stand.— E. Ball, Melton Mowbray. There can be no fixed rule in this respect. It may sometimes be good policy to put the swarm in the place of the old stock, as suggested ; but there are times when it may be dangerous to the interests of the bee-keeper to do so. If an abnormal swarm is wanted the suggested proceeding will secure it, i.e., the swarm will be rendered abnormally larger by the addition to it of all the bees foraging at the time of the swarms issuing, and of all the drones then on the wing, all of which (drones and ■workers) would naturally return to the old colony, and might, under certain well-known conditions, be absolutely essential to its well-being. In hot weather great liberty may be exercised in the direction indicated with little, if any, loss ; but should the night after swarming be cold very serious mischief might ensue, owing to the sparse- ness of heat-producers in the hive. Cottage bee-keepers (skeppists, and the like), who usually get their supers tilled after the swarms have left, would find the sug- gested proceeding a disastrous one. — C. N. Abbott. Much depends upon the time, season, and the thing desired, but as honey production should be the first and last aim of the bee-keeper, I would advise (after using so much of the old home available and necessary for nuclei) to reinstate the swarm m the old position and its spare belongings also. — John H. Howard, Holme, Peterborough. Certainly. Put swarm in place of old colony. — Tom Sells. No. I always put the swarm in a new position, and leave the old colony alone. My swarms have invariably done well. — Henry Beswick. If I intended the swarm to be kept as a separate colony from the old stock, I should put it in the place of the old stock as soon as I conveniently could after they had settled, removing the old stock to a new situation; and then in two or three days cutting out all the queen- cells but one, saving any I may require for other hives, &c— John Walton. If the swarm issues from a frame-hive that (is already supered, I should return the swarm. If from a straw ekep I should remove the old hive, and put the new one in same position as the old one occupied. — W. WOODLEY. Put the swarm in the place of the old colony as advised in No. 2. — John M. Hooker. If I desired to obtain surplus honey from the new swarm I would place it in the position previously held by the old colony after having removed the latter to a new position ; but if I desired further increase of bees, viz., after swarms from the old colony, I would then put the swarm in a new position and leave the old colony alone. — II. Wood, Lichfield. The hive which is left in old position will of course be most helped by flying (field) bees, and generally speaking I should leave the swarm, and (say) a frame of brood, taking stock to fresh stand after removing what brood appeared to be be|>ond their protecting power. — John Edey. I advise putting the swarm in the place of the parent colony in every case, whether for increase or not. Care, however, must be token that the old queen is at the head of the swarm, which is not always the case, especially in a season like the present, when, owing to bad weather, swarming is often delayed, and when it takes place, young queens often issue with the old one. An expert will know what to do in such case, but to a novice the result might be discouraging. — George Raynor. BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY ; Or, Glossary of Technical and Scientific Words used in Works upon Bee-keeping. Apis. — Latin name for the bee ; a genus of insects of the order Hymenoptera and family Apidie. The following are given by F. Smith and others as different species of this genus, although some entomolo- gists are inclined to regard some of them as only varieties : — Apis adamitica. — An extinct bee, the fossils of which have been found in the miocene geological forma- tion of Switzerland. The remains found by Professor Heer of this bee are so like the living species of honey- bee (Apis mellifica) that it can hardly be regarded otherwise than as the ancestor of that species. (See British Bee Journal, 1884, vol. xii., p. 95.) Apis Adansonii. — Senegal. Apis Caffra. — Africa. Apis Delessertii. — India (Pondicherry). A2»s dorsata. (Syn. nigripennis and bicolor.) — India. Apisfasciata. — Egypt . Apisflorea. — India, Ceylon, China, and Borneo. Apis lndica. — India and China. Apis Ligustica. — Italy. Apis lobata. — India. Apis mellifica. (Syn., cerifera, gregaria, douiestica.) — The common honey-bee, domesticated and cultivated. Hab. Britain, Prance, German}', Albania, Italy, Africa, Sandwich Islands, South America, Jamaica, New Zealand. Apis nigritarum. — Congo. Apis Peronii. — India ; Isle of Timor. Apis Perrottetii. — India. Apis scutulata. — Africa. Apis socialis. — India (Bengal ) ; Java ; Malabar. Aju's unicolor.— Madagascar ; Isle of Bourbon. Apis sonata. — Java. Apium, Apum. — Gen. pi. of Apis, as Monographia Ajiuin Anglice, by W. Kirby. Apist. n. — A bee-keeper, with its corresponding ad- jective, apistical, incorrect and inelegant. The admissible forms are apiarian and apiarist. Apistical. — See above. Of, or belonging to bee- keepers. Apodal, a. {Or., a, not, podes, feet.) — Without feet; the larva; of bees are called apodal larva; ; footless. Apparatus, n. (L. fr. apparare, to prepare.) — A complete set of instruments and utensils for performing operaiions in bee-keeping. Appendicular gland. (L. appendicula, a small appendage.)— A branched gland partially surrounding the spermatheca of the queen, and supplying it with a secretion. Appliances, n. plur. (L. applic&re, to apply.)— Hives and other articles used in bee-keeping. August 2, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 367 Aqueous, a. (L. aqua, water.) — Watery; par- taking of the nature of water ; as aqueous vapour in a hive ; aqueous honey. Araehnida. n. pi. (Gr. arachnes, a spider, eidos, form.) — A. class of animals which includes spiders and mites, These have no antenna? or wings, have four pairs of legs, and are enemies of bees. Architecture, n. (L. arcMtectura.) — Used by ancient writers to designate the comb structures in a bee-hive. Aroma, n. (Gr. aroma, spice.) — The quality in honey which constitutes its fragrance derived from plants, and perceived by an agreeable smell or pleasant spicy taste. Aromatic, a. (Gr. fr. stem armnat — of aroma ; yielding fragrance) — Applied to plants which yield a spicy smell or fragrance, and impart their flavour to honey. Arrenotokia. ( Gr. arren, male, and tokos, birth.) — A name applied by Leuckart to indicate that a queen- bee although supplied with spermatozoa, from some cause is unable to fertilise her eggs. Articulata. sb. plur. (L. articulus, a joint.) — A division of the animal kingdom in which the bee is found, so called from part of their bodies being com- posed of segments, articulated or joined together, each segment being formed of one or more rings, and the insects furnished with jointed legs. Articulated, p.p. — Jointed; having joints, as the legs of bees. JOTTINGS BY 'AMATEUR EXPERT.' 1 Mel Sapit Omnia.' Wanted ' Useful Hints ' to know what to do iu such a season ! Twice I have had a nice lot of new sections two- thirds filled, and twice they have been emptied. They are being filled for the third time, from the limes this time. But will they ever get filled and sealed is the question, so as to be marketable. I removed some of the crates, making them a tier, less in depth ; but bees were so cramped for room that they at once ' hung out' on to the floor-board, and so one is puzzled to know what to do. There is small comfort in knowing the season is far from being a good one on the ' other side of the pond ; ' their hopes are now in ' basswood,' clover having failed. In talking of the number of bees in a hive, our hard- headed and logical friend, / Sherborne,' seems to have left out the question of temperature. Bees cannot en- dure more than 95° Fahr.; consequently, when the temperature of an empty hive standing in the sun would well-nigh reach that limit, very few bees would be required to stay at home in the day time, and the gatherers being at home at night would so increase the temperature that they would distribute themselves over even forty frames, and give one the impression that the hive was well filled with bees. It is when the tempera- ture is low that we soon see the difference, and feel the results also, in the way of hundredweights avoirdupois. This is the main difference between bee-keeping in England and America. About three weeks after their bees are set out in the open from the winter cellars, we hear of their swarming. At first sight one would ask, ' Where did the increase come from in such a short space of time ? Do their bees hatch two lots of brood to our one ? ' Of course we know they do not, but a few moments' consideration will tell us that the tempera- ture has made all the difference ; their changes are more regular and steady ; summer is slow in coming, but when it has come it stays, unlike ours, keeping us in anticipation from the end of February till the middle of June, as it frequently does, tempting us to 'spread brood ' and do all sorts of absurd things, because the sun shines and there is a smell of warmth in the air at noonday, followed by ten or a dozen degrees of frost at night. As outdoor musings have not been practical, and work amongst the bees has fallen off, I have been spending my evenings by the fireside (winter fashion) and have taken to tough reading for recreation, as ladies — femi- nate and effeminate — take to croquet and lawn tennis. The book is entitled, A Descriptive and Historical Account of Hydraulic and other Machines for Raising Water, by Thos. Ewbank. (It was not because we have a drought I chose this subject, but to add to my stock of know- ledge.) This particular edition is dated 1851, but the author's preface is dated New York, 1341. At page 276, speaking of the hydrostatic press, which, for the sake of the uninitiated 1 may explain, is similar in prin- ciple to what is known as an 'hydraulic jack,' a little tool used for raising heavy weights, the author says : — ' There is a very interesting and beautiful illustration of the principle of Bramah's hydrostatic press iu the con- trivance by which bees store their honey. The cells, open at one end and closed at the other, are arranged hori- zontally over each other, and in that position are filled with the liquid treasure. Now, suppose a series of glass tumblers or tubes laid on their sides and piled upon one another in like manner were required to be then filled with water, it certainly would require some reflection to devise a plan by which the operation could be performed, but what- ever mode were hit upon, it could not be more ingenious and effective than that adopted by these diminutive engineers. At the further or closed extremity of each cell they fabricate a moveable piston of wax, which is fitted air-tight to the sides, and when a bee arrived laden with honey (which is contained in a liquid form iu a sack or stomach), she penetrates the piston with her proboscis, and through it injects the honey between the closed end of the cell and the piston, and then stops the aperture with her feet. The piston is therefore pushed forward as the honey accumulates behind it, till at last it reaches the open end of the cell, where it remains, hermetically sealing the vessel and excluding the air. As soon as one cell is thus charged, the industrious owners commenced with another. . . . Without such a contrivance the cell could no more be tilled and kept so than a bucket could be with water while lying on one side. Were the organization of bees closely examined, it would doubtless be found that the relative diameter of their proboscis and of the cells, and the area of the pumps in their bodies, are such as are best adapted to the muscular energy which they employ in working the latter.' A footnote to the above adds : — ' To keep the honey pure and preserve it from evapor- ation in the high temperature of a hive, the air must be kept from it. Could human ingenuity have devised a more perfect mode of accomplishing the object? ' "Well, Mr. Ewbank, it occurs to me that neither human ingenuity nor ignorance could have possibly more perverted the truth however much they tried. I have read most of the 'theories' about bees, but this hydraulic-pump theory of sealing honey, in Yankee language, ' bangs ' all. I was invited to an anti-socialistic meeting the other day and was asked to speak, but I declined knowing little of 'Socialism.' Presently one made a rattling speech in favour of monarchy, impressing'on the audience that we should take a pattern from the bees. Having sat the speaker out, I asked, and obtained permission to advise the speaker to let the bees alone as all he had said about them was untrue. He wanted to return to the charge, but the chairman who knew me well advised him ' to let the bees alone,' as he was afraid I was too good an authority. I replied monarchy was all right and good in its way, and I was a stout defender of it, but I could not sit and hear wrong things go out un- challenged about bees. When I do I will cease to be — ■ Amateur Expeet. 368 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [August 2, 1888. ASSOCIATIONS. LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. This Association held its Seventh Annual Show on July 25th and 26th at Leicester in connexion with, and by aid of, the Leicestershire Agricultural Society. Wednesday, 25th, was a wretchedly wet day, and the show grounds wore a dank and desolate appearance; Thursday was fine and bright, and visitors crowded in from town and country. In the tent allotted to bee-keeping there was a capital display of hives and appliances, although Messrs. Edey & Son were unable (through a sudden bereave- ment) to attend there and exhibit wares. Honey for competition was nearly absent; only 68 lbs. were staged, against nearly 1700 lbs. on the last occasion the show was held at Leicester. Only five exhibits were staged, and some of these— compared with those of former years — were very poor. Fortunately Miss Chester, Rev. M. A. Thomson, and Mr. J. Cooper came to the rescue with some of last year's honey, and so made the table look less like a desert. The manipulation of bees in the tent lent by the British Bee-keepers' Association attracted more atten- tion than of late years; and Messrs. Munday & Meadows succeeded from time to time in interesting fair audiences. The Rev. Dr. Bartrum was appointed judge, and Mr. Fosbrooke, jun., of Ravenstone Hall, accompanied him on his rounds. Tho hive and bees were drawn for at four o'clock on Thursday in the tent, and under the supervision of Messrs. Day, Carter, Foxon, Meadows, Redshaw, Mr. and Mrs. Ball, and Miss Chester. Mr. J. Cooper, of Halkin House, Belgrave, Leicester, was the winner. Pkize List. — Class I. — Observatory hive (three ex- hibits) : 1, W. P. Meadows ; 2, J. Cooper. Class II — Super honey, not to exceed 50 lbs. (one exhibit, eight sections) : 2, Rev. M. A. Thomson. Class III. — Run honey, not to exceed 50 lbs. (one exhibit) : 1, Rev. M. A. Thomson. Class IV. — Twenty-four 1-lb. sections for silver medal : no exhibit. Class V. — Twelve 1-lb. jars of run honey (three exhibits) : bronze medal to W. P. Meadows ; certificate and 5s. to J. Cooper. Class VI. — Best hive 10s. 6rf. (three exhibits) : 1, Turner & Son ; 2, W. Meadows; 3, C. Redshaw. [The hive here awarded third prize took" first prize at Nottingham Royal Show.] Class VII. — Best super for comb honey (three exhibits) : 1, W. P. Meadows; 2, C. Redshaw; Commended, Turner & Son. Class VIII. — Show case for sections (two exhibits): 1, C. Redshaw; 2, W. P. Meadows. Class IX. — Collections of appliances (two exhibits) : Prizes equally divided botween W. P. Meadows and C. Redshaw. Special prize of 5s. awarded to Mr. Lowth of Brant Broughton for section slinger. WILTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The exhibit of this Association, which was held on Wednesday and Thursday, July 25 and 26, in afield kindly lent by Mr. Bambridge, opened under the most depressing circumstances. A steady rain descended almost without cessation throughout the best part of the day, the consequence being that only a handful of visitors made their way under umbrellas to the tent Mr. H. Burden had been good enough to place at the disposal of the Association. Owing to the wet, all lectures and experi- ments were out of the question, even if there had been an audience ; and the busy bees, which we are told ' improve each shining hour,' in the absence of the sun, were thrown upon their own resources. The tent con- tained a varied collection of contrivances used in bee- keeping, mostly belonging to the enthusiastic Hon. Sec. to the Association, the Rev. W,E.Burkitt,Butterinere. In- cluded amongst these was an ' observatory hive,' showing- through the glass sides all the interesting movements of its busy inmates. Killick's wax-extractor was another article worth mentioning, to say nothing of improved skeps, bar-frame hives, and section-boxes. On another table was the exhibit kindly lent by Messrs. Neighbour of Regent Street, who were Highly Commended for their useful bee appliances by the judge, Mr. W. N. Griffin, of Reading (late Secretary of the Devon and Exeter Bee- keepers' Association). There was also a limited display of honey and wax. The Rev. W. E. Burkitt took the prize for section honey, whilst for wax Mr. A. Godding (of Brimslade) was awarded first prize, and the Rev. W. E. Burkitt second. Mrs. Bambridge was Highly Commended. The poorness of the honey and wax exhibit is amply accounted for by the wetness of the season. As an instance of the manner in which bee-keepers have suffered from the weather in common with others, Mr. Young, of Wilton, near Salisbury, last year had over twelve hundredweight of honey, whereas this year he has not twelve pounds. On Thursday the exhibition enjoyed a better fate as regards weather, for with the exception of a sharp shower in the morning, the day was one of exceptional brilliance and clearness. A good number of visitors dropped in, besides between fifty and sixty members of the College Natural History Society. Among the visitors were the Rev. the Master of Marlborough College and Messrs. H. Leaf, A. S. Eve, F. V. Brughera, A. C. Champneys, and H. Cooper, Mrs. Long and Mrs. Scobell. At intervals throughout the day lectures on the use of various appliances and bee management were delivered by the Rev. W. E. Burkitt, Mr. \V. S. Bam- bridge, Mr. W. N. Griffin, and Mr. A. J. Noyes. Those who visited tho show gained much useful information in the very interesting study of bee-keeping. MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Second Annual Exhibition by the North-east province of this Association was held on Saturday, the 21st inst., in the beautiful grounds attached to the Wilderness, at Southgate, by the kind permission of P. P. Hasluck, Esq., the Secretary of the Southgate District, the weather being fortunately fine. Un- fortunately for the members in this part of the county, the wretched weather has had a most disastrous effect upon the honey yield, and the entries in the classes for honey were few indeed, there being no entries of comb- honey in Class I. Mr. Harveyson, of Finchley, was awarded the first prize in Class II. for twelve 1-lb. bottles of extracted honey. No entries were made in Class III. for the best and largest exhibit of comb and extracted honey, and Classes IV. and V. offered to cottagers for comb and extracted honey. Messrs. Abbott Bros, secured first prize in Class VI. for the best exhibit of hives and appliances, the second prize falling to Mr. S. J. Baldwin, an extra prize was also awarded to Mr. Hutchings ; Simmins' Bee Company also exhibited in this class. The first prize was awarded to Mr. S. J. Baldwin in Class VII. for the best hive, price not to ex- ceed 12s. complete (unpainted), with ten frames (fitted with starters), two dummies, double walls on two sides, moveable floorboard, porch, contracting entrance, crate of sections, and four quilts. The walls being flush with top bar to admit of storifying if desired. The second prize in this class fell to Messrs. Abbott Bros., an extra prize also being awarded to Messrs. Edey & Son. Prizes for honey were also offered by the Southgate district to be competed for by their members, the first and third prizes for the best six 1-lb. sections being secured by Mr. Bolton, and the second by Mr. P. P. Hasluck. Mr. Bolton was also awarded the first prize for the best six 1-lb. bottles of extracted honey and the best exhibit of comb and extracted honey. August 2, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 3C9 Mr. Sambels kindly and efficiently acted a3 judge. During the day Mr. S. J. Baldwin, who is the expert to the Association, gave several lectures in the tent, in his well-known style, to crowded audiences, and the Band of the King's Royal Rifles gave selections at intervals. ' NORTHAMPTONSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual show of the above Association was held on the Racecourse at Northampton, on July l'Jth and 20th, in conjunction with the Northampton Horticultural Society,\but owing to the very unfavourable season very little honey was staged. Mr. A. T. Adams, of Crick, and Mr. W. Bazeley, of Northampton, exhibited assortments of hives and appliances showing all the latest improvements, and which were highly commended. Mr. J. R. Truss, of Ufford Heath, Stamford, attended as lecturer in the bee tent, and explained the advantage of the humane system of bee-keeping to large and attentive audiences, the last lecture of each day includ- ing the^transferring of a stock of bees from a straw skep to a bar-frame hive. Thej following is a list of awards: — Section Honey, twelve 1-lb. sections; Charles Cox, Brampton, 1st, Silver Medal, B.B.K.A.; Harry Ringrose, Boughton, 2nd. Extracted Honey, twelve 1-lb. bottles; George Smith, Boughton, 1st; Charles Cox, 2nd; O. C. Ilollis, Boughton, 3rd, Bronze Medal, B.B.K.A.; Wm. Baldwin, Brampton, 4th. Super of Honey, Charles Cox, 1st; Wm. Baldwin, 2nd. Device or design in honey-comb, Charles Cox. 1st; Wm. Baldwin, 2nd. Appliances, A. T. Adams, Crick, Highly Commended; W. Bazeley, Northampton, Highly Commended. The following gentlemen acted as judges: —Mr. J. Shaw, Moulton Park ; Mr. W. L. Bird, Preston Capes; Mr. .1. K. Truss, Ufford Heath, Stamford. €amtyaribmt£. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications , and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separata pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, Jtc, must be addressed only to "The Editor of the " British Bee Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.G.* All business communications relating to Advertisements, Ac, must be addressed to Mr. J. Hdckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 2nd paye of Advertisements). %* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, wilt oblige by ?nentioninc the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. ROYAL SHOW, NOTTINGHAM. [1732.] Will you allow me space to reply to the remarks of ' Amateur Expert ' on the above ? Pie says, ' Were I a lady bee-keeper I would make a new flag.' If Mr. ' A. E.' will kindly send the materials for a new flag to Mr. Huckle, I will undertake to find a lady who will make them up. ATous verrons. 'The bee- tent is inadequate.' 'The internal arena (magnificent phrase) is sufficiently large, but the outer circle requires to be larger.' It is thought that circular bee-tents are altogether a mistake ; and it is difficult even for ' Mr. Howard's stentorian voice ' to be heard behind him in any sized tent, but if the outer circle were to be enlarged it would become quite impossible for half the people either to see or hear. What is wanted is a semicircular tent, an amphitheatre in fact, where gentle- men who do not boast stentorian voices like Mr. Howard might be able to address the whole audience at once ; and if ' A. E.' will give a guinea towards it I shall be happy to do the same. i rorn what I know of the gentlemen who compose the Committee of the B. B. K. A., I am sure they woidd be only too glad to act upon any workable suggestions ; but when Mr. ' A. E.' recommends that ' more opportunities should be given to the appliance-manufacturers,' he is evidently not aware of the difficulties under which the Committee act. The show is not, as he states, ' under the management of the B. B. K. A.,' but very much under the management of the Royal Agricultural Society. If the manufacturers would apply direct to the Secretary of the Royal, as manufacturers of other articles do, they would no doubt obtain as much space in the show-yard as they require. As to the ' hint from the Show at the Colonial,' 'A. E.' possibly does not know that every pound of honey exhibited at Nottingham was sold ; and he also, apparently, does not know much about the ways and rules of the Royal, if he imagines that such a form of sale as that conducted at the Hertfordshire Stall at the Colonial on Bank Holiday, or at the Canadian Ex- hibition, would be for one moment tolerated at the Royal Agricultural Show. Had he not omitted to bring that ' good parcel of flowers from my own garden,' he would have been in a better position to criticise those who did not respond to the request, or who did send the ' poor faded things.' It is very easy to compare the appearance of honey, hives, &c, at the end of the weak, with the spick-and-span newly painted machinery outside ; but Mr. ' A. E.' would be doing better service if he would kindly suggest how their freshness can be preserved after they have been handled, from curiosity or for instruction, by thousands of people. I can say from my own observation that the shed was constantly cleaned up, notwithstanding the crowds which were passing to and fro. As 'A. E.' at all times claims the right of criticising others most freely, I trust he may be able to take my remarks in good part.— One who was there. BEES AND INSECTS IN NATAL. [1733.] I am very glad to find the Chelifers (Vol. XV. p. 663) have been appreciated. Since you gave me the information about these ugly insects in the Bee Journal I have looked repeatedly for them in other places than the hives; in old wood, bark of trees, &c, but have not found auy. They seem to come into bee-hives for the winter, and are not to be found, I believe, among bees in summer. All bee-keepers here seem to have found them among swarming bees, and in stocks in the winter and spring. Bees are swarming here now. I at once avail myself of your permission to write to you on natural history specimens, and should be glad to receive from you information on the specimen of worm which I hope to send you by this mail or the next if I can find means to pack it safely. I had better begin by copying the note of the friend who sent me the specimen. He says : — ' You take an interest in natural history, I know. Two days ago a white kitten of ours caught a mantis by the head. I tried to rescue it from her; while doing so, I observed a long hair-like worm escaping from its body behind. It felt stiff and rigid, like a wire. I dropped it into a ewer of water, where it still lives. I mean to bottle it to see how long it will live. Body of mantis measured 2£ in., worm Gj in. Something of the same kind happened some years ago here with a mantis or a grasshopper caught by a cat. Have you seen such worms ?' The above note was dated May 9th. Having work to do, I could not go and see my friend till the 12th, when the worm was dead. It died, I believe, on the 10th. I was told it seemed quite lively in the water till it was found rolled up in a lump in the water. On being taken out and laid on its finder's hand, it unrolled itself and died. The mantis insect is found in Natal in many varieties, some of which are imitative insects and very beautiful, 370 THE BE1TISH BEE JOUENAL. [August 2, 1888. I will try and send you a specimen of one or two of these last ; but I fear my having seen this worm will cause me to subject many a mautis in the future to discomfort in the form of abdominal pressure. Now I want information on another subject. A young friend of mine a year ago noticed a curious thing among his bees. The stock was a weak, queenless one, dying out before the winter. Seeing a bee crawling about in an aimless fashion, he pressed it on the back. It at once deposited a small white grub, one-eighth of an inch or little less, which moved about andseemed uninj ured. Under a very inferior magnifying glass it showed some- thing like eyes. He repeated the experiment many times with other bees in the course of a few days, and several times with the same result. Now, I should like to know whether these grubs are from eggs deposited in the bees by insects, as the ichneumon insect at home deposits its eggs in caterpillars ? The Bee Journal is well known and appreciated out here. My neighbour, Mr. Scott, is just receiving some hives from your country. If you receive from time to time entomological speci- mens by post, initialed ' J. K. \V.,' you will know who sends them. I will try and send you a caterpillar that makes itself a neat grass house, and walks about with it, much in the fashion of the caddis at home ; only this is found in grass, and, according to both whites and Kafirs, eating this is invariably fatal to cattle. So far as I can find no one has ever found one in the stomach of a dead animal on the part affected, which is always, on post mortem, found to be a highly inllamed patch. Perhaps you will be able to find some friend learned in ento- mology who can say what the perfect insect is, and whether the insignificant little grub really does so much harm to cattle-owners as is believed. Wednesday. — I am sending in a match-box some insects I obtained from a climber which grows under the tiles of a verandah. There are no leaves on the boughs under the tiles, and these insects lie in large numbers along the rough bark of the boughs. If you would like a sample of Natal bees, I might post a queen and a few bees to you on your giving me directions. I will try to get a small swarm and keep it. Such swarms, however, usually die in bad spring weather. If the entomologist at the British Museum wants any Natal insects — an imitative spider, varieties of mantis, the caddis-like caterpillar I spoke of, or the large hollow grasshopper, the abdomen being perfectly empty except for a single thread of gut, and quite transparent ; I shall be glad to set my boys to work to collect, and will do the same gladly for you if you wish it. A friend told me this morning that snakes and bees here live on friendly terms in the same hole, and that there is in such cases a hole in the comb for the snake to use for passage. This is not uncommon, for bees- often build in holes in the ground, as do wasps at home. 1 am promised a view of the next case noticed. I am afraid I have troubled 3-011 with a long letter, but there are so many objects in natural history here that interest one, and concerning which we can get no good information, that I hope you will forgive me. — J. R. Waed, Richmond, Natal, May \Gth. [1. Hair-worm. — The worm sent is a species not found in this country, but belongs to the family of the Gordiaceat, or hair-worms, of which the two genera Gordius and .Vermis are British. They are entozoic parasites, reaching maturity in the bodies of various insects — crickets, cockroaches, earwigs, &c. — from which they emerge, especially in wet weather, when ready to de- posit their eggs. Mermis is frequently found in large numbers after heavy rains in July 011 the ground and the leaves or stems of plants. These specimens are always mature and filled with ova, and it is supposed that their object is to get washed down by the rains into streams, in the mud of which the ova are subse- quently laid. The one forwarded from Natal was hard and dry beyond possibility of relaxation to an extent sufficient to render microscopic preparation of small value, so that the external characters are alone de- terminable. 2. Grubs from Bees. — We have never in our experience met with a similar instance. 3. We shall be pleased to receive the entomological specimens. When the caterpillar comes to hand, we will endeavour to obtain some particulars as to its history. 4. Natal Cocoidce. — The insects (nine in number) forwarded from Natal, May 16th, 1883, arrived in good condition, and all alive. The box contained a large quantity of ova which had been deposited en route. Those which were not required for dissection or preservation as specimens are still living (July 19), and continuing to lay eggs, which are, when undisturbed, enveloped in a mass of cottony material produced by the insects for this purpose. The insects themselves, whilst belonging to the family of the Coccidce, are of a species not only unknown in this country, but so far as can be ascertained from the best authorities, are a hitherto undescribed species, on which account they have excited considerable interest, and have been subjected to very careful microscopic ex- amination, drawings of their chief features being made for future reference. They will probably form the subject of an illustrated communication to the Entomo- logical Monthly Magazine from the pen of Mr. J. W. Douglas, who is at present working up the group of plant-bugs, and who, regarding them as new, proposes to call them Orfonia Natalensis. It would be of some further interest to know something as to the earlier history of these insects in respect of their growth and development, habits, food plant, &e. The position in which they are described, as being found ' in large numbers along the rough bark of the leafless boughs of a climber under the tiles of a verandah,' is no doubt well chosen by the mature female inseets as affording shelter and protection to the eggs, but is scarcely such as to afford them sustenance during growth. 5. Natal Queen and Bees. — Nothing would give us greater pleasure than to receive a queen and bees. We have forwarded a mailing box with instructions. 6. Natal Inseets. — If you consign to our care any Natal insects, we will see that they are placed in the hands of those who will appreciate the trust, and render an account of them. 7. Snakes and Bees. — We shall be pleased to hear further information respecting this curious conjunction, or any information respecting the habits of bees in your locality. — Ed.] THE SECRETION OF WAX- VOLUNTARY P -IS IT [ 1 734.] On page 326 this question was asked : ' Is the secretion of wax a voluntary, or an involuntary, act ? ' An opinion was given, stating that it was ' voluntary.' I am fully convinced, from my own observation, that this secretion is involuntary ; that the bees have no con- trol over the generating of the secretions; and that it is a natural production, which may be seen on the under- part of the abdomen of the young bees. It is produced in a singular manner. The coustruc- tion of the muscular rings around the abdomen is such that they are especially calculated to permit these secretions to ooze out from small holes located under these muscular rings ; and when the secretions are dried, they form small white flakes or pellets of wax ; when ripe, if not removed, they will drop to the bottom of the hive. Wax is produced only by such bees as are in a con- dition to be able to generate these secretions. My im- pression is that the young bees (while young they are fat, like all the young of both animals and insects) would naturally produce these secretions, and when they are of sufficient age to go to the field to labour (about fifteen August 2, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 371 days old), they then soon become lean and poor, and can no longer produce the secretions from which the comb is made ; whereas, if they continue to generate these secretions, when crawling over the blossoms to gather nectar, these flakes of wax would be lost, consequently there would be no was to manufacture into comb. A bee, when lean and poor, cannot generate these secre- tions.— Edson Gerry, Wash. Ter. (American Bee Journal.) FEEDING BACK EXTRACTED HONEY TO SECURE THE COMPLETION OF UNFINISHED SECTIONS. [1735.] Ever since engaging in the production of comb-honey, we have been practising the above. We have fed during the past five years at least 1:!,000 pounds of extracted honey ; but our success has beeu so varied that we have never felt like encouraging the practice. One year, with certain colonies, we would meet with such splendid success as to be greatly encouraged, while the results of the next year, or the performances of certain colonies, would, perhaps, lead us to declare that we were done with ' feeding back.' But, when the next season rolled round, and the close of the linden harvest found us with perhaps 2000 unfinished sections on hand, and we sat down and figured up how much they woidd be worth if completed, we felt, as Dr. Miller once expressed it at a Chicago Convention, that it might, pay to feed to secure the completion of nearly-finished sections, even though the feeding of four or five pounds of honey in- crease the weight of the sections only one pound. Did we not consider drawn comb of considerable value in getting the bees started in the sections in the spring, we should unhesitatingly pronounce in favour of fending to secure the completion of unfinished sections. That is, this woidd be our decision so far as the management of our own apiary is concerned ; but it does not follow that this decision would be the proper one at which all bee- keepers should arrive ; although it would seem that there is one class that would be glad to so decide, and that is the one that finds the vise of drawn comb in sections bo very objectionable. So much by way of introduction, and now, for the benefit of those who, for any reason, may wish to practise feeding back, we will tell what we have learned in feeding back the 1:1,000 pounds of honey. Perhaps the best way will be to tell exactly how we would conduct the operation, but first allow us to say that the feeding of honey, for the purpose of having it stored in sections, is a distinct branch of bee-keeping — as much so as that of rearing queens for the market — and there are many things connected with it that can be learned by experience only, but the following hints may help some : — As soon as we see that the basswood harvest is drawing to a close, we remove all the sections from the hives, look them over, take out tho finished ones, and sort the un- finished ones into three grades — viz., almost finished, half done, and just commenced. The cases containing the first two grades are then placed upon the hives, one case upon a hive, and allowed to remain until the bees have taken possession of them. Then comes the task of selecting the colonies that are to do the work ; and, by the way, this is a most important point, as upon a proper selection depends our success. First, the colonies must be strong ; next, they must possess young queens, pre- ferably those of the current year, although this is not imperative ; at last, but by no means least, we would have the bees Simon pure blacks. Hybrids are the next best, while, as a rule, Italians do very poor work in this line. Keeping in view these points, we select one-half as many colonies as we have cases of unfinished sections upon the hives, and to these colonies we transfer the cases — sections, bees and all— putting two cases upon each hive. We have never experienced the least trouble, in any respect, by thus mixing up the bees ; while we secure populous colonies by so doing. If the broodnests are not already contracted, we contract them. The greater tho contraction, the more satisfactory will be the results so far as work in the sections is concerned, but if carried too far, it will materially weaken the colonies by curtailing the production of brood. We have frequently contracted the brood-nest to only three Laugstroth combs, and these three combs, when we were through feeding, would be three solid sheets of brood; but, all things considered, we prefer to contract the brood-nest to about the capacity of five combs. There is also one other point that must not be neglected, and that is, the brood- combs must not be old and black, otherwise the combs in the sections will become travel-stained unless removed very promptly upon their completion. The newer the combs in the brood-nest the better. When honey is brought in from the fields it is carried up into the sections — that is, the supply, as regards the sections, comes from below ; when a feeder is placed above the sections, then the supply comes from above. In both cases the sections in which the work is the least advanced should be placed noaivsi to the source of supply. Thus it will be seen that in feeding back we place next to the brood-nest tho sections that are almost finished, and above them the grade that are about one-half com- pleted. The feeder used is the Heddou, which is exactly the size of the top of the hive. His new feeder is unexcelled for this purpose, as the bees take down the feed from both sides. This might not seem important, but it is, and for this reason. When the feed is carried down upon one side, the sections upon this side are com- pleted first, while they are finished up very evenly all over the case when the feed is carried down from both sides. The bees seem to be able to handle the honey to better advantage when it is thinned somewhat — say, one quart of water to ten pounds of honey. We heat ten quarts of water over an oil stove until it boils, then mix it with 100 pounds of honey, stir it up well, and it is ready for use. We feed as fast as the I s will take it. \\ <■ keep close watch of the sections in the lower cases and whenever we find one in which all, or nearly all, of the sections are completed, off it comes, and the case above it is placed next to the hive, and above this case is placed a case of sections brought from the honey-house ; one containing sections of the third grade — that is, those in which the bees have made the least progress. We continue to bring in the cases of completed sections as fast as they are finished, replacing them with the un- finished one's from the honey-house. When the stock of the latter is exhausted, we are ready to begin to reduce the number of the colonies upon which we are feeding back, which is done as fast as the sections are completed. During all this time, since the feeding was commenced, we have been watching each colony, and jotting down upon the hive cover its characteristics, and in reducing the number of colonies we, of course, reject those that have worked in the least satisfactory manner. We con- tinue to keep two cases upon each hive, and, as the colonies work with greatly varying rapidity, there is no difficulty, bv changing about the cases, to keep next to the brood-nest those sections that are the nearest com- pletion. In gathering the sections together upon fewer hives, we always take bees and all, thus we are continually strengthening the colonies upon which we are feeding back. It is folly to expect the bees to finish up all of thr sections upon a hive. Even though the feeding be continued, the sections will not be completed in a satis- factory manner. So long as the feeding is continued the bees act as though they reasoned something like this : ' We must make the cells as deep as possible, and delay the capping until the last, moment, in order to make room for all of the honey that we can ; and if there are not cells enough we must build more, even though it be in these cramped-up little places between the tiers of cases.' 372 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [August 2, 1888. After the combs are drawn out to full length, filled with honey, and nearly sealed, we have secured better results by giving the bees no food for three or four days, then giving them a little food and omitting the feeding for several days. The bees then behave as though they con- sidered the harvest over and ended. They sealed up most of the cells, and from those that they do not seal they remove the honey. But there is a much better way of managing this part of the business. When the sections are all nearly finished, we put them upon as few hives as possible, placing two cases upon a hive ; and then, upon each hive above the two cases of nearly com- pleted sections, we place a case of sections filled with foundation. The bees proceed at once to draw out the foundation and fill it with honey, and this additional storing room appears to bring about a feeling that there is no further necessity for holding open the cells below, and they are sealed forthwith. When the two lower cases are completed, the upper case will, perhaps, be found one-half finished, and these upper cases may be gathered together, bees and all, and placed, two upon each hive, over those colonies that have shown the greatest aptitude for this kind of work, and the feeding continued until the sections are almost completed, when it will again be necessary to place a case of sections con- taining foundation upon each hive. We have continued this work until at last all the sections were upon one hive, and had the sections all completed except the case last added at the top. After bees have been fed awhile they secrete very large quantities of wax. The little flakes of it can be seen between the scales of the abdomen, and, unless allowed to build comb, the bees will plaster with wax the woodwork of the sections, the inside of the feeders, cases, &c. The moral is, allow them to build comb. Have a row, or two rows, of sec- tions in tho upper case filled with starters only; thus there is secured, in the shape of comb, what would other- wise be wasted. Although we cannot control the tem- perature, it may be well to know that tho hotter the weather the more rapid and satisfactory will be the work of the bees when we are ' feeding - back.' — W. Z. Hutchinson (Bee-keepers' Review). PREVENTING SWARMING. [1736.] Our apiary consists of about 175 colonies, and by means of bottom boards with wire screens and raising up the hives on f-inch blocks and the shade boards, we have not had a half-dozen swarms this season, and some of them came from neglect on our part, as it was not possible for us to give them the necessary attention at all times. The boards are set to lean on the south-east corner in the morning, and are moved around towards the south-west during the day. It is only a few moments' work to shift all of them, and we know of nothing so cool or effectual as this large leaning shade board. An article on this subject, published in the American Agriculturist, written by P. H. Elwood, is attracting considerable attention. He make? the unmanageable colonies queenless at the beginning of the honey harvest, taking a few of the brood combs with the queen and forming a nucleus. It seems to us that this plan in- volves considerable trouble cutting out cells, and then we have always found it quite difficult to requeen very strong colonies. No one can tell what the weather will be at the close of the honey yield, neither can we tell for a certainty that there will be any yield at all. It may be very rainy, so that no surplus is stored at the time it usually comes ; in such cases, if the queen is allowed to keep up the brood to the fullest extent, we often get a large honey yield during the fall; while if our colonies should be queenless, and our hives not well filled with honey at the close of the white honey har- vest, the apiary would be in an almost hopeless condition. If the honey yield is good the honey stored in the brood combs will contract it all. We think it advisable to have it without any trouble to the apiarist. It is only a few years ago that the leading writers in bee literature were as enthusiastic over extracting the honey from the brood-chamber so that the queen could continue laying to the fullest extent throughout the honey yield and keep up the strength of the colony to the highest point. They argued then that the honey in the brood-combs caused the contraction of the brood and weakened the colony to such an extent that great losses in the winter were the residt. From five to ten years ago the natural instinct of the bees caused too much contraction ; now, according to the progressive bee-culture, we must cause a greater contraction by manipulating the brood-chamber, removing the queen, &c. We are in doubt whether progressive is the proper adjective to use. It sounds well, yet it seems to have a little tinge of fraud in it to a practical mind. We would call it stylish bee-culture; it would convey the real meaning so much better. We can do a great many foolish things for the sake of fashion. The style of bee-keeping is continually chang- ing, yet that the changes are progressive we doubt. We would advise the novice to keep close to shore — follow the natural instincts of the bees. If you contract the brood-chamber, or make your colonies queenless, you are liable to meet with a disaster in your apiary, equal to being shipwrecked with the loss of all the lives on board. — A. G. Hilt. (Bee-keepers' Guide). 'HOOKER'S GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL BEE-KEEPING.' [1737.] This little work I have read with a saddened feeling of disappointment. It is professedly a guide to beginners, but falls short of the object — dealing chiefly with descriptions of the hives and appliances of favoured manufacturers ; and is more in the nature of a guide to the author's individual prejudices. It is — ' Deformwl, unfinished, sent before its time Into this breathiDg world, scarce half made up,' and there does not appear within it a single line of reason for its having been brought into existence. There is nothing new in it, and it does not fit into any vacant place or fill any known want, and I fear that it must have been produced in a moment of weakness. — C. N. Abbott, Southall, July 23. BEES IN NEW ZEALAND. [1738.] I lived for some years in Canterbury, N.Z., and know of only one man, the Hon. John B. A. Ackland, at Mount Peel, who used bar-frame hives. In our dis- trict, Ellesmere, nearly every one has a few stocks in red gin-cases or half cement casks, which produced great quantities of honey, which was largely used with horehound, &c, to make honey-beer. Good strained honey fetched Sri. per lb. locally, and 3%d. to Ad. in Christchurch, where some of the growers filled small casks and shipped (to London, I believe) when their stock had sufficiently accumulated. — M. H. Rohde, Ran/old, 8linfold,near Horsham, Sussex, July 15M. [We are obliged by your kindness in sending the New Zealand paper, and shall in a future number give some extracts from it. — Ed.] Another Minorc an Queen. — Mr.Simmins,Rotting- dean, informs us that he has received a queen from Mr. Andreu, of Minorca, and that he successfully introduced her, and nine other queens, to their respective hives, by his method of ' direct introduction.' There are now in England three Minorcan queens safely introduced by three eminent bee-masters, Messrs. Abbott, Blow, and Simmins. Bee-keepers will therefore in the coming season have an opportunity of comparing the virtues of this new race with those of Carniolans and Ligurians. August 2, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 373 (Stjjxres from % fjiks. Waterhouaes, Durham, July 2Gth. — This is the worst year we have had for a longtime ; old men say they cannot remember such a year. Nothing but starvation in the hives. Instead of getting- at least two stones of section honey per hive, it is simply (but expensive) feed ! feed ! feed ! It is almost enough to knock bee-keeping out of our heads altogether. However, the last few days have been very fine for the bees. — Joshua Fenwick. Leesom, Wareham, July 2Gth. — All my hives are very full of bees, but they make no honey. Other people Beem to be in nearly the same condition, which is some consolation to one who still looks on himself as — A Novice. Jiottinydean, July 27th. — The first bad season I re- member. However, I have done little feeding here except where stocks have been broken for queen-rearing, but even for that purpose I have never fed in July before. — S. Simmins. North Leicestershire, July 28th. — Since the snowfall on the 11th inst. there have been four good and three fair days for the bees, all the rest have been windy, wet, and cold. ' No honey ' is the cry in every direction. To-day the maximum temperature has been 52°, and the weather is miserably wet and windy. The bet.- are again in distress, and the alighting-boards are strewn with mutilated grubs. It may now be safely anticipated that all stocks will require copious feeding to carry them through the winter. Indeed this season is worse than that of 70. -E. B. Evesham, July28th. — We have had the worst season that it has ever been my lot to chronicle, llain, rain, nothing but rain ! An almost complete absence of sun and warm weather. Skies black with clouds. The fertile vale extending from Malvern to the Cotswolds enveloped in mist and moisture, and the meadows flooded in tracts of the Avon Valley. The bees have consequently been able to gather no honey. No one has any sections or any honey to extract in any quantity. My own bees are not in a more prosperous state than any of my neighbours. They have hardly been able to get their daily bread, so to speak. I have been obliged to feed them regularly for the past four weeks to keep them from starvation. I have had no swarms myself, and I have heard of many dying from want of food or lack of feeding. Let us hope a better state of things is in store for all persevering bee-keepers another season. — A. II. Martin. South Cornwall, July 28th. — I suppose that never was the heading of this column more justified than in the present season. Almost every note is the same. ' No honey,' ' Bees starving,' and the like. There have been just two instances in which something has been stored. In these parts the state of things is sad. I had to feed on Midsuminei'-day, and havo done so at intervals since, and I do not think my stocks have an average store of one ounce apiece. How they five is a wonder, for I cannot feed them all, if only that I cannot give the time to it. It was not an entire misfortune that one stock died out in the winter leaving ample stores. These come very useful now. I put in a frame to-dav with, perhaps, a pound and a half of honey in it. What a a treat it clearly was! Clover seemed to have died out last year : its very roots destroyed. The roadsides which in these parts used to be covered with white dutch have had scarcely a leaf of it this year, and Trifolium nanus (query procumbens) has taken its place. At the present time, to my surprise, a little white dutch is showing itself, and there is a late crop in some pastures, so that ^ if (a very large if) we have a fortnight's sun our bees will just survive. I do not care to contemplate the state of things if we have more rain. To-day is bright, with a gale which I hope may blow the unsettled weather away. Someone has asked if carbolic mixture is apt to lose its power. I think it will. The smell remains, but after two or three weeks the power which affects the bees has departed. At any rate, dry your cloth before using again. A neighbour the other day found sixty- two dead queen-wasps on an old alighting-board, disused, but in place. It was very curious. — C. It. S. North Notts, July 30th. — I have bean thinking for some time that I would send you an Echo, but hoped it would be a better one than this. Up to the present date I have only taken nineteen moderate 1-lb. sections from my eight hives ; last year at this time I had taken 475 lbs. of section and extracted honey, as I work four of my hivesfor sections and four for extracted, so that you will see that we are no better off here than in other parts. But all my hives are crowded with bees and brood from top bar to bottom bar, but when I examined them a week ago, I do not think there would be an average of 2 lbs. of honey per hive, although I havo been feeding all through this month ; but as 1 only give sufficient syrup to last them from day to day, they are unable to store any. All hopes of any further surplus honey in this district are now at an end, but the lime-trees show an abundance of bloom, so that if we could only get a fortnight of fine weather for the bees to take advantage of them, it would be very satisfactory to all of us, as I am only a working man, and consequently find a considerable difference in being able to sell from 17/. to 20/. worth of honey to having to purchase 2 cwt. of sugar for feeding purposes. It has been rain ! rain ! rain ! and on Satur- day last (28th) there was half-inch rain registered, and the same person told me that the total for the month was four inches and two parts (2-100ths), and that it was the largest total for July for over twenty years past. On the 27th I drove two skeps for a friend, united the bees, and transferred them and brood into a bar-frame hive ; but, although I have driven hundreds of skeps, I never saw so many bees in two skeps before, but only 4 or 6 lbs. of honey, which evidently were remains of last year's stores. Natural swarms about hore, even from skeps, have been few and far between, and I hear of a few having died of starvation already ; aud it is almost impossible to make skeppists believe that bees require feeding in June and July. — Local Hon Secretary Notts Bee-keepers'1 Association. School House, St. Margaret's, Stratton, Swindon, July 30th. — Kain ! Bain! llain! Nothing but rain! No honey. Oh, no ! Not a toothful for one's own use. On May 24th I fetched my twelve stocks a distance of 150 miles, with three journeys by road, without damaging a single comb, they did well until June 10th, when I doubled four and supered three, and they have decreased in weight ever since. They have unwillingly on my part increased five, now numbering seventeen. Last Monday week I had a swarm of Ligurians, which could barely get into a ten-framed hive, and have now started queen-cells. One swarm, with hive and nino combs, I sold for 27s. (id. Am now feeding up and getting ready for winter. Since reading ' X-Tractor's ' effusion on ' Ye Ilyves,' and while watching the refresh- iuy rain, have had the following in my head. The last line is a great consoler : — Oh ! where do they come from 1 Those little drops of rain, Pitter-patter, pitter-patter, Down the window-pane. The sections all are M.T. Aud our labour's all in vain. But should a June come round next year (?) Then try, try, again. — Coltrip Gildekt. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS. L. W. R. — 1. Italians. — Your bees may have a slight touch of other blood in them, but even in an absolutely pure colony there are considerable variations as to 374 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [August 2, 1888. markings. For quiet, g'ood -working; tees, we would strongly recommend Carniolans. We recently un- packed three strong lots that had travelled a consider- able distance by rail, &c, and placed them in their hives without either smoke, carbolic cloth, or any one being stung, although several ladies were within three feet of the hives. 2. Drones. — This must be the case while there is drone-comb in the brood-nest, except in case of a rapid honey glut, vhen these cells would be utilised for honey." Move tiJs comb to the outside of the nest, so that no further breeding may take place in it. Guard against chilling the worker-brood. The drones may be killed by the thrust of a needle. They are of no use now. 3. Stimulating, — Should the weather not improve, feed regularly to induce a continuance of breeding until second week in August, then gradually increase feeding for a week, and, finally, in last week of August give 30 lbs. of syrup as fast as they will take it. F. A. B. — Dead Bees. — Evidently a case of starvation. Downhearted. — Suspicious Comb. — Not foul-brood. Foul-brood smells very rank. J. Gibson. — We should say you have either an injured queen or a fertile worker in the hive referred to, and would recommend you to repeat the operation and give a fertile queen to the hive. W. S. Hicks. — Drone Brood cast out. — The bees sent are drones taken out of the cells and cast out. Your hive has given up all intention of swarming again, and having a fertile queen has no longer need of drones. These have been driven out and what dr< inea have remained in the hive have been cast out. We are pleased to hear you have found our Guide Book so useful. T. Marsh. — Honey. — We cannot detect any flavour (the true flavour) of heather in this sample. We should say it was new honey, of very good quality, gathered from fruit blossoms, clover, &c. O. — Queenless Colony. — Your colony is queenless, and very likely will accept the queen-cell, although such a colony will often tear one down when given them. A good plan is to put the cell into a cell- protector. When the virgin queen comes forth she will be instantly accepted, or perhaps we might say not taken any notice of until she is fertilised, and becomes the mother of the hive. H. Stuart. — Dividing Swarm. — Allow them to fill out ten frames, but do not divide so late in the season as this. When the ten frames are drawn out and stored pack them for winter. The bees sent are ordinary English blacks. Joshua Fenwick. — 1. Missing Queen. — The first queen died no doubt from natural causes. We should judgo her to be of little use as she presided over so small a colony. 2. Queen Rearing. — Bees can raise a queen from brood inserted into a hive, but where a colony is weak and deficient of young bees (nurses), the queens so reared are of little use. 3. Drones. — It is not necessary that drones shoidd be in a hive in which the queen was reared, yet it is difficult to keep them out as drones are common to all hives in an apiary. A Novice. — Bees in Roof of Hive. — Your hive must be in fault or the quilt not properly put on. It is impossible for the bees to get into the roof if all parts of the hive fit correctly, and the quilts are properly adjusted. These bees having got into the unoccupied portion of the hive have been unable to find their way back again ; .you did quite right in replacing them in the hive. The condition of your bees is not different to most bee-keepers this season. If we experience fine weather during August honey will be obtained sufficient for winter stores, if not they will have to be fed. Keep feeder full on swarm . J. T. D. —Bulging Comb.—l. Remove the offending por- tion of comb with a knife, it is only on the top of the comb. Do notou any account increase the space between ends or you will make matters worse. 2. Stock in Skep. —A swarm always works more vigorously than a stock. Wait until we have finer weather they will then work better. M. Lin Shenpield.— Bees short of Food.— They should now be fed with syrup. Have you tried the frame- feeders for syrup P They do not require the syrup to be boiled, and so save a lot of mess. S. L. Richardson.— See above. Give them about four is five pounds for the period named. M. Humphrey.— Excessive Swarming.— The exceptional weather has caused the bees to swarm unnaturally because alien the sun shines, the temperature rises so rapidly tha. they vacate in order to get cool. Various localities have different names for casts. We have heard of the naim 'smart' before. W. L. Bird.— T/iird-i\-,ss Certificate.— To obtain this it is requisite that you Fove to the judge that you have a practical knowledge of the management of bees. The examinations are generally arranged by the secretaries of county associatnns but "should there be any difficulty as to this, apply *0 Mr. Huckle Secretary of the B.B.K.A., Kings Langl«. Herts. Langstrotii Fund. — Received, with than-s iq^ from Mr. H. R. Roberts, Kimherley, South Africa SHOWS TO COME. August 6. — Berkshire Show at Clewer. September 5-7. — Lancashire and Cheshire Association at Lancaster. Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Lees McClure, The Lathoms, Prescot. Entries close August 1st. business ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bnos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublir. Afpleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stokes, G George Yard, Fenehurch St. Edet & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard , J. H., Holme , Peterborough. Hutchinqs, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M, Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neiohbour & Sons, 149 Kegent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfleld, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenehurch St. Edet & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. . FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton. Communication! to the Editor to be addressed ' Steanqkwats' Pbintinq Offioe, Tower Straet, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 320. Vol. XVI.] AUGUST 9, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (fctfxtaxwl, Sottas, #r. PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY. Nucleus Swarming. We have just been asked several questions by a correspondent respecting nucleus swarming;, with the wish expressed that we would go into the details of the process in the Journal. Our correspondent says he has carried out the practice as described in our Guide Book with the greatest success, and is surprised that from its simplicity it has not superseded all other ways of making artificial swarms. We quite agree with him, and think that for several reasons nucleus swarming is by far the best of any. The principal reason for our saying so is, that there are no queenless parts, for the stock from which we take our swarm and the swarm are each pro- vided with a laying queen. As the old stock does not have the queen removed from it, she goes on laying eager to replace the bees taken away, especially if the swarming has been done, as all artificial swarming should be done, if possible, only in fine weather. The reason for this is very clear. We want a large number of bees out on the wing, as these are to furnish the new population ; and if the weather be not fine and the sky is overcast, the bees will not be out in large numbers. When the stock hive is removed to a new stand, the flying bees will return to the old stand on which our hive which is to receive the swarm stands. If only a few of the bees able to fly return, there may not be enough to form the swarm, although for days after- wards if the weather continue cloudy, bees from the old hive will be joining it. As far as regards the old stock, this will make very little difference, because it will have been removed full of young bees and with combs full of hatching brood, which rapidly more than make up for the numbers of bees taken away. The swarm, however, suffers most because after it is established, any bees not belonging to it are looked upon and treated as strangers. If they carry in stores, all well and good, they are allowed to go in; but should they come without any- thing, as would most likely be the case in unfavour- able weather, they are looked upon and treated as enemies. Then, also, when we cage the queen in the new hive, we run a greater risk of losing her if stranger bees are coming in when she is released. We therefore, from past experience, do not advise making artificial swarms by any of the methods described except in fine weather. In showery weather, if a swarm has to be made, there is no better way than by the nucleus method. Of course, our experience has taught us to look upon this method as the best in any weather, and wo therefore practise it in preference to any other. In nucleus swarming the hive to contain the swarm has already a queen and young bees, who are there ready to protect her from the attacks of any strangers. We believe in young queens, and attribute our success to the fact that we never allowed an old queen in our apiary. Therefore, we always have a number of nuclei with young queens in them. If only young queens were used, bred from selected mothers, we should not hear of any doubts being ex- pressed about a queen keeping a hive of forty standard frames properly populated. These nuclei are always ready for any emergency, and I can supply a queen, either to replace one that has been lost by accident or other- wise, or to make swarms. In nucleus swarming the queen is matured and fertilised before the final swarming is performed, and there being no queenless parts, the labour of the hive is carried on with vigour and rapidity only seen in hives having young queens. To make a swarm we proceed in the following way: — Examine one of the nucleus hives iu which a queen has been reared and if she has commenced laying eggs it is in just the right condition for our purpose. We always cage our queen, not because we have always done so, but because we find it the only way to be certain of success. We then remove the division-boards and fill up the hive with frames of empty comb or comb foundation. Then remove a strong stock to the place occupied by the nucleus and put this on the stand where the stock stood. In this way the bees from the old stock, as they return to their former stand enter the nucleus, while the few bees from the nucleus, and the young bees remaining in the old stock, will take care of the brood until they are increased in number by the rapidly hatching bees. The nucleus already contains some young bees who will look after the queen. If the weather should become unfavourable, and there appears to be a deficiency in bees, we can easily strengthen our nucleus by inserting frames of capped brood taken out of the parent or any other hive. After thirty-six hours' caging the queen may be released, but if she is not caged we may run the risk of losing her, an experience which we have paid for. If the nights are cold the swarm should be allowed only as many frames as it can crowd, the space being contracted by the division-boards. It must be borne in mind that such a swarm has a mature queen, and with combs for her to lay in the swarm will soon become a stock. A fortnight, at least, is saved by giving a laying queen, and that is an advantage which no bee-keeper should overlook. The remarks of Mr. Quinby, with regard to this, will strengthen our position. He says : ' The introduction of a mature, fertile queen to a colony two weeks sooner than when they swarm naturally, is an advantage sufficient to pay for extra trouble. The time gained in breeding is equivalent to a swarm.' Therefore the prudent bee- keeper will try never to have a stock or a swarm with- out a laying queen. 376 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [August 9, 1888. BUNCEFIELD APIARY. For full two generations the house of G. Neighbour & Sons has been closely identified with the supply of whatever is most advanced and useful amongst appli- ances for bee-keepers, not allowing itself to be sur- passed in enterprise and good workmanship, combined with as much cheapness as can be got with efficiency. It was only to be expected, therefore, that their com- pleteness would be extended to their bee-farm ; and it was with considerable pleasure that we sought for, and obtained, an invitation to visit the apiary at Buncefield, near Hemel Hemsted. No worse time could well be selected for a visit to a bee-garden than during such a continuous daily down- pour of rain as we have had recently, and it was with some trepidation (and croaking) that we stepped into a conveyance at Boxmoor, after a twenty-mile ride from Euston to Hemel Hemsted, with prophets of evil weather on either hand. A steady rise of some 300 feet over about six miles, through the usual beautiful lanes of Hertfordshire, in which one might seek in vain for un- picturesque scenery, and we were at Buncefield. With what eager and almost envious eyes did we note divers ten-acre fields covered with white-clover bloom, asking, as plainly as plants can ask, for sunshine to bring the bees to visit them ! With what sullen discontent do we try to bring our minds into a fitting frame to ' bless whatever is ! ' Par parenthhe, one thing we must all learn this year is to ' extract ' comfort from comparative misfortune, and thank our stars, somewhat pharisaically, that we are not as other men, whose all lay in the fields perishing for want of warm weather. To anyone who desires to see a perfectly planned apiary, managed by a past-master in the craft, I com- mend Buncefield. Three acres (four goats in place of la vache) are divided into orchard and bee-garden, the latter again subdivided by pathways of closely cut velvety- green turf into sixteen squares, ten to twelve yards in extent on each side. Each of these squares, on the north side, is occupied by a fine of hives, fronted by a cindered alighting-ground; each square is fitted with a distinct thick mass of bee plants : — Arabis, Borage, Crocus, Lim- nanthes, Echinops, Nepeta, and so on. These in turn are fringed with raspberry-canes, beyond which is a con- tinuous line (all round the square) of the brilliant blue spikes of Veronica rupestris, evidently much loved by bees. The great novelty, however, was the pleasure af- forded by noiselessly moving about on the smooth grass walks. Upwards of seventy hives are kept in this garden, perhaps as interesting and heterogeneous a collection as can be found in the kingdom. Mr. Neighbour may some day arrange them in some sort of chronological order, so that they may give us an al-fresco history of apiculture; in fact an illustration of the evolution of the hive from the embryonic skep, through the supered skep, up to the bar-frame hive of to-day ; and from the "natural honey- comb to some fanciful future Koerbs' comb, drawn out into abnormally long and narrow cells, whose bases shall be sliced off, instead of the caps, and in which the bee of the future shall continue to store honey, wondering where it all runs to as it extracts itself into the honey vat, down cells only wide enough to admit the bee's head. At one corner is the greatest treasure we have yet seen amongst hives — an original Langstroth, presented to Mr. Neighbour by the venerable father himself two- and-twenty years ago. Then, dotted about with as much regularity as possible, are various ' friend ' Root's chaff-hives ; and in all good part we may say that had he been with us ho would have been considerably chaffed about these as seen in comparison with the appearance of the modern hive. Even this we seek to-day to make as unlike a dog-kennel as possible, a vain effort. Ponderous structures these chaff-hives are, evidently built where wood is cheap, and built with the intention that the hive ' conies to stay.' We were shown some twin hives (used as one) con- taining twenty-two frames, with a view to extracting. These gave one an idea of ' ice-safes,' but are most useful bee-houses, economising heat when used as twins, and allowing easy uniting when run for extracted honey, or offering facilities for artificial swarming by lifting back the frame containing the queen, and turning the hive round; the roof is hinged on like the lid of a corn-bin, and can be similarly propped up to facilitate manipula- tion. We next come to several immense straw hives, of the pattern advocated by the celebrated Gravenhorst ; these are called ' Bogenstulpers,' and are the best made hives of straw yet seen. They look likely to last a life- time, and are about three feet long, two feet high, and a foot broad. Strange as it may seem, the top bar of A Bogenstulper. the frames is the bottom bar ; that is, when the hive is inverted for manipulation we see a row of wooden bars fastened to the straw sides by a stout wire pin or peg ; to this bar is fixed a piece of wood bent to form a frame, fitting only close enough to the inside of the hive to allow a free passage-way round it. The foundation is fixed in a slit at the top, or bent portion of the frame, and is worked out and added to by the bees in the usual way. When manipulated a little smoke is blown under the back, the hive being tilted up for the purpose, the bees rush up to gorge, the hive is quietly rolled over, backward way, into a sort of cradle-like wooden stand, pegs are removed, a frame withdrawn, bees brushed off, and extracting proceeded with. The entrances are three in number in the front side of the hive, not on the floor-board. After a visit to the adjoining orchard, we were next invited to inspect the manufacture of comb-foundation ; this was deftly done by a man and boy at a rapid rate, the quality of the wax being specially noteworthy ; it was almost tasteless, and was only slightly charged with the inevitable pollen-grains. Mr. Neighbour is fortunate in having a manager at Buncefield whose heart is so thoroughly in his work. Mr. W. Marshall is exceedingly enthusiastic; he introduced us to a most ingenious and rapid method of fixing foundation in supers. We don't wish to tell secrets or would explain it ; he may do so perhaps. Then comes the parting, the ride homewards, this time behind a steed from the Steppes of Tartary. Whether bee-men prefer foreign blood in their hives is a moot point, but this we know, they like it in their shafts (' A. E.' to wit). This reminds us we were to have the pleasure of 'Amateur Expert's' society on this occasion, but he was judging somewhere. We did see one sight calculated to rouse all the covetousness in our nature. This was an immense field of white clover in which were dotted about some scores of pheasant coops, the August 9, 1888.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. 377 clover (here's the rub) being left in bloom for the sake of the young birds. A few days after this visit we called to see a three-frame observatory hive of Carniolans at work at Mr. Neigh- bour's shop in Regent Street. There they were, pro- verbially busy, during very indifferent weather, hauling in loads of pollen and honey from goodness knows where — pollen red, orange, yellow, green, and grey. Regent's Park and the Green Park were the nearest feeding grounds. The hive was on the first storey, therefore the bees incommoded no one, nor were they incommoded, for to judge from their movements they were far busier, and more intent on their work, than the human bees in the street below, — any way more than — X-Tractor. HUSH EXHIBITION. In visiting recently the Irish Exhibition at the Olvmpia, Addison Road, we were pleased to find that the Irish Bee-keepers' Association had had the enter- prise to present to the public so large and varied an assortment of the appliances required by bee-keepers in the present day, together with divers bottles and sections of pure Irish honey. The collection of appliances was chiefly from the Irish branch of Abbott Bros., of Merchants Quay, Dublin. Amongst the hives were to be seen the Economic, the Jubilee, the Irish Combination, the Universal Doubling, the Irish Association, and sundry othors, with all kinds of supers and sections, extractors and crates, comb foundation for stock hives and supers, honey bottles, &c. In fact the collection was remarkably complete and well selected. At no great distance from the exhibit of the Irish I3.lv .A. was to be seen a case exhibited by the Honey and Wax Company, Columbia Market, containing sam- ples of the honey products, edibles, and beverages, tablets and honey drops, &c, generally associated with the name of Mr. Moyle. Looking more closely we discovered medals which had from time to time been awarded to Mr. Moyle from various bee-keepers' associations. We pre- sume, therefore, that there must exist some connexion between the new Honey and Wax Company and Mr. Moyle — a conjunction which we confess we were un- prepared to see. From the presence of the case in the Irish Exhibition we consider that we may deduce that the new Company are desirous of largely using in the future the products of Irish bee-keepers. LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE ASSOCIATION. We beg to call attention to the date of closing of entries (15th inst.) for the exhibition to be held at Lancaster. The amount offered in prizes is calculated to secure exhibitors a good return for their entries. NATIONAL CO-OPERATIVE EXHIBITION AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE. ' Exhibitors are reminded that entries for this ex- hibition close on the 11th inst., Saturday nest. The prizes offered for honey are on a liberal scale. Secretary, Mr. Wm. Broomhall, i Norfolk Street, Strand. SHROPSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. We desire to direct the attention of bee-keepers to the annual exhibition of the above Association which will be held in conjunction with the Floral Fete of the Horti- cultural Society at Shrewsbury on the 22nd and 23rd of August. The prizes will be on a most liberal scale ; and free instruction and lectures in bee-keeping will be given on the occasion. We trust that the exhibition will prove a great success. THE WEATHER. While we have been experiencing such cold and un- genial summer weather, the heat in Norway this summer has been intense, the temperature exceeding anything registered during this century. At Christiania the thermometer has several times registered 86° to 89^° Fahrenheit in the shade. At Nyborg in the Varanger Fjord it has been up to 95°. GLEANINGS. The following query is taken from the Bee-keeper's Ouide and will show the opinions of some of the leading American bee-keepers respecting the suppression of brood-rearing. — Ed. B.B.J. Suppressing Brood Rearing. — Is it practicable and profitable to suppress brood-rearing to avoid ' useless con- turners' between the early and fall honey harvest? No. Encourage it, if anything. ' Keep your stocks strong.' — W. M. Barnum. It is practicable by removing empty combs and putting in tbeir places combs full of honey, or dummies, but it is not profitable. — M. Mahin. I do not think it is. Nature works in harmony with itself. If the honey crop was all we had to consider, there would be no trouble, but we have several other factors in the problem. We must have bees as well as honey in order to winter safely. I am an advocate of strong colonies at all times, and any suppression of brood- rearing unless in the hands of a practical expert will surely work great harm. — J. E. Pond. No ; for the time between the two crops is not long usually to make this advisable. — Dadant & Son. If practicable, hardly profitable. — G. W. Neihardt. My experiments in this direction have not been satis- factory. It looks very feasible that some plan that will preveut excessive increase after it is too late for the increase to aid in gathering the early harvest might be resorted to with sure profit. How often we have been told that all such increase became ' useless consumers,' &c. The theory is very inviting to any one to try the experi- ment, but when a practical test is made of the theory it don't ' pan out.' My best colonies are always those that have not been tinkered with. My colonies whioh have plenty of stores to winter on, and come out strong in the spring and work with a vim and courage that bring success, are the colonies that have been allowed full 6wing at breeding. — G. W. Demarkb. I have never given much thought to the ' practical ' part of this subject, but I have had queens that kept on laying after the early harvest, and the late harvest failing, until they had consumed what they should have saved for their winter stores. I believe it would be profitable to have less brood-rearing during certain parts of the season. — H. D. Stewart. In some localities it might be so and in some it might not. I find that the bees attend to that matter them- selves in this country. — J. S. Harry. I have never seen the time when I wanted to prevent brood-rearing ; on the contrary, it has been my aim to keep up the strength of stocks so as to have bees to get honey when it does come. It is practicable, but not profitable. The queen can be caged, the heads of capped brood shaved off as we do drone brood, but none of this for me if you please. I would rather feed a little and keep the queens at work.— W. M. Kellogg. J. S. Cumming says in Gleanings with respect to foul brood that he is sure that the germs are contained in the 378 THE BRITISH BEE JOUENAL. [August 9, 1888. honey, and he bases his assertion on the following : — He had some colonies infected with foul brood and deter- mined to experiment. He collected about two grains of the droppings of some of the bees from the diseased hives, put them in syrup, and fed it to a healthy colony that he had purchased, and left ten miles from his own bees. The bees from the colony so fed were not allowed to fly, except under cover when there was no means for them to escape. In just thirteen days the brood began to show unmistakable signs of foul brood, and in four weeks the colony was in a very bad condition of foul brood. They were only fed about half pint of infected syrup. The Canadian Bee Journal says: — From all experi- ments that W9 have tried, and we have used foundation that has been one, aud in some cases two years old, by putting it in a dry, airy place and keeping it as little as exposed to the air as possible it will answer the purpose just as well as new foundation. Of course before being given to the bees it requires to be warmed up slightly ; they will then work it out with more satisfaction than if given to them cold and brittle. It can be warmed very easily by putting it in fairly warm water for a few minutes. The water should not be over 95 to 100 degrees. The Canadian Honey Producer says : — Bee-keeping at the present day requires to be conducted with care and economy, the margin of profit one year with another is not so great that we can dispense with the qualities which are necessary to succeed in any other business. The American Bee Journal says : — There are many who should never attempt to keep bees — the shiftless, the lazy, those who will not read and study the ne- cessities of the business, those who are afraid of stings, those who are nervous and irritable, and those who have no time to attend to the care of the. be»s. All such should never attempt to keep bees. Failures come in every avocation. Of no occupation can it be said that it never fails. 13oe-keeping is no exception to the general rule — but it is not more liable to failure than others. The manufacturer, the banker, and the mer- chant, often have to grapple with financial distress and commercial panics — but, do they forsake the counter, the desk, and the factory, and look for some other business wherein loss and trouble never come ? No ! indeed, such reverses but stimulate progressive men to further diligence and more dauntless courage ! When the bankers, merchants, and farmers set the example, it will be time enough for apiarists to become discouraged and give up the business — but not till thenl AVhen there is nothing to protect the hives from the heat of the sun, the Bee-keeper 's Guide recommends shado boards two and a half feet square, and made out of f-inch stuff. The boards are nailed to two upright pieces two inches by one, and project below, so as to form feet for the board to rest on when it is leaning up against the hive on the sunny side. This has been found by Mr. Hill a satisfactory way to induce bees to work in their boxes in the dusk of the day, and it also prevents sagging and falling of comb foundation. The facility with which foul brood may be spread will be understood when we point out to our readers that the Revue International mentions an instance of a dealer in Carniolan bees sending to a subscriber one dozen colonies, nearly half of which had foul brood. In the Bienenzeitung (Nbrdlingen) Karl Schroter describes his experiments with foul brood, and his discovering that a mixture of carbolic acid and wood tar was the quickest, simplest, and best remedy. It is hot given in the food, but is applied in such a way that there is a constant evaporation of the mixture, and an effusion of the vapour in the hive. In order to facilitate the process the worst of the foul-broody combs were removed, although this is not absolutely necessary. The vapour of carbolic acid, like that of salicylic acid, kills the spores and dries up the rotten and diseased contents of the cells. Care must be taken that the bees do not touch the acid or the tar. He, therefore, prepares two pieces of thin board about four inches square, perforated, with a few holes. Strips placed round the lower one, will form it into a shallow box which can receive pieces of felt to fill it. Equal quantities of carbolic acid and wood tar are mixed and the felt saturated in the mixture, placed in the box, the lid put on aud the whole then placed in the hive Cigar-boxes are just right for making the cases for the felt. All the work is now ended, as the dose will generally be sufficient for the whole summer, although it is better to repeat the dose every three months. Should foul brood reappear in some of the cells the second season, commence the treatment and continue until cured. The bees do not object to the treatment and continue their work as usual. Sdrrtctr .] August 16, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL 395 HELP IN THE APIARY. [17o2.] In answer to your request to bee-keepers, as per Gleanings for June 1st, page 426, I will say that a man endowed with common energy, and -working' less than loO days in the year, manages for us six apiaries, numbering about 400 colonies; that he finds time also to ■work at two other apiaries, one for himself and one for another party, and that he has some time to spare, although some of these apiaries are ten to twelve miles from ours, which is in about a central position. Of course, we give help to our apiarist at the time of extracting, for we raise, more especially, extracted honey. As we extract, on an average, 1250 lbs. per day, our crop, when amounting to above 20,000 lbs., requires sixteen da}'s' work for two men and a boy , so the average number of days' work amounts to about 200 per year. Good results with so little work cannot be attained unless the apiaries are organized for the purpose. You know, probably, that we use very capacious hives, having adopted, after several years of careful compari- son, the Quinby suspended-frame hives, enlarged to ten frames, and a partition board. As we enlarge the space just as soon as the crop begins, the number of our natural swarms does not exceed two or three per cent, our bees swarming only when they raise queens in the height of the honey season. To enlarge the room we add supers filled with half-frames, provided with combs. Before the invention of comb-foundation, we used to adjust in these half-frames all the drone-combs removed from the brood-chamber. We have some of these which are twenty years old, and which have been emptied nearly every year since. Having from 1200 to loOO of these combs in each of our six apiaries, we place successively on each hive as many supers as necessary ; our rule being never to ex- tract, if possible, till the crop is at an end. In this way we often have three of these supers, weighing about fifty lbs. each, on some hives ; yet our spring crop is short, coming to an end with the clover blossoms, for there are very few linden-trees in this part of Illinois. When we extract, our man takes out the surplus combs and brushes the bees ; another brings them to the extracting- room ; another uncaps; a boy turns the machine, and places the empty combs back in the supers. After sundown they are replaced on the hives, to be dried by the bees. As we do not extract from the brood-chamber, nine years out of ten our bees have a large quantity of good honey for winter, and are generally strong in the spring. We are convinced that, but for the capacity of our hives and the strength of our colonies after winter, our surplus crop would be light, since it ceases just when the linden blooms, and yields a crop for apiaries better situated. Our surplus-boxes are left on the hives for the fall crop, emptied again if necessary, then given back again, to be removed late in the season ; then they are housed securely away from mice, in cold rooms, where the frost kills tho bee-moths if any are in the combs. The floor of the room in which the extracting is done is covered with painted cloth. The piles of surplus- boxes, in which the emptied combs are put back, are placed in tin pans made on purpose, and the men, while waiting for the sun to set, clean the room. By these means the work is far from being as dirty as you seem to suppose. Like our good friend Grimm, we do not manage our bees intensively, convinced, as we are, that our course pays better than the intensive method adopted by most of our best bee-keepers. — Chas. Dadant. Hamilton, 111. dragon-fly in pursuit of a bee, which it caught in mid- air, and carried off to a neighbouring hedge to devour, llunning to the spot where the fly had settled, I found it holding the bee with its fore-legs, and suckiug its head ; and so intent was it, that I caught it and carried it to my carriage, before it relinquished its hold of its prey. The poor bee was quite dead, and its head reduced to a pulp. Next day a man told me that he had lost bis only stock of bees last year through the murderous attacks of these flies. He had seen a dragon-fly come out of bis skep- frequently, and his bees gradually dwindled away in a most mysterious fashion, though it was in the height of the honey-flow. At last he raised the skep one day, and found upon the floor-board a huge mass of headless bees. His suspicions that the dragon-fly was the cause of his loss were confirmed when I told him what I had seen the previous day, and great was his regret that he had not saved his pets by destroying their enemies in time. In future 1 shall kill every dragon-fly I can catch, and recommend your readers to do like- wise.— .1 e x kin I >A VIES. THE DRAGON-FLY AS AN ENEMY TO BEES. [1753.] From what I saw a few days ago, I find that bees have much to fear from the ' dragon-fly.' Whilst driving along a country lane the other day, I observed a A CHAT ON CURRENT TOPICS. Preparation for Winter. [17o4.] I am glad there is one bee-keeper besides my- S If that had a good-enough opinion of a bee-space over the brood-chamber in winter as to openly recommend it in the B. B. Journal. Such a thing has not been tried by the majority of bee-keepers on account of the draught that it is said to cause round the bees, and which said draught is also said to cause dysentery, &c. I think other- wise, and fully agree with J. E. Pond on this subject, viz., that a Hill's device — or a something that allows free access from frame to frame without causing the bees to go out of the heat of the cluster to reach their stores — is equal to, if it does not surpass, the much-talked-about and strongly -recommended winter passages. I have tested the matter quite enough to satisfy myself that my bees always turn out, or open, in the spring with a Hill's device, or something that answers for the same, better that way than any other; and that for the following reasons : — 1. That there is fresh air round about the bees; nearly everybody acknowledges that this is good, by leaving entrances at full width, but there is no draught if proper quilts and chaff — wheat preferred, either put loosely in an empty crate or in cushions — is used. 2. Winter passages are said to be quickly cut through a number of frames, in next to no time to those that have more time on their hands than most poor cottagers have. Perhaps they can, but not so quickly as placing a Hill's device on the top of frames ; to say nothing of pulling the brood-chamber to pieces after it has been put square for the winter, and to say nothing of the stings — we must not forget them — for that means a good deal to some, no doubt. I should like to see a novice cutting winter passages through the combs of a strong stock of hybrids I came across the other day, it was not safe to be withiu half a mile of them. 8. In many cases the winter passages are never built up again, thus causing the queen that much less space to deposit her eggs in. 4. Most bee-keepers agree that after a queen has bt en removed from a stock, the cutting of the combs like unto the cutting of winter passages has the effect of greatly inducing the bees to build queen-cells, though they will find a place to put them without that. Now I fancy I have noticed that these holes that have been cut for winter passages, and not built up the following spring, are a great — well, a temptation, when swarming time comes round to them, for the bees to put queen-cells in when queen-cells are not wanted by the bee-keeper, but a hive full of bees, plenty of white clover, and tine weather for them to visit it. — J. W. Blankley, Grantham, Lincolnshire. 396 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [August 16, 1888. PAPER QUILTS. [1755.] la reply to your correspondent who invites reports, p. 345, upon paper quilts, I may say that I have used the next thing' to them, namely, a cushion six inches thick, stuffed with paper of all sorts torn into small pieces. This cushion completely fills the entire space inside the super case over the calico quilt, and keeps the stock very snug and warm during the winter. But what I have used for many years, and much prefer to anything else, is a similar cushion filled with dry beech or other forest leaves. This keeps the bees all right, is always sweet, clean, and dry, does not harbour insects, and is remarkably light and handy to put on or off, which my paper cushion is not. However, if I could not obtain leaves or moss 1 should use nothing 'but paper stuffing for my winter packing. — II. W. Lett, M.A. A TWIN-HIVE. [1756.] I herewith send you sketch and description of my twin-hive. The dimensions are as follows : — Out- side measurement — length 40 inches, width 24 inches, depth from floor-board to eaves 24 inches. It has a span roof, i inch, boards covered with four full-sized sheets of tin, and is thoroughly waterproof. It stands on four strong legs. 2 x 2 A inches, and is twenty-four inches from the ground to floor-board, and contains a drawer which holds twenty section crates. The roof, which is hinged, falls back, and is held in its place by two pieces of gird-iron, with a joint in each. The back part folds down and gives great freedom for manipulation. The inside contains three compartments, two of which hold sixteen frames each, placed across the entrance. The middle compartment holds three frames, and is placed end-on to the entrance. All the frames have 15j-ineh top bars ; the middle part can be used as a nucleus for breeding queens or holding an after-swarm. Three squares of glass set in a wood frame cover the tops of the frames, with two handles to each so as to lift then like a tray. 15ee-space being left, the bees have freedom to pass between the glass and tops of the frames. At the rear of middle compartment is a space which holds about lOlbs. of sugar ; the three divisions have perforated tin on the side next this space, or hopper, and the bees take the sugar through the holes. The alighting board, perches, and sliding shutters are detachable, and are all on the south side. In the centre, communicating with nucleus, is a portico supported on two turned pillars. It has a mahogany panelled front door, with brass knob. I was going to add a brass rapper, a scraper, and a mat to wipe their feet on, but have not done it }7et. It has II windows in it, with the blinds half drawn; it is spouted all round, and a conductor goes down into a drinking fountain, where the bees take the water. It is fancy painted ; as it stands in the garden from the ground to the top of the chimneys it is 5 feet in height ; it would look well on a grass lawn in front of a gentleman's house. I have a double swarm in one of the ends, and I am going to put a foreign variety into the other to see which does best, but I have not got them sent to me yet. — J. Smith, Loioick, Northumberland. P.S. — I add there are two glass dummies set in a frame which close the bees in at the back, and a ther- mometer which gives the temperature. [With this description we received two sketches: the hives would be very ornamental on a garden lawn. — Ed.] LINCOLNSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS. [1757.] A few weeks ago I received a letter from a leading bee-keeper in Lincolnshire asking if I could make arrangements for a new Association for the county,at the same time offered 5/. towards the expenses in aid of that object if I or any one in our neighbourhood would under- take the work of organization, I am pleased to say a gentleman of undoubted integrity has intimated that he will accept the post of Hon. Sec. pro tern., and try to re- organize the Lincolnshire Bee-keepers' Association. I should be glad if former local secretaries would com- municate with me, and any others, as to their willing- ness to assist in the undertaking. A meeting will be called shortly for the purpose of forming the Association. I shall hope to receive some suggestions from old friends with respect to the rules, See. — H. 0. Smith, Eastgate, Louth. MISMANAGEMENT, &e. (1718.) [1758.] 'Welsh Novice' is much mistaken in my disposition if he thinks I have any capacity for 'chuckle,' sardonic or otherwise, because of ' this detestable weather.' It is no satisfaction to me to know that others are equally witli myself disappointed in the hundred- weight returns per hive. He lumps my losses, See., in the one word — mismanagement. Perhaps if I tell him how I managed last winter, he will be kind enough to tell me wherein or what constituted my mismanagement. Eorty-two hives of bees went into winter quarters with at least 25 lbs. or 30 lbs. of honey (not a drop of syrup). They were dry and well packed with quilts, horse-hair, chair-seating, thread and wool quilts, some two or more thicknesses of brown paper over that, and a chaff-frame over all. They so remained until Easter Monday. Being a ver}' fine summer day, I overhauled the whole of my stocks, when I found some of them queenless, which I united to their next-door neighbour, some two or three all dead, with abundanca of stores in all the frames, Two had died from dysentery. All .young or second-year queens : I found but a very little brood in any of the hives. Seeing the frost and snow had cleared away, I began to stimulate with syrup, and some of the hives I took out the back frames, and with a flour-dredge well rilled the cells with pea- flour. None died after this ; but with all this some of the young queens are the weakest of my present number. Now, Mr. ' W. N.,' tell me where I mismanaged in any particular. The ' detestable weather ' was not of my ordering. Surely ' W. N.' would not recommend me to have overhauled my stocks any time during that long winter of severe frost and snow. ' Amateur Expert' in his 'Jottings,' page 367, thinks I have overlooked in my calculations the question of temperature. If ' A. E.' will kindly refer to my article again he well find that my calculations are based on the higher temperature as per answers to inquirers, page 327. If I had taken the lower temperature it would have further taxed the laying power of the queen to one-third more, i.e., from 1200 to 1800 per day, from April to June, without intermission, and then I have not allowed for any loss of life during that time, which would in the nature of things be very great. In this week's issue of the Journal the writer in the first page evidently has me in his mind when he says, ' If only young queens were used, bred from selected mothers, we should not hear of any doubts being ex- pressed about a queen keeping a hive of forty standard frames properly populated.' I have done this very thing, but still my queens have failed most lamentably, none of them have exceeded thirteen standard frames. Mine are all English bees; I have tried Ligurian swarms, but would not have another as a gift. I found them exceed- ingly prolific, perhaps they would cover forty frames, but after swarming twice (I had them June 8th or 10th), they even swarmed on the 8th of August, and at August 20th had not a single cell of honey sealed over, while the English bees had enough storos and to spare. Perhaps our English bees are like horses, of very diverse breeds, some ' thoroughbred ' and some only New Forest breed. Now, Mr. Editor, I would like to try some of those thoroughbreds if you, or some other good- natured gentleman, will send me a swarm to try. — Sueubohne, August \3th. August 16, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. S&7 A CORRECTION. [1759.] ' Sherborne,' poor man, has enough to suffer without being held responsible for another's short- comings. Mr. Blankley (1744) believed it was he (' Sherborne ') who had desired the suppression of state- ments respecting large takes of honey. Someone else, in an earlier number, has spoken in deprecatory terms of the proposal. Sir, allow me to confess that this proposal came from me, and was intended to be humorous. In future, perhaps it would be advisable, when I venture into a little facetiousness, to acquaint t lie reader with the fact, and label it, ' This is a joke.' What say you, Mr. Blankley? — East Glamorgan. FEEDING BACK EXTRACTED HONEY— CARBOLISED CLOTHS. [1700.] For the last three or four years I have tried in a small way the system of completing unfinished sections by feeding back extracted honey, 1 hough not on such scientific lines as described in ( 1735). But I have found two great drawbacks. First, the waste alluded to by Mr. Hutchinson, which in my experience has been quite four or five pounds of extracted honey to one pound in the sections. But the second drawback has been greater, and I should like to know if others have found the same, and if there is any remedy, supposing the system really worth adopting. In almost every case the sections have been beautifully tilled and sealed, though usually there is a perceptible difference in the sealing from that of first-hand tilling. But after a short time the fed-back extracted honey has set quite hard, which the first-hand honey has kept liquid, so that the value of the section for use (and, I suppose, for sale, though I have never sold such sections), lias been quite spoilt. As we usually keep the newly finished sections for home use, and comb-honey is much preferred to ex- tracted, it has seemed a pity not to get the sections quite full; yet the result has been that I think we have spoilt our comb-honey, so that I decided to give up the system altogether. With regard to carbolised cloths, to which 'Three sceptics' were converted as sung by 'Neophyte' (p. 835), I have myself used them exclusively for some time, but 1 have given up the recipe given in ' Useful Hints ' (p. 283) for what I find a simpler, quicker, and more effectual plan. I daresay others u,-<> it, and perhaps it lias been mentioned already in the B. B. /., but in case not I will de- scribe it. This spring, being very busy and having none of the carbolic solution recommended in the B. B. J. by me, I wetted a bit of sponge with two or three drops of the agent sold by Mr. Webster for use in his fumigator, and smeared it over a piece of calico. I now use nothing else. I think it lias several advantages over the solution. One smearing lasts for weeks, so there is no constant wetting and wringing out the cloth ; being dry it does not leave a taint behind, which I have known the solution do if the cloth was not enough wrung out, and I find it more effectual with the bees. I have used the original piece of calico for over five months, sometimes day after day and from one hive to another, yet have only refreshed it twice, and once was a matter of extra pre- caution when I had thoroughly to ransack a very savage lot who usually care little for carbolised cloths. They were as quiet as lambs this time. I have now three such pieces of calico which I carry in my ' bee-basket ' folded up in a cardboard box with the bit of sponge, so they are at hand at a minute's notice. The other day 1 was asked by a neighbour to drive a sleep notorious for the savageness of its inmates which had quite beaten off another driver. While getting ready I put the bit of sponge into the doorway, and when I turned up the skep they were quite peaceable. The odd thing is that the queen does not seem to mind the smell, though the other bees bury their heads. When searching for her I keep one cloth over the unsearched combs and another over those that have been examined, and have several times found the queen walking quietly about laying eggs close up to the cloth. Carbolised cloths I find specially use- ful for uniting by alternating the frames. A cloth spread over each hive for a minute or two, makes the bees cling to the comb and bury their heads so that they can be put very quietly among the other bees ; and when all are in, if the cloth is left on for another minute or two and then very quietly replaced by the quilt. I have known two very savage lots of hybrids united without loss of a bee, and apparently without either lot being conscious of the operation. — C. W., Aug, 4. NOTES ON BEE-HIVES.— BEES, 16;35 A.D. 1 761.] The following quaint extract is taken out of a book entitled, Speculum Mundi : or. A Glasse representing the Dice of the World, written by John Swan, M.A., 1635. ' Bees. — These be those winged workmen, which whether their profit or admiration be greater, 1 am scarce able to say. For they do not onely busily be- stirre themselves to gather bony, which is very usefull n the life of man: but they do work it up in most strange manner, and keep it in their waxen cells so rarely built that all the men which the world affords are not able to do the like. Neither is this all : for they live so, as they may be true patterns of needful govern- ment, keeping themselves under the subjection of a king, and order of laws. They may well be likewise said to have the sovereignty and pre-eminence above all others of this kinde, because the rest come farre short of their perfections. ' It is a creature having foure wings, and bloudlesse, the onely crafts-master of honey. Their eyes are some- what of a horny substance, hid deep in their bodies, as is also their stings : which when they lose they die : Vitam in vuluere pronunt : because their sting and entrails come away together. They want neither tongue nor teeth, and out of their short feet or stumps, there grew forth as it were two fingers, wherein they carry a little stone, for the poysing their bodies in stormy, windie, tempestuous weather; it being a great means to keep them from blowing away and losing their homes. ' Neither can it be denied but that by nature they are much different : for some (saith* one) are more do- mestical! and tame, and others again are altogether wilde, uplaudish, and agrestiall. Those former are much delighted with the familiar friendship, cu3tome, and company of men ; but the other can in no wise brook or endure them, and therefore they keep their trade of honey-making in old trees, caves, and such like other holes. 'As for their breathing, I do not believe it; howbeit they may pant, move, or stirre (as the heart or brain doth") and by transpiration be comforted and made lively : for the}' be much refreshed by the aire which passeth through their divided places, insomuch that theyalwayes use great diligence and care to preserve them from being stopped : for as soon as they be stopped in those passages, they die ; as we see if at any time they chance to fall into oyl, or the like liquour, which may stop their pores. ' Some make three kings amongst them, differing in colour, as black, red, and divers coloured ; but perhaps there is rather one king in a companie, the other like kings may be esteemed as viceroyes. In their breeding they actually couple together, after which they lay egs, sitting upon them for the space of five and fourtie dayes ; then do they hatch their young ones, which at the first come forth much like to white worms, except the king, who only is said to be hatched with wings. And some- times there is a kinde of bee bred out of putrefaction, * Topsel in his History of Serpent'. 398 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [August 16, 1888. as authors write. A rotten horse breedeth wasps; a dead calf bees, if the west winde blow ; from an asse proceed humble bees; of a mule, hornets, &c. And whether the bees in Sampson's dead lion were bred any- where else, no man knoweth. ' They have a commonwealth, and are governed by a king, as before was mentioned ; and him they reverence and honour, being alwayes readie to do according to his pleasure. He is of bodie farre bigger than the honey bee, hath shorter wings, but a brighter and more goodly head than they. There is always excellent discipline, and very good government among them : for at the mouths of the hives there be some which stand like wardens placed at the gates of a castle, to see who goes in and out. And having rested quietly all night, there is one which with a humming noise doth call them up, whereupon they prepare to fly abroad about their busi- n-sse : but if they make no haste to look out, or go not farre from home, it is a certain signe of no good weather. ' When they be busie at their work, the bees which go abroad return home with laden thighs, full of the sub- stance of the flowers : and this especially is said to be an office of the younger bees ; for some of the others do onely carrie water: and the elder ones remaining at home, do busilie lay up, carefully dispose, and curiously dresse what the others bring in. Such as be sluggish among them, are diligently observed, and bitterly punished ; and as for the drones, they are supposed by some to be the female bees, which they drive out of then- hives when breeding time is past ; and therefore they do ill who use to kill the drones before. Others again think that the female bee is no drone, but rather bred among the bees, and being idle, and unapt for work, is driven away either in the busiest time, or time of dearth. And yet perhaps it may be the female, which having done as much as can be naturally required from her, must not think much to be driven away, but leave her room to a succeeding generation. ' I said before that in the morning there is one among them which calls them up, and so in like manner at night they leave their buzzing by degrees, at last hearing as it were a proclamation through their hive to go to rest: and as the watch being appointed, and all things set in order, they all make themselves readie to go to bed. So long as the king liveth, so long the whole swarm enjoyeth the benefit of peace ; but he being dead, there is great disorder. The king keepeth his court by himself, in the highest room and largest part of the whole' palace, his lodging being very curiously made. And if at any time any of them chance to die, they be carried out of the hive, as it were upon the shoulders of the other bees, who will suffer nothing in their houses which may pollute them: but if they be onely sick then have they a medicinall aliment of honey drawn from annise, saffron, and hyacinths by which they are cured. — Topsell, ' And when they be readie to swarm, they dare not take their flight untill their king leade the way : unto whose side they strive to flie, as neare as they can. Some say, if the king be such as tenders the good of the other bees, he goes but seldom abroad : and stragling often from home, they will rid themselves of him. But when he dies through age, they carrie him forth in solemn manner and behave themselves as at some sad funerall. Neither is he so tied to his home but that he may sometimes go abroad to refresh his aged bodie, whom they accompanie in a sweet obediential! manner ; and if it chance that he grow wearie and faint by the way, they bear him back again upon their wings, and with great commiseration pitie his decayed estate. Moreover they will not suffer a dead bee to lie in their hives, but carrie him forth as to his buriall, lest he should corrupt their pure and cleanly decked dwellings.' —Extracted by T. Bonner Chambers, F.L.S., Tref Eylioys, Caerstw, Montgomeryshire. HONEY OF THE EUCALYPTUS. [1"62.] Only recently the valuable properties of a honey, received from Australia, have been determined. We have a specimen of it iu its ' run ' form, not unlike our own honey after being kept a year or two. It is not so dark as heather honey, but slightly darker than the flower honey. The taste, however, is very distinctly marked. Mixed with three parts of water, in which it is easily soluble, it has a peculiar resinous flavour ; it is agreeable to the palate, the taste reminding one of the aroma iu the air when passing in the spring-time i he firs laden with their young cones. It will not do, however, for 'Athol Brose,' as we cannot get it to dissolve in alcohol. Some of our readers may not be aware that a very good cure for a cold, when taken in time, is this Scotch recipe, viz., equal quantities of honey and whisky stirred up together till the honey dissolves. It was four years ago when the distinguished French naturalist, M. Guilmoth, was travelling in Australia that he made the discovery of the honey. He observed near the top of one of the eucalyptus trees a strange excrescence ; on examining this with his field-glass, lie noticed a vast army of small insects flying about, entering and leaving an opening in the tree. Struck with the unusual appearance, he got his men to cut down the tree. Ituring this operation the insects came in deputations to see what the strange workmen were doing. M. Guilmeth was then convinced that the insects were small black bees. The workmen got their faces protected from the attacks of the bees, and the tree fell ; the shock made the queen leave the hive inside the tree, accompanied by her faithful subjects. The hive was examined, and the honey, in considerable quantity, was found to be of such a peculiar flavour and sweetness, that M. Guilmeth sent home specimens of the honey and the bees to his friend. Dr. Garaman, at Forges, in Normandy, for analysis and examination. Dr. Caraman submitted a report on the eucalyptus honey to the Academy of Medicine, Paris. The black bees were of a peculiar kind, unknown to any of the entomologists. The honey was found to contain 62 per cent of sugar; the active principles, i.e., eucalyptol, eucalyptene, terpene, cymol, colouring, resinous and aromatic principles, 18 per cent. This large proportion of sugar and medicinal elements drew the attention of the medical savants to the importance of the honey in therapeutics. The oil of eucalyptus has been used for some time aa a better anti-septic than carbolic acid, leaving no bad effects. The honey contains all the property of the oil ; besides, on account of its sweetness and nutrient qualities, it has been recommended as an ex- cellent substitute for cod-liver oil in wasting diseases. M. Ilerrison, director of the Chevrier Laboratory in Paris, tried to manufacture the honey by mixing with common honey the essential properties of the eu- calyptus. In this, however, he sigually failed; the stirring could not control the separation and gradual volatilising of the essential ingredients. Accordingly, it is concluded that the resinous substance on the gum- tree, as this particular eucalyptus is familiarly called in Australia, requires to be digested by the bee before being fixed in the honey. We have studied the reports of the French medical press on the subject, and gone over a number of cases treated witli this honey alone. We believe it will be found particularly useful in various diseases, as bronchitis, phthisis, &c. — Dr. M'Pherson, Scottish Nights. Suggestion for Feeding Starving Stocks and Swarms f at the present time. — Leave excluder-zinc on (or use strainer cloth) and pack upon it Bernerara sugar. Also suitable for winter, and is very economical, as no feeders are required. I got thi3 ' wrinkle ' from a bee-keeper at the Nottingham Show. He says he feeds thus every winter, and he keeps forty colonies. — C. N. P. August 16, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 399 (jfkljacs front % p i b cs. St. Wilfrid's, Parkttone, Aug. 6th. — Seeing by last week's Journal so many deplorable accounts of the honey harvest in most places, I thought I would just let you know that it is certainly a little more hopeful in this little corner, though, if the weather had been any- thing as all have wished, it would have been a great deal better still. I started this year with five bar-hives and one straw skep. I have taken from one bar-hive twenty-eight sections, and the bees are now working four crates of twenty-ono each. 1 hope to have another twenty finished in a day or two. Two more bar-hives have got sixtv-three sections nearly completed ; the other two have forty-two each. They are all working hard, and if the weather will only be kind, the heather is nearly out in bloom. As you say in last week's ' Hints,' the bees have bred enormously this year. I hail one of the best hives swarm on August 2nd, about 7 or s ll>s. 1 returned them in the evening, and they have gone on quiet since. The sleep swarmed twice, and I have stocked two more hives with them; the swarm is now working a crate of sections. What surprised me is how the bees have got honey at all ; they must have made hay while the sun did shine. If the montb "f August would only be tine, I hope to get a good lot of heather sections. I have taken altogether fifty sections nicely filled, and hope to have another fifty this week. — A.. Dabneb. Yo.v/ord, August 8th. — A neighbour had a swarm <>f bees on 3rd of August. I have never before heard of one so late. My bees have been very strong in brood, but have done badly in storing honey. I have taken off but few filled sections, and the bees have not sufficient for winter supply. They are now very busy, limes and blackberries bring in full bloom. — J. P. North Leicestershire, August \'.\th. — The first three days of this month found the bees in full flight, but forage was scarce, and tlie results nil. The next three days totally blank, for bees remained at home. On the ~th and four following days a higher temperature (75 to 70°) set the nectar flowing in the white clover and limes, and asa consequence some stocks are showing a little (very little though) sealed comb. To-day is very windy, and the cold has returned, confining the bees to their hives.— E. B. Navigation, Trehurris, It. S. 0., Qlarnorganshire, Au- gust l'ith. — Seeing 'East Glamorgan's' experience in last week's Journal, and as I live close to Pontypridd, it made me feel a bit uneasy, so to-day I made time to examine one of my stocks. I have ten. I am pleased to say the first one I looked at, having on a rack of twenty- eight sections, was doing splendidly; all of them were worked out, full of honey, and the middle ones sealed. The frames also contained from two to four pounds of honey each, most of it sealed ; after seeing this I felt satisfied, and did not think it worthwhile to open the other hives, as from all appearance they seemed to be doing equally as well. I may say that Mr. Gay, expert to the Gla- morganshire 13. K. A., started me in bee-keeping, and is the maker of the hives I am using ; he has also had the entire management of them up till about a month ago. They are what he calls ' The Combination Hive,' and will hold seventeen or eighteen frames, and two racks of twenty-eight sections each. Should the weather con- tinue good, I shall put on the other rack, which had been removed in consequence of bad weather, and dwind- ling down, or else extract from the frames. I am very glad to be able to give such a good report, and hope it will cheer ' East Glamorgan's ' heart, as well as other bee-keepers. By the bye, I think ' East Glamorgan ' rather premature in changing his nom de plume, as no one but a novice would attempt to heft or lift the frames to ascertain the weight without first removing the quilt. I hope you will be able to find room for this, my first Echo, in your very instructive Journal. — A. H. Sims. North-east of Ireland, Aug. 7th. — It is a long time since there was a worse year for bee-keeping experienced in the north of Ireland. First we had a late, cold spring, and now we have been passing through a chilly, rainy summer. There has been little sunshine to bring forth nectar and pollen in the flowers, and though in some places there have been enough of swarms, they will have to be fed to secure them the requisite twenty- five pounds of stores again-t winter. There have been ehows of honey at Belfast on June 21st in connexion with the North-east of Ireland Agricultural Association, at Armagh on July 4th, at Strabane on July 13tb, and Banbridge on July 31st. But the entries were below those of former years, and many who bad intended to exhibit were unable to do so when they went to their hives and found no sections ready; while, except at the latter place, there was not a properly finished section or super staged. Honey will not, this season, be the cheap irug it was in 1887. As an example of the difference, between the yield of the two crops, I can instance a gentleman in Co. Down who, at this time last year, had secured eleven hundred sections, but he has no; yet had one for 1883. — II. YV. Lett. Oork,AuffUst *t/i. — Your readers, cosm qjolite-. in tle-ii- desire to hear the latest ace units of th>> little busy b - . a word from the south of Ireland will then interest them. Had I written one week ago I should swell the buzz your several local correspondents raised abiut your ears when their one and only cry was a lament on the un- reasonableness of ' Jupiter Pluvius.' It was here, in the south of Ireland as it was in the north and south of England, a mere apology for summer ; and the little bee has just as hard a lot with us as it had in your leaders' apiary— a lot which it patiently endured. However, during the past few days some kind friend of the bees has soothed the fierce wrath of the rainy god. The sun shines out brightly, and the flowers — such of them as remain— are daily expanding their leaves once again. Had the weather continued as it was a fortnight ago, 'the last rose of summer' would, indeed, by this time have faded and gone. — E. C. 1!. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS. Letters or queries asking /or addresses of manu/acturers or correspon- dents, <>.' where appliances run be nurchascd, or replies gieiwj suck information, can onl/y be inserted as advertisements. The spaa devoted '■> letters, gueries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-beepers, and not for advertisements. Wt wish our Corrsspondents to bear in mind that, as d is necessary for us to goto />.<>;..- madvancs of ih< dote of issue, gueries cannot always '<• replied to in tlie issue nediately following the receipt oj their nmunication. ATI queries forwarded will '.: attended to,aui those only of personal interest mill be answered in this column. Git. A. B. — Honey. — The sample of honey seems to us to be very good. There is an agreeable sharpness of flavour that we like. The bees may have worked rhubarb, but whatever it may be from the sample is good, and no doubt of its genuineness, we should say, need be entertained. Our correspondent may consider himself fortunate to have such produce. AVe hope he may have hundredweights of it. A. W. — Heather. — No. 1 is the cross-leaved heath {Erica Tetrali.i), No. 2 is the common ling (Calluna vulgaris) ; both are excellent honey-secreting plants, perhaps the latter is the best. We trust that you will find the heather to be prolific in honey this year, as accounts from all parts indicate that other sources have been a total failure. M. F. K. — 1. Carnio/ans v. Ligurians. — Both of these varieties are very good workers, but the Carniolans are most easily handled — we prefer them to Ligurians. 2. Carniolan Hybrids. — We prefer the Carniolan queen crossed with the black drone. The first cross we 400 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [August 16, 1888. usually find superior to either parent. 3. Queen- introduction. — This does not seem quite settled ; man)' bee-masters preferring the cage-introduction. We have recently had much success with direct introduction by the Pond-Simmins' method. C. N. P. — 1. Larvai thrown out. — By feeding you will have stopped the mischief. Starvation was the cause of the abnormal proceedings in both cases. 2. Forming Swarm with new Queen. — You would have to cage the queen in nucleus. All the bees joining same will be old bees, and therefore more liabb to ball the queen, but this does not take place in all cases. We should cage so as to be ou the safe side. W. Corkhill. — 1. Swarm without Queen. — Introduce a fresh queen at once. She will raise brood this season which, as young bees, will be of great service through the winter. 2. Foundation. — The samples of founda- tion sent are very good and pure. II. W. Lett. — Foul brood : Bacillus edvei. E. J. Spilled. — Dead Queen. — This appears to be a fertile queen. It might, very probably, be the one you introduced, as the princess, being more lithe and active, would have the advantage in the contest, thus causing the old queen's death. P. Tonkin. — Ligurian Dead Queen. — Probably there is another queen in the hive, as the one sent to us has had wings which have been roughly torn out. If on examination you find the hive queenless, you should introduce a fertile one at once. If you have drones you could raise one by giving the stock a frame of eggs from another hive. We consider her a pure Ligurian. E. Weber. — Microscopes. — For extraordinary work we use a Beck's Class A stand. It is the best binocular microscope made by that firm. The objectives most useful are a § inch and \ inch, and we think you would find a 14 inch useful. If you are going in for the study of Bacteria you will want a fa oil immersion, but great care should be exercised in the selection of this. We use one of Powell and Leland's, but such an objective cost 2-'i/. ; it was one of these that was given to Mr. Cheshire to carry on his investigations. — Yes, we have a ^, but we seldom use it, and do not recommend you to get one. You can get a very fair fa of W. Baker, High Holborn, for about 5/. 5s., and it is made by Leitz specially for such work. Y'ou will find that with practice you will be able to make dis- sections, but for this purpose we use a specially con- structed microscope. This is called Stevenson's binocular dissecting microscope, and can also be had of Mr. Baker, the cost of stand being 8/. 10s. AYorking with this stand is much easier because the platform is large and level, and the tubes are inclined so that the ope- rator can sit comfortably at his work. The objective can be raised or lowered by means of a rack-and-pinion movement, and it is suitable for the lowest as well as tolerably high powers. We cannot give general in- structions for mounting, but if you will tell us what subjects you wish to work upon we shall be happy to give you particulars. All the necessary materials may be procured of Mr. Baker. If you will say to what sum you wish to go we will advise as to apparatus most suitable. John Perry. — 1. Xucleus Hives. — Y'our method of form- ing nuclei has been tried and found to be of little utility, as during winter the disturbance of one nucleus communicates itself to the rest, so that there is a continual commotion during the time that perfect quietude should reign. Thin boards instead of perfora- ted zinc are much better ; we always use ^-inch stuff in the same manner as you propose using zinc. 2. Two Queens in a Hive. — Your bees would be in a much better condition if you ran two hives of ten frames each, as one queen, if she is any good, can well till that number of combs. To restrict a queen to only five frames would be very bad bee-keeping, as one- half, at least, of her eggs would be consumed by the bees. A hive having a good prolific queen will bo more successful than one having two queens separated as you propose, by a zinc diaphragm ; it has been tried frequently. M. J. Swift. — Candy-making. — If you carry out the instructions given at pages 101 and 102 of our Guide Book you cannot fail. Boiling up the sugar is not sufficient, but it must be continued until it is of the right consistence. Wheat-flour should be used and not wheat-meal, as the bees can make no use of the bran and coarse particles. When the flour is put in the mixture must be stirred until it thickens, and then pour it out. The quantity is one and a half pound, as stated, not one half pound. C. Cox. — Last year's Honey. — Our reply last week was dictated from our experience with, and our knowledge of, the rules of the B. B. K. A. We have no desire to enter further into the points of contention. We con- sider that the officers of the Association with which you are connected are sufficiently equal to the deter- mination of the matter in dispute. E. C. R. — 1. Situation of Apiary. — The situation chosen is very suitable. Protection from the north wind can always be given during the winter by erecting hurdles made in a similar manner to those used for the protection of sheep during the lambing season. — 2. Flowers to plant in Garden. — Early spring flowers are the most suitable, as later in the season there are plenty of wild ones. Crocuses, White Arabis, Wall- flowers and Snowdrops are the best. G. M. Thompson. — 1. Sugar in Honey. — To absolutely settle this point would require the assistance of a very expensive instrument called a polariscope, which we should think the purchase of same would hardly be warranted by its use to you. 2. Cane and Beet Sugar. — There are several descriptions of sugars in which beet is never used, of which the following are the best : Demerara (not Lyle's coloured, which is frequently sold as such), Barbadoes and Porto Iiieo ; these are called raw sugars. The manufactured pure cane sugars are Tate's and Martineau's cubes (first quality') Granulated (when branded on barrels ' Free from Beet,') and large crystals (coffee sugar). The methods employed in analysing sugar and honey would occupy every column, and more, of one issue of this Journal. Gilbert King. — Bombus lapidarius. — The large size cf your specimen indicates that it is a female, or in apiarian language a ' queen ' humble-bee. Amateur. — Old Bees. — A hive is said to consist of old bees only when it has been without brood for a few weeks, either through the queen's inability to lay or through the loss of the queen. We much prefer to in- troduce the new queen within an hour or two of the removal of the old one. Oxfordshire. — 1. Failing to introduce Queen. -We cannot see why you should have failed with the plan you adopted : try again. 2. Fecundation. — You can- not secure pure fecundation of your Ligurian queens, unless you have none but pure Ligurian drones around. Your only plan is to get a pure Ligurian queen ready fertilised. Buzz. — 1. Price of Honey. — This is quite as much a ques- tion of quality and get up as scarcity, still the price ought to be higher this season, but up to the present we have had no general quotations. 2. Feeding. — When syrup is recommended between the honey-flows, as in a bad season like this, it is intended to give not more than a quarter of a pint in the evening, with only one hole open, then the bees will consume and August 16, 1888.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. 401 not store it. This cautious feeding is a great factor in successful management in our shifty -weather. Henry STtJ&wr.—Weak Stocks. — Unite the two weak lots at once. An Ignorant Bee.— 1. Stores fur Winter. — About 30 pounds sealed. 2. Feeding for Winter. — About end of August. 3. Functions of Antenna. — This is a very debateable point, as you will see by reference to our back numbers. 4. Finding Queen. — The queen-bee has ofttimes a way of avoiding the common gaze. 5. Drones. — If you have no drone-comb you cannot have drones. Nowadays bee-keepers avoid raising drones except when specially required. G. Peculiar Odour.-~ Probably this is the smell of new brood, something like fresh killed meat. If you still think it is foul brood seud a piece of the capped brood. ". Extending Brood Nest. — Under the circumstances do as you suggest. 8. Surplus Honey. — Do not expect any section honey now this year. %* Letter from Secretary oflrUlt B.K.J, in our next. SHOWS TO COME. August 22 & 23. — Shrewsbury. Hon. Secretary, W. G. Preece. Entries close August 15th. August 29 & .'!0. — Derbyshire Show at Derby. Hon. Secretary, W. T. Atkins, 6 North Street, Derby. September 5 & 0. — Surrey. Hon. Secretary, Captain Campbell. Entries close August 30. September 5-7.— Lancashire and Cheshire Association at Lancaster. Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Lees McClure, The Lathoms, Prescot. Entries close August loth. ^Business ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St . Bdrtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester, Edey 21 FOR SALE.— Pure Carniolans, Pure Ligmians, Hybrid Carniolans, Ligurians ; best Wet Weather Bees. Owing to removal, I will Sell for 25s. per Stock. Address E. Jackson, Welwyn, Herts. D 25 ONEY WANTED, Bulk.— Samples by post to Rector, Bottwnog, Pwllheli, North Wales. n 26 H KILLICK'S WAX EXTRACTOR, complete, from the Inventor, post free, 3s. lOhl. Address W. Killick, Sandhurst, Berks. TO NON - SMOKERS OF TOBACCO. — Touchwood (rotten Oak), best for the Smoker. Light, clean, and dry, emitting volumes of smoke until all is consumed. 1/- per parcel. Address James Woodward, Van Builder, Railway Street, Wolverhampton. SEVERAL Strong Stocks in Standard Bar-frames for Sale cheap. Removal. Address Fewtrell, 130 Cum- berland Road, Reading. d 28 RIVEN BEES Wanted by Dr. Ward, Priory House, Danbury, Essex, at 1/- per lb. on rail. None from districts affected with Foul Brood need apply. SELLING OFF.— Remaining Stock of Bee-keepers' Goods. Must be Cleared this Season. List of Re- duced Prices free on application to The British Bee- Keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch Street, London, E.C. NATIONAL CO-OPERATIVE FESTIVAL. — Crystal Palace, Aug. 18, 1888.— Scotch Honey.— Mr. John D. McNally, Springburn, Glasgow, will be in attendance personally to receive offers for above. His exhibits con- sist of Supers, Sections, and Extracted. Inspection invited. LIGURIAN QDEENS, hardy, pure strain, im- ported direct from Italian Apiary near Monte Rosa. 7s. each, carriage paid. Address J. W. Kempster, Galley- wood, Chelmsford. a 4309 The Derbyshire Bee-keepers' Exhibition. 29th and 30th August. All Classes for Hives, Furniture, and Appliances, Open to all England. Schedules from Secretary, W. T. Atkins, 6 North Street, Derby. 206 EBSTER'S BOOK OF BEE-KEEPING. ' The most practical that has appeared.' — The Field. London : L. Upcott Gill, 170 Strand, W.C. A 4130 YN AWR YN BAROD (Now Ready) Y GWEN- YNYDD. An Illustrated Practical Handbook on Bees and Bee-keeping, in WELSH, by H. P. Jones, Llanerch, Dinas Mawddwy, Expert for the Montgomeryshire B.K.A., and Professor M. D. Jones, Independent College, Bala. It contains over 50 Illustrations, price Is. ; cloth, Is. G. McNally had come all the way from Glasgow to attend, and there were to be found Mr. J. M. Hooker, Mr. Woodley, as well as ' Woodleigh,' and a host of others who were co-operators as well as bee-keepers. We should liked to have seen a few honey merchants present as buyers, as several would have taken low prices in preference to carrying their honey home again and risk breakage. The co-operators may be congratulated on having so many able bee-keepers amongst their numbers, and such a good display of honey as a part of their fete; and the exhibition proves the amount of success that has attended the labours of the B. B. K. A., which has made it possible to gather a honey show of such magnitude, after such a bad season, by a society whose sphere a short time ago bad no idea of including bee-keeping amongst its operations. Old Sol was good to us on Saturday afternoon in contrast to the few previous days, and made the weather fairly enjoyable, and the mass meeting on the terrace possible to a class of enthusiasts who take even their pleasures soberly, and helped to make it enji lyable, too, to — Amateur ExrERT. The following is the list of awards : — 190. — Comb and extracted honey arranged as a trophy or any other tasteful form. — 1, S. J. Baldwin, 50s. and silver medal of the B.B.K.A. ; 2, F. Cudd, 30s. and bronze medal of the B.B.K.A. ; 3, A. D. Woodley, 20s. ; 4, Walter Dance (gardener to Colonel Lowe), British See Journal, value 10s. ; 5, J. D. McNally and Walter Debnarn, equal, six dozen Breffit's jars, value 8s. 191, — Comb honey in twelve Lib. sections (19 entries). — 1, Walter Debnam, 20s. ; 2, J. D. McNally, 15s. ; 3, A. D. Woodley, 2s. Gd. ; 4, Henry Kerridge, 5s. ; 5, S. J. Baldwin, 2s. Gd. ; H. C, Charles Trevener. 192. —Bun or extracted honey in twelve Lib. glass jars (23 entries). — 1, Henry Kerridge, 20s.; 2, Walter Debnam, 15s. ; 3, George Cole, 7s. Gd. ; 4, Walter Dance, 5s. ; 5, George Stocks, 7s. Gd. ; H. C, A. D. Woodley. _ 19:5. — Comb honey in Lib. sections. — 1, Jeanie McNally, for six Lib. sections, Baker's No. 105 hive, 10s. Gd. ; Modern l:,;' Farm, 7s. 6i(. ; Howard's feeder, 2s.: value 20s. 2, Allen Potter (four Lib. sections), Modem Bee Farm, Is. Gd.; Jenkins' crate, 4s. id. ; Hutchings' feeder, Is. Gd. ; Meadows' section cases, 2s. : value 15s. 3d. 3, Hichard H. Coppin (twelve Lib. sections), Hutchings' section rack, 4s. Gd. ; Baldwin's feeder,' 2s. : value, 6s. Gd. 4, C. Duncan (three, Lib. sections), three dozen Breffit's jars : value 4s. 191. — Run or extracted honey in 1-lb. jars, not less than 2 lbs. — 1, Jeanie McNally (six bottles), ' Gayton ' hive, 12s. Gd. ; Modern Bee Farm, 7s. Gd. : value 20s. 2, Allen Potter (four 1-lb. bottles), ' Little Wonder ' honey extractor, 7s. ('..;. ; Baldwin's No. 69 Smoker, 5s. ; Baldwin's foun- dation, 3/. : value 15s. Gd. 3, R. H. Coppin (twelve 1-lb. bottles), Hutchings' f umigator, 4s. Gd. ; Baldwin's foundation, 2s. 2d. : vaJue 6s. 84 4, A. J. Runciman (two 1-lb. bottles), three dozen Breffit's jars : value 4s. Commended, George Stocks, jun., two 1-lb. bottles. 195, — British wax from exhibitor's own hivo (18 exhibits). — 1, J. D. McNally, Turner's cottager's hive, 10s. Gd. ; Modern Bee Farm, 3s. 64: value lis. 2, R. H. Coppin, Jiriiixli Bee Journal, His. Gd.; B.B.S.'s section cases, 2s.: value 12). 6./. 3, W. Hollands, three dozen Breffit's jars, 4s. ; three dozen Parker's honey tins, 6s. : value 10s. 196. — Honey in applied forms (such as foods, beverages, confectionery, medicine, &c). — 1, Rev. V. Moyle, Baker's No. la hive, 16s. Gd. ; Modern lice Farm, 3s. Gd. : value 20s. 2, George Stocks, six dozen Breffit's jars, 8s. ; Modern Bee Farm, 3s. Gd. : value lis. Gd. 3, Henry Kerridge, three dozen Breffit's jars, Is. ^clcctctr OJhtcrn. [21.] In working for extracted honey do you prefer standard frames in the upper hiee or shallow frames :,}. inches deept Do you cuns'ul-r it best to use a r/ueen- aiul-drone excluder between the hives ? I have had no experience of shallow frames, but should imagine they would be less liable to break. I .1, carded queen-and-drone excluder long ago as useless. — B. Ball. In working for extracted honey I should not use the ' tiering' system at all, and most certainly in any event, should not use shallow frames for the purpose. To me it is sickening to read the rotten rubbish that sometimes appears, extolling this hive or that, on the ground that the bees will store most honey in this or that form of receptacle; for it is quite certain thai I s cannot any- where store more honey tKan they can collect, and it is equally certain that having collected all possible, they Kill deposit it somewhere in the hive, and the principle I have always adhered to is that that somewhere should be where it is" most easily comeatable by the bee-keeper. If compelled by an unwise employer to work on the tiering system, I should prefer interchangeable standard frames for both top and bottom storey, although I should detest the principle that made it necessary to pull the hive all to pieces when interchange of frames became desirable. ' I speak whereof I know.' Excluder zinc would in such case be unnecessary. — (J. N. Abbott. I have not found any advantage gained by using shallow frames o-i inches deep, and prefer standard frames; but I would recommend that a queen and drone excluder always be used between the hives, as the quality of the honey obtained is thereby greatly improved, being much brighter in appearance than that obtained without the use of excluders.— II. Wood, Lichfield. 408 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [August 23, 1888. We prefer a frame 6 inches deep for extracted honey, also for many other purposes in connexion with the standard frame. In all cases, save with a swarm, we use excluder. Being an established colony's purpose to increase and multiply, super work is not safe without. A swarm purposed to store and furnish a home ; with such, we have not found excluder so great a necessity. — John II. Howard, The Model Apiary, Holme, Peter- borough. I like standard frames in preference to shallow, as in doubling you may remove two or three outside frames, containing most honey and little ( worker) brood to upper storey, and insert full sheets of foundation in place of them, hut always use excluder between. — Tom Sells. I much prefer standard frames in the upper hive, wired. I consider it best to use queen- and -drone excluder zinc between the hives. — Henry Beswick. Have not used the shallow frames, so cannot say. I should consider it best to use a queen-excluder, if combs ready for filling are given in the top hive or box ; those excluders that give bee-space below and also above are preferable, as causing least impediment to the bees when carrying their loads of honey to the store combs. — W. Woodley. Always, till last year, I used frames the same as my hives. I then tried some shallow frames, and like them very well ; but I like the larger frames better, as when the frames are full of honey one gets more honey ex- tracted with less labour. I do not use excluder-zinc, as the bees never seem to go through freely. If we had some that would keep the queen and drones out, without being any hindrance to the bees, I should prefer it. — John Walton. In a good honey flow I do not think thero is any per- ceptible difference; in poor seasons bees would probably begin rather earlier in shallow frames. I should always prefer a honey-board both for production of comb and extracted honey ; where standard frames are used it does not so much matter, as they can be easily utilised at end of season in bottom chamber if containing brood. — John Edey. I much prefer the shallow frames — say, 5 3 in. deep — ■ with the use of queen and drone-excluding honey-board. Experience teaches that on this system honey is obtained more abundantly and of finer quality than by any other that I have tried. — George Raynor. I prefer shallow frames 5| inches deep in the upper hive for tiering up, with a queen excluder honey-board between it and the brood-chamber. This will be found to give the best results. — John M. Hooker. BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY ; Or, Glossary op Technical and Scientific Words used in Works upon Bee-keeping. Bacillus, plur. bacilli, n. {late L. a little rod; dim. of bacillus, a rod.) — A genus of cylindrical or rod-shaped bacteria ; vegetable micro - organisms multiplying by fission, and distinguished for their power of forming spores, which possess extraordinary vitality, and are capable of resisting high and low temperatures ; even acids that would destroy bacilli have no effect on their spores. Bacillus alvei. (L. alveus, hive.) — Name given to the species of micro-organisms found present in decay- ing larvaa in the disease known as ' foul brood.' Bacillus alveolaris. (L. alveolus, a cell in a bee- hive.)— The name given in Germany to the bacillus present in foul brood. Bacillus depilis, or Gaytoni. (L. depilis, without hair.) — Name given to micro-organism found in hairless bees. Backward flight. — Applied to a bee on the wing, receding, head backwards, and is accomplished by changing the inclination of the plane of oscillation of the wings. This is done by moving the abdomen of the insect so as to displace its centre of gravity. Bacteria, n. pi. (mod. L. and Or. baeterion ; dim. of bad run, a staff.) — The general name given to minute unicellular organisms not containing chlorophyl, and multiplying by fission. Hence the term ' Schizomycetes,' or ' splitting fungi,' is applied to them. Bacterial, a. — Of or pertaining to bacteria. Bactericidal, a. (L. bacterium, and cwdo, I slay.) — Destructive of bacteria. Sacteriolog y. ( Or. baeterion, and logos, discourse.) — The scientific study of bacteria. Bacterium, 11. pi. bacteria (L.) — A genus of schizo- myceta?, which are slightly elongated-elliptical, fusiform, or short and cylindrical, with rounded ends, and capable of spontaneous locomotion, being possessed of a flagelluin or iilament at one or both ends. Various species are found in all decomposing animal and vegetable liquids. Spore formation like that of bacillus. Balling' a queen. (Ger. ball, a ball or globular body.) Inaccurate, thero being no English verb to ball ; encasing is the correct term. — Bees surrounding a queen in a small, compact ball or cluster, generally with the intention of killing her. Barbed. p. pi. (L. barba, a beard.) — Bearded ; jagged with hooks or points standing backwards. Barbs of sting". — The hooks or points on the two darts of the sting standing backwards as in an arrow, and intended to prevent the instrument from being ex- tracted. Each barb in the sting of a bee is provided with a small opening through which the poison is forced out. Bar-hive. (From Sax. beorgan, to secure, and hufe, a house.) — A hive in which the combs are secured to, and suspended from bars, instead of being enclosed in frames. Used formerly, but has been almost entirely superseded by the frame-hive. Bar-frame hive. — Applied to hives witli frames the top bar of which was made to be detached from the other three. Frame-hive is the more accurate term. Bark hive. —Hive made from the bark of cork and other trees. Bars. n. plur. (Fr. barre.) — Strips of wood or metal from which the combs hang in bar hives and supers. To Prevent Stings. — It is a fact not generally known that if one holds his breath, wasps, bees, and hornets, can be handled with impunity. The skin becomes sting-proof, and, holding the insect by the feet, and giving her full liberty of action, you can see her drive her weapon against the impenetrable surface with a force that lifts her body with every stroke, but let the smallest quantity of air escape from the lungs, and the sting will penetrate at once. I have never seen an exception to this in twenty-five years' observation. I have taught young ladies with very delicate hands to astonish their friends by the performance of this feat ; and I saw one so severely stung as to require the services of a physician through laughing at a witty remark of her sister, forgetting that laughing required breath. For a theory in explanation I am led to believe that holding the breath partially closes the pores of the skin. My experiments in that direction have not been exact enough to be of any scientific value, but I am satislied that it very sensibly affects the amount of insensible perspiration. — Mr. Wilder in /Science (America). August 23, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 409 CotTCSpOllbCuTC, Ttu: "Editor does not hold himself responsible for the Opinions stressed by his correspondents. Ho attention uoill be lol.ro oj anonymousoom- municotions, and correspondents are requested to mite on one tide <>J the paver only, and give their fall names and addresses, noi necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating, to the literary department, reports oj Issociations, Snows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, ,iv., must be addressed only to 'The. Editor of the "British Bm Journal." c/o Messrs. Strongeways and Sons, ZWer Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C* All business communications relating to Advertisements, .(v., must be addressed to Mr. J. Uikkle, Kings Langley, Herts (see in.' no " of 4doertisemenb ■) '„' In order (o Jarihlole ri/trnn.v, CVrcsjn>inln(ts, irii.'il sj.mti'ilj o/ any ^'//i.f nr gueru preeiously inserted, leill n/.//',/,- by mentioning the number of the f.-t(./r, as loell as the page on tohieh it appears. IRISH ASSOCIATION'S STANDARD HIVE. [1768.] With reference to your Editorial Notice on 2nd August of the Irish Association's Standard Hive, the Oommittee wish me to say that a full description of this hive with illustrations appeared in the British Bee Journal for 20th October, I887,and they desire me, with your kind permission, to make a few observations in reply to your criticism. There is an incorrectness in the second paragraph of the notice, where regret is expressed thai we did noi adopt the same size frame as the British Standard, 'the depth of which was lixed after considerable thought had been bestowed on the subject,' dearly implying that the depth of our frame is different, and that this change is due to insufficient thought on our part. Now, the dimensions of our frame were adopted after so much thought on the part of fully qualifies persons, that 1 must say Ave should have been entitled to our opinion had we really altered the depth. But, as a matter of fact, the depth of our frame is the same as that of the British Standard, as is stated, though incon- sistently, in the first paragraph of your notice. The dimensions, indeed, of the Irish are in every respeel the same as those of the British, except as regards the length of the top bar, which is 16 inches in the Irish as against 17 in the British. You say, in reference, I presume, to our recommend- ing hives to be made 9J inches iu depth, that ' the chief reason for finally settling the depth <>f the (British) Standard frame at 83 inches was £0 admit of the hive being made 9 inches deep, this being the depth of the drals (!i inches by 3) imported into this country, so that they could be made with as little waste of material and as cheap as possible.' But we do not admit that the sides of a hive to take an 83-inch frame can safely be made from boards cut from a 9-inch deal. Several boards, originally 9 inches wide, were measured to-day, These, without planing or dressing of any sort, or being subjected to artificial heat, had shrunk to 8| inches, which, if you allow g inch for planing, would only give a space of 5 inch between the bottom of the frame and the floor-board. Even if you only allow 5 inch for shrinking and another g inch for planing, not more than a bare j- inch will be left between the bottom of the frame and the floor-board, which many qualified bee- keepers think insufficient when manipulating strong stocks. Moreover, in hives in which the side rests on the floor-board, a plinth will he required to keep out wet, and the lj-inch piece which you call waste can very well be used for making this plinth. If you will refer to the illustration of our hive you will see that the back end of the Irish Standard hive is 10s inches deep, while the sides are 9f inches deep, both sides and back end having a rabbet 1 inch deep by i inch wide taken out of their lower edges for the floor-board, which is 16 inches wide, so that the sides and end overhang the floor-board, thus saving the material for plinths and also the cost of making and fixing them, besides having the hive completely waterproof so far as the joint between the hive and floor-bjard is concerned. A point iu favour of the Irish Standard Hive, which you seem to have overlooked, is, that the 10-ineh top bar udmits of its being made with single sides where a hive at the lowest possible cost id desired, and this, we think, is not possible with the 17-inch top bar. — IIiiNiiY Che.nevix, lL'ii. rice. Irish Bee-keepers' Association, 10th August, Is B. [The paragraph to which you refer should read thus : — ' It is much 10 be regretted that the Irish Association did not adopt the same size as the British Standard.' The addition of the word/rame was a mistake of the printer. It will be seen by the previous paragraph that we are not referring to the frame, but the hive, as wo there say, the frame is the same as the English standard. We do not wish to enter into the question of shrinkage, &C. Our hive- manufacturers have found no difficulty when using .'/<«"/ materials in making the standard frames lit a hive made with '.1-inch hoards. It is qidte true that the piece ripped off a 11-inch board would make the greater portion of the plinth, hut wide stuff costs more than It-inch. The part of the Irish hive we take exception to most is the fixed iloor-board, which cannot lie changed or cleaned in the spring without taking out tin- frames and disturbing the bees. This we consider a mistake. — Ed.] THE IMPORTANCE OF FORMIC ACID IN HONEY. [17(14.] In No. 0 of the Eichstadt Bienenzeitung for the current year, Dr. MUllenhofi says, on page 01, ' When the cell is nearly filled and the honey is not intended for immediate consumption the bees add a drop of the secretion "f their pi, is., a 1/ and. After the addition of some more wax on the prism side, followed by the beu ding together of the rims of the cells the latter be- come half closed: the cell is then filled up and finally closed by completing the cell cover all round. Thus hermetically sealed the honey is protected from evaporation.' This most interesting observation iu the bee-hive attracted my attention; the more so, since from a E radical point of view it confirmed the finding in the oney of formic acid — bee-poison, it is well known, is formic acid — by Professor Erlenmeyer and myself in 1 878j when 1 reported at the meeting of Swiss naturalists iu Bern, as follows (see Swiss Bienenzeitung, 1879, No. 2): — 'There, in the honey stomach, is the real concentrating apparatus of this very dilute solution of sugar (nectar) iu the course of diffusion of the water through the membranes of the ante-stomach and removal through the many termini of the urinary organs. By the addition of formic acid the preparation is completed and finds its way through the alimentary tube into the honey-cells. Nectar contains no coagu- lable albumen, while honey does. In the nectar from Fritillariu imperialis" we found no volatile acid ; but I discovered formic acid in the nectar from Protea inelli- fera from the Cape of Good Hope, with the examination of which I am at present occupied at the Agricultural Chemical Laboratory here. It is interesting to find that Nature in that hot climate has provided for the preserva- tion of the nectar, which is so liable to decomposition, before it is collected and further concentrated by bees and human beings. All honey, however, contains vola- tile formic acid, which plays a very important part in the economy of bees, not only as a poison, but un- doubtedly also in many other respects.' On the antiseptic properties of formic acid, Professor Erlenmeyer expressed himself as follows at the sitting of the Academy of Science at Munich, on the Gth February, 1875 :— ' In conclusion I must not omit to mention that the •The nectar from this flower is said to possess emetic properties. 410 THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL. [August 23, 1888. results of my experiments with dilute formic acid (one part acid of the specific gravity of 1*206 and 1000 parts of water) were quite similar to those obtained with Balicylic acid. On the whole it seems that the property of arresting fermentation and putrefaction is possessed by many other substances, which produce a dark colour in solutions of salts of iron. If formic acid, meconic acid, or rkodan-hydrogen be added to a fermenting liquid in the proportion of 1 : 1000, fermentation ceases. 1 am engaged at present in comparing the antiseptic action of these substances with one another and may remark now that a mixture which in 1000 parts contains 1 part of boracic acid, ferments very briskly. I was induced to experiment with formic acid, in the first place, because it is closely allied to prussic acid ; and secondly, because, as I have shown before, it behaves in many respects similarly to sulphurous acid. But prussic acid and sulphurous acid are well known to be most powerful antiseptics. I have indeed had frequent opportunities in the labora- tory of observing the energetic anti-fermentative pro- perty of formic acid in a very striking manner — it not only prevents fermentation, but arrests it immediately when fully established. From what I have said above it will be seen what an interesting physiological fact in the economy of bees we are discussing here. The bees indeed require but a minute drop of poison for each cell, as formic acid could only be detected in the samples of honey in very small quantity. But as it acts so powerfully an infinitely small quantity is all that is required for each cell, the more so as this acid doubtless exists in a very concen- trated state in bee-poison. — Da. A. von Planta, Zurich. FEEDING BACK. [1765.] The objections to this practice, briefly told, are, — that the work must be performed at a time when robber bees are troublesome; there is a liability to creating suspicion in the minds of the public as regards the purity of the honey ; the honey loses its freshness, so to speak, by being extracted, stored in vessels, heated, run through feeders, and re-handled by the bees ; when honey is fed to secure the completion of unfinished sections, the combs have a botched, patched, bulged appearance, unless they are arranged with great care, and the whole operation managed with skill ; the combs are also likely to become travel-stained unless care is exercised to have new combs in the brood-nest, or the sections are removed very promptly upon their com- pletion ; if there should be an unknown case or two of foul brood in the apiary, nothing would spread it more effectually ; but the must serious objecf ion is the increased tendency of the honey to candy. The advantages are few, but weighty. Comb honey is more saleable, at a higher price, than extracted honey, and, if the latter can be changed into the former at no great expense, there are quicker sales and greater profits ; but the greater advantage is in securing the completion of nearly finished sections. We will now show how most of the objections may be removed or greatly overcome. With a feeder like Mr. Heddon's, there need be no trouble whatever from robbers. The reservoir is in the centre, and just over it a part of the cover slides back in grooves. There is no contact with the bees, no smoke is needed, no propolis disturbed, and the cover fits so snugly that no odour of honey escapes to attract robbers. The first feeding should be done at dusk, as it puts the bees in an excited state, and this is the time when robbers would make trouble. After the bees have become accustomed to finding honey in the feeder, feeding produces but little, if any, ex- citement; still at dusk is the best time to feed, as we thus avoid the annoyance of having robber bees follow us from hive to hive and dive into the feeder reservoir whenever it is opened. Mr. Unterkircher speaks of the bees rushing out and stinging whenever the cover of a hive is raised. We have noticed this same feature. When the cover is taken entirely off the feeder, we disturb the bees at their feast, and it seems to anger them. But there is no necessity of removing the covers. When we wish to take off the cases, we insert the blade of a pocket-knife between the feeder and the upper case, take hold of the handle of the feeder upon that side and lift up, and give the knife a twist at the same time, which loosens the feeder. We then puff some smoke in the opening between the feeder and the upper case, set down the smoker and lift off the feeder, placing it corner-wise upon the cover of a neighbouring hive. The diagonally opposite corners of the feeder then rest upon the wide projecting cleats nailed to the ends of the cover, and raise the bottom of the feeder from the cover so that no bees are crushed. The man who attempts to feed in a haphazard way, using anything he can pick up for a feeder, spilling honey about, &c, will certainly have trouble with robbers; but the one who goes at it systematically, with the right kind of hives, feeders, and utensils, can snap his fingers at the robber bees. In regard to any suspicion that might be created iu the minds of consumers by the feeding of honey to have it stored in combs, we would say that the public need know nothing of it. Keep still about it. Don't blab. Producers, manufacturers, and dealers in other lines, do not herald their methods to the world, why should bee- keepers ? In other professions there are ' trade secrets,' why should bee-keeping be an exception ? We have \ fed back honey for years, feeding thousands of pouuds,and ( yet not a noighbour ever knew of it. We have even had bee-keepers visit us, and go away with no suspicions that we were feeding back. We do think that ' fed honey ' has a slightly different taste from honey stored directly ' in the combs by tlie bees, but it is very slight indeed where all the utensils are kept ' as neat as wax,' and would be noticed only by an expert. We would not advise the heating of the honey. If the water that is used to thin it be heated it is sufficient. This warming and thinning of the honey enables the bees to handle it much more rapidly. The lengthening of cells, bulging and patching up of combs, have been most graphically described by Dr. Miller, and but little can be added to his directions how to overcome the difficulty. Bees usually have about a § space between the combs, and in putting back the unfinished sections we must try and preserve this space. When the space is less than this, no harm is done unless it become so small that a bee cannot pass through, when the bees will connect the two surfaces at some points by little bridges of wax, and when tho sections are taken apart these little bridges will pull pieces out from one comb or the other. When the space is much greater than £-, and the comb upon each side is sealed, the bees, especially if crowded, will construct comb upon the sealed surface of the other comb, which gives it a very botched appearance. If the comb at one side of the space be sealed, and the other not, the sealed comb will be left undisturbed, and the unsealed cells on the opposite side lengthened out until the space between the two combs is reduced to about 5. If, in this instance, the sealed comb should be smooth and even, and in the right place as regards the section as a whole, all will be well; but if it be concave or convex, the unfinished comb facing it will be drawn out in conformity with the surface of the finished comb. If two unfinished surfaces, in the same stage of completion, are brought facing each other near the centre of the super, they will be drawn out and sealed straight and true and alike ; if they are near the outside, the chances are that the comb nearest the centre of the super will grow faster than the one farther out, and a bulge will be the result. Combs near the centre of the super are drawn out quicker and August 23, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 411 finished sooner than those at the outside and corners, hence we place at the outside those sections that are the nearest completion. Especially do we take pains to have sealed surfaces come next to the sides of the super, while combs the furthest from completion aro placed in the centre. By this arrangement of all the sections in a super are finished at about the same time. Unless some of the combs are beginning to show signs of travel- stains, it is better to leave on the super until all, or at least nearly all, of the combs are completed, for, as the combs near completion, this matter of adjustment be- comes more difficult. Where foundation is used, and comb honey produced, ' right from the stump,' by feeding extracted honey, we have none of this bulging, patching difficulty to contend with, as the combs all grow alike, and some of the finest, straightest, plumpest, whitest, and most handsome comb honey can be produced that the eye ever beheld ; but we have never found it profit- able, except by placing a few ca9es on top, near the close of finishing up a lot of unfinished sections, to give the bees room, and thus prevent the bulging of combs, as explained in the }ane lieoiew. In regard to spreading foul brood by feeding back, we do not know that it is practical to overcome this objection. Of course it would he possible to add something to the honey to destroy the germs, if any should be present. Whether this addition would be objectionable we do not know, but we feel quite certain that most bee-keepers would take the risk rather than go to this trouble. The most that can be done is to be ever on the alert for foul brood. And we may remark", parenthetically, that, considering the pre- valence of foul brood, it would be well if every bee- keeper could see a genuine case of it, and for this reason : In its early stages it is very difficult to detect. Or perhaps we should say, scarcely noticeable, and there is a something about its appearance that is very difficult to describe ; it must be seen to be comprehended. 'When over at Mr. Taylor's a short time ago, we were shown colonies that required a very critical examination indeed to discover any cells containing foul brood. Hut the tendency of the honey to candy is, in our opinion, the most insurmountable objection to feeding back, especially so if the bees are given only foundation, and all of the honey stored is ' fed ' honey. When the sections are nearly completed, and the feeding is done simply to have them completed and sealed over, the proportion of ' fed ' honey is so slight that the candying would not he so serious an objection were it not for the fact that the presence of a littlo candied honey hastens the candying of the whole mass. There is a great difference in honey as regards its candying, and one of our correspondents says that thinning the honey increases its candying propensities. We have fed but very little thick honey. The bees worked it so slowly that we bec.ime discouraged, and went back to thinning it. We know that they seal it over quicker when it is fed full thickness, and it is possible that this is the better way of feeding it. We must admit that this is a point upon which our ex- perience is limited. We believe that the best advice that we can give upon this candying point is to sell the honey early, and in a market where it will surely reach the consumer before it candies. Of course we cannot always follow this advice, hence we consider the in- creased tendency of the honey to candy as the greatest objection to feeding back. Taking one year with another, we have secured about two pounds of comb honey from the feeding of three pounds of extracted. With the right kind of weather and colonies, we have done much better — secured four pounds for five, and we shall continue to feed back to secure the completion of unfinished sections ; and if others desire to do so, we feel that we have placed before about them all the information obtainable upon the subject.— W. Z. Hutchinson (The Bee-keepers' Review.) [We have given above, and also at page 371, the ex- perience of Mr, W. Z. Hutchinson on feeding hack, but we must caution our readers not to expect such good results in this country. Ten or twelve years ago we ourselves experimented on feeding extracted honey to complete sections, but we soon found out that such a practice would not pay at all, and that it could only be done by an enormous waste of honey. Mr. Hutchinson says that, taking one year with another, he has secured two pounds of comb honey from feeding back three pounds; but our own experience is very different from this, and we proved to our satisfaction that it took at the least from two to three pounds of extracted honey to produce one pound of comb honey. We have, therefore, not continued to practise it, and prefer extracting the honey from unfinished sections, as the combs, after they have been cleaned by the bees, can be kept very well until until the next season. Later we shall have occasion to speak more fully upon this subject, for there are other objections to feeding back besides its unprofitableness. —Ed.] AN EXPLANATION WANTED.— A REPLY TO 'SHERBORNE.' [1766.] I think Mr. Sims owes the readers of the Journal, and especially those of them who live in his neighbourhood, an explanation. In his ' Echo,' dated the l-'!th inst., he reports having on that date examined one of his hives and found a rack of twenty-eight sections full of honey and the middle ones sealed. The frames also contained from two to four pounds each, mostly sealed. Taking the number of frames under the rack as ten, and giving them an average of three pounds each, we have in the body of the hive thirty pounds of honey, which, added to that in the rack, brings the total to fifty-eight pounds, [s it possible? I know that we have had a few fine days from the 7th to the 12th inst., and I know that the bees can do wonders when they have an opportunity, hu1 those tine days surely cannot account for the present f the fifty-eigW pounds mostly srn/etl. 1 can only account for it in one of three ways: that the atmospheric conditions were of late more favour- able at Navigation than they were a few miles away (which is not likely) ; that this hive managed to store a considerable quantity of honey from the fruit-blossoms (which, from what I know of Navigation, is just as un- likely), or that the bees have been fed too liberally. Is it not possible, Mr. Sims, that you have made a mistake, or mistakes ? Are you sure that what you thought was sealed honey was not sealed brood? (Tray, don't be angry. I remember one such mistake recorded in this Journal.) Then perhaps you have estimated the weight in the frames too highly. " A full frame at the ordinary distance will scarcely hold more than four pounds. Whether you have made a mistake or not, allow me to wish you as much success — or more — -with the denizens of the hive as you have attained with those of the. coop. 'Sherborne' (1758) tells us how he managed last win- ter, and wishes me to inform him wherein he mismanaged. He could scarcely ask a more incompetent person. How- ever, I will endeavour to comply with his request, to suffer presently, perhaps, for my temerity. Giving twenty-five to thirty pounds of honey was a good com- mencement. The packing was unnecessarily elaborate. I find strong stocks winter well under a single sheet of enamel cloth and with the full complement of frames. Weaker stocks do better confined to as many frames as they cover, and under a porous quilt of, say, four thick- nesses of calico weighted down. Draughts must be particularly avoided against both at the top and sides. If long hives are used see that the division-boards are close fitting. In these I prefer that even a weak stock should have a couple of frames more than they can cover, as I find that the bees choose to cluster close to the division-board away from the direct draught which 412 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [August 23, 1888. strikes at the entrance. No, I would not recommend overhauling your stocks during winter. On the contrary, I would recommend absolute non-interference until some very fine day in April — that is, if 3'ou are confident of the presence of sufficient stores. You say you began feeding with syrup at Easter. Hardly advisable, I should say, where stocks went into winter quarters with twenty-five to thirty pounds of honey. Don't feed until the stores already in the hive are nearly exhausted. Don't bother with pea-flour if you have a middling quantity of hazel and willow in your vicinity. Take special care that the bees are well covered in spring. Be very slow in spreading brood ; leave that operation until the middle of May. — East Glamorgan. EXPERIENCES. [1707.] Major Eair, the secretary of the Middlesex Bee-keepers' Association for this district, gave me about the end of March your first number of the British Bee- keepers Adviser, and I was so pleased with it that I at once ordered it at the bookseller's to come in regularly. I have been very much amused with the experiences of some of your correspondents, and many lessons I have learned through the publishing of their failures. I do not know if my experience would be of any benefit to any one ; if you think so, please make it public. In July, 1885, a swarm of bees came and settled on the stump of a branch standing out from the tree where a branch had been broken off about twelve inches. The said stump was about six inches thick, about twenty feet, or a little more, from the ground. I had never had any experience with bee-keeping, but at the time I had a young man working under me whose father had kept bees for some years down the other side of Lymingtou ; and he persuaded me to capture the bees. After trying to excuse myself, as 1 had no skep or anything else fit to put them in, he persisting they would do in anything, I got a box about 11 by 11 ins. each way ; and after a deal of persuasion from him, I got a ladder and put it up the tree near the bees, and then very cautiously carried the box up and fixed it over them, expecting the bees to go in, for I could not shake them in, and I dare not attempt to try any other way. In about half an hour about half of them were working their wa}' up into the box. Then a man came along that I knew, and he offered to hive thein for me, saying the bees would never go up altogether. You may guess I gave permission, and be was soon on the ladder, and when little more than half way up, going up roughly, he shook the lot down, and it fell on the bidder just above his head, and then to the ground, and the whole lot of bees were swarming round his head; it made the bees vicious, he got five stings, and I got two. After that they settled again in the same place, and he soon put them in the box. I watched them all go into the box, then went to make a stand and fix it afterwards. When I went to fetch them in I was vexed to find that a boy had kicked the box over, and the bees outside the box, and I felt like giving it up, but I got a branch and wiped the bees down after turning the box up right again, and soon had the pleasure of seeing all go inside. Then I carried them in and put them on the stand, and felt a little proud that I had accomplished such a feat. The bees took kindly to their new home, and went to work finely. I soon became interested iu my bees, was never tired of listening to people that could tell me anything about bees, and, like others' experiences, had to hear much rubbish ; neverthe- less, out of all the ridiculous I got occasionally some little idea, if not actual knowledge. Then I had Modern Bee- keepiny given to me, and l'agden's little book on Bee- keeping. Then I went in for making a hive and frames according to Modem Bee-heej>iny instructions, and was very pleased when I finished the first hive, which was in time for first swarm that came off on June Ilth, 188G ; and I got so excited with talking and studying about bees and making bee-hives, that when I shut my eyes to sleep I seemed to have numbers of bees moving about in my vision. My second hive was soon finished after swarm came off, then I placed the new hive, number t\m, where the stock stood, placed stock (in top of frames to get the bees to take to it and build in it; but although the bees passed through the hive they would not build comb in new hive. Then I drove the bees out of stock, took comb from stock, and tied it into frames, and put into new hive and bees with it. Three days after I went to take the tapes off, got into middle of hive, and down dropped the comb, brood, and all out of frame. I managed to get it out and tie it in afresh, left it a week, and it was fixed all right, and all went on well. The next trouble was the swarm built their ci unb ail across the frames, so in autumn L887 1 had to drive bees, and cut out all combs and tie in frames ; they fixed them all right. In 18S7 old stock gave me two swarms, one June Oth, next June 19th; sold second swarm for 15*., so with swarm and honey that I sold I had a little surplus left after paying for tools, wood, &c, for hives, anil in the spring of 1888 I made hives to hold seventeen frames, and division-board, to try and prevent swarming. I changed my bees every spring intojclean hives for summer. May 7th, 1888, I put crate sections on one hive, on May 14th changed into large hive, putting a frame of sections front of hive, and ten frames, standard, behind the sections, then division- board with passage under, and on top a crate with eighteen sections, and then on May 25th a swarm came off weighing five pounds. I cut out queen-cells. Four days after I had another swarm come < iff from another hive, on June 4th, that I had treated in the same way by giving plenty of room in advance, but they would swarm even after the}' had begun to draw out comb ami stored honey behind the division-board. So you see there is no rule without an exception. I have made seven hives since beginning of 1880, and I do not know how many frames, and two smokers, six section crates, a case for showing one frame of comb-honey, three cork- dust crates, and all done in my odd time after and before going to work. The station-master in our village kept bees, and I got great help from him— help that I shall never forget, for I never went to him to ask a question but he was ever ready to answer and help me as far as he knew, and also to encourage me to push on. Last month [ passed my examination and got my certificate for third-class expert, and I may say that I have five hives of bees second to none in the neighbourhood ; clean, healthy, strong. I feed well every autumn and spring. In my first box I was a bit puzzled to know how to feed, after a bit of thought I hit upon a plan, took my pocket-knife and cut a hole in top, took out piece of wood, put piece of perforated zinc over hole, tied muslin over top of jam-bottle, and put large flower-pot over bottle, then covered over with sacks. I fed with syrup according to Modern Bee-kaepinff, and when I pack them up for winter I place three or four flour-cakes over the frames, and the bees come out well in spring. I am forwarding you a piece of comb from which the wax has been melted. I thought the comb was all wax, but it appears not to be so. Would you be kind enough to tell me, through the next number, what it is made of? I wish you every success with the new Journal, and I hope it may be a means whereby we may tell each other of our successes and our failures, and so help on the class to which I belong, and I believe those for which the Journal was started, namely the cottager. My motto now is ' Persevereance overcomes great difficulties.'- — W, D. Marlow, Teddington, Middlesex. [That which you observed are the cocoons of eacli successive bee left as it emerges from its birth-place ; these indicate the number of generations which have taken place in the cell. These silken pellicles, ever ac- cumulating, gradually reduce the size of the cell, render August 23, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 413 it unfit for use, and affect the size and productiveness of the worksr bee. Dr. Hunter counted upwards of twenty of these pellicles in the cells of an old comb. It foUows that after a series of generations old comb should be discarded, and new comb take its place. — Ed.] WILL REMOVING THE QUEEN INCREASE THE HONEY YIELD? [1708.] Quite a number of bee-keepers assert that more honey can be secured by removing; the queen about three weeks previous to the close of the honey harvest. The theory is, that stopping the production of brood turns the energies of the bees entirely into hone}7 gather- ing; besides this, no honey is used in feeding the brood. Mr. F. Cheshire says that the rearing of a bee, from tho egg to maturity, costs a colony the equivalent of four cells of honey, and it is only because a bee, in a fail- yield, is able to requite the colony with many times its cost, that a large population means surplus ; but if this large population is brought upon the stage after the harvest is over, it becomes a consuming instead of a producing population. Removal of the queen also prevents increase, which, in out apiaries, is especially desirable. When the bee- keeper has a large number of colonies and prefers honey to increase, the prevention of swarming is quite desirable. In some localities and seasons, the honey ilow is early and of short duration, and if the bees turn their energies in the direction of swarming, but little surplus is secured. When a queen is removed a frame of brood covered with bees is usually taken witli her, and they are put in a small hive where they are kept until the time arrives for their return. After her removal if preparations for swarming have not already been commenced in the old hive, queen-cells will at once be started, and the 1 9 thus endeavour to retrieve their loss. At the end of eight or nine days the queen-cells must be cut out, and the bees given a frame of eggs or unsealed brood, from which they can start another batch of cells. Just before this lot of cells hatch (in eight or nine days), they must be cut out and another comb of brood" given. This method of management must be continued as long as the colony is left queenless, because, if hopelessly queenless, the bees seem to lose courage ; they must have a queen or the hope of one. . The small hive containing the removed bees and queen is sometimes placed upon top of the old hive, and when they are returned, the bees that have learned to recognise the upper hive as their home, will, upon finding it gone, gather in a cluster upon the top of the hive, where they will remain a short time, and then take up a line of march down over the front of the hive to the entrance, and join the parent colony again. It will be seen that this method of removing the queen entails considerable labour, and is, we think, not advisable unless to prevent swarming, as the production of brood can be greatly curtailed by contracting the brood-nest, which is a short and simple operation requiring very little work. The method of removing the queen that strikes us the most favourably, is that of allowing the bees to swarm, then removing and destroyhig the old queen allowing the bees to return, and then, at the sixth or seventh day, cutting out all the queen-cells except one. This prevents increase, deprives the colony of a laying queen for about eighteen days, besides furnishing it with a young queen. — W. Z. Hutchinson {Country Gentleman). TEMPER AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EASTERN RACES. [1760.] As to your questions : 1. ' Do you not have in Carniola, and in your apiary, queens which produce some workers with yellow bands?' Yes, yes; and I have yet to see an apiary in Carniola where such do not exist, although I have visited all the most important apiaries existing here, and have seen hundreds of colonies. There is in the race a tinge of yellow blood that crops out every now and then, do the best one may. I breed only from such queens as produce grey workers — such as show no yellow or orange bands — not even a tinge of of orange, and I permit no drones to be reared in my apiary except those from Carniolau queens, whose workers and drones are quite grey ; but there are several native apiaries (Ijox hives) near me over which I have no control, and whose owners care nothing for yellow bands if they exist. There were at my residence to-day two intelligent bee-keepers from the northern parts of Carniola, and I questioned them on this point, and they replied that an occasional tendency towards orange or rusty-red bands was always the case with all Camiolans, but that it was no mark of impurity in the race, since it exists so all over Carniola. This agrees with my own observations made here in 1680, 1883, 1880, 1887, and 1888. Please refer to the article on Carniolans which I published in the leaflet Bees for January 20th, 1886, and you will see that I mentioned this in the second paragraph. 2, 'Are all Carniolans tho gentlest beos known?' Like all races, individual colonies differ in temper. The crossest Carniolans are likely crosser — less gentle — than the gentlest Italians. Put for all this it is none the less true that the race — Carniolans — are far gentler than Italians, and the crossest Carniolans by no means equal in crossness the crossest Italians. And though I kept Italiaus in Michigan for many years, and also several years in Tennessee, and have handled them iu many different apiaries in the north and south, it has never been my lot to meet with any (in America nor in any part of Italy, which I have visited some six or eight times, and the length and breadth of which I have travelled several times), that were as gentle as the gentle Carniolans. When now we take into account the fact that Carniolans are much hardier and more prolific than Italians, we have abundant reason to place them as superior to Italians. Yellow bands or no yellow bands, I hey are better, and the best we can do is to try to avoid the bands in breeding. Hybrid bees are common iu Italy, except in a few districts. Moreover, several prominent Italian breeders have imported Cyprian and Syrian bees from which to breed, in order to have yellow stock ! Perhaps also to give energy to their lazy, sluggish, drone-like workers! 1 suppose when you advertise Carniolans as just ' as prolific as the wicked rdcet,' you mean by this last Egyp- tians, Palestines and Syrians. Surely, you would not commit the blunder of including under this expression also the Cyprians! Well, at any rate, you have made a decided mistake in saying that Carniolans are so pro- lific as any other race, except other European races, which they excel in prolificness. Put Syrians exceed all other races. Cyprians are little behind them, and, in- deed, individual Cyprians nearly or quite equal the best Syrians, Palestines, Egyptians, and Tunisians are close on the tails of all these others; and then come Ilymettus (Greek) and Dalmatian bees standing about the same as Carniolans. Strange to say, if I were to send 3*011 a Ilymettus queen, you would not know her, nor her bees, from Carniolans, except in their temper. The Ilymettus bees, or bees of Attica, will fly at one when ho approaches their hives, with much more vigour than even blacks, and also in greater numbers. Disturb them without smoke, and you will want a brook near at hand to jump into. The same rusty-red bands, only occasionally slightly lighter — almost a dirty white, appear with them as with Carniolans. Dalmatians are curious, shining blue-black bees that 414 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [August 23, 1888. play and chase each other like flies at the hive-entrances. They are not difficult to manage, and are splendid comb- honey bees. — Frank Benton, Carniola, Austria, July 4th, 1688 {American Bee Journal.) THE VALUE OF EXPERIENCE. [1770.] It is very pleasant for any one who is a real lover of the ways and means of bee-culture just for its own sake, leaving out of count the profitable keep of the same, to see from month to month so many valuable hints on the successful treatment of these busy little insects. I believe this is a subject in which we gain more real knowledge by experience or by reading tho experiences of others than by perusing the theories, un- supported by practical tests, of the most capable of writers. One fact among bees is worth a hundred fancies; therefore it is that the portion of your excellent Journal that is more distinctly given to this department is in reality the best for amateurs and cottage bee-keepers ; and to make it answer the purpose for which it is in- tended every available help possible to the practical working in all the departments is the very best and foremost design to be kept in view. Now, Sir, I speak from a part of the country from which I believe you have no correspondence, and with your permission I shall occasionally give you some ex- periences here if it should in any way prove useful and to the benefit of your numerous readers. The weather has turned out almost completely against us here. In the early days of tho summer everything went on splendidly, and we were promising ourselves a large harvest; but the wet weather came, and has so continued almost constantly. So that I am afraid the sections now half filled will scarcely be finished before the season is out, still we may expect some good work yet if the weather would improve. I cannot trouble you any further, but hope to return to something more practical next time. — T. II., Ireland. SPARROWS. [1771.] Those sparrows ! ' They are insectivorous, my friend,' says Mr. Sparrow-defender to the farmer who is deploring the ravages made in his corn-fields. Insec- tivorous ! Aye, I believe you, my lad. Come, stand with me near my amateur apiary, and you'll have ocular evidence of the fact. For some time I have been watching my hives for the purpose of detecting such of the bee-destroyers as ' go about here seeking whom they can devour.' I have heard the snap of the swallow as he caught in mid-air the unsuspecting toiler, either on its outward journey, or on its return laden with pro- vender ; I had seen the wily blue-tit peeping into the bee entrance, and ever and anon hastily seizing a strayed denizen of the hive ; and my suspicions have been excited by the artful movements of an old cock sparrow who, after suddenly darting at an object, gave ' A chirp, chirp, chirp, and afly away.' I also saw his help-meet, Mrs. Cock Sparrow, similarly employed, and the object visible in their bills was none other than a 'little busy bee.' I vowed to exterminate the thieves if possible, and took measures for the ac- complishing of my vow ; when lo ! to my surprise and sorrow, the pair recently mustered their progeny, and commenced to 'train them up in the way they should go,' by audaciously arresting a bee, giving it a fatal pinch, and then parentally placed it in the mouth of the wing-shaking young one. Wasn't that a sight too harrowing to the feeling of any bee-loving Briton ? Yet that was not all it was my lot to endure. One dare- demon actually came within three feet from me, perched himself on an alighting-board, snatched up a bee, and mounted an apple-tree in a jiffy with its prey. Haven't 1 vowed vengeance against the brown-coated tribe ? So soon as I can procure some acidulated drops in the shape of life-curtailing corn, most assuredly I shall commit sparrow-cide exultingly.— Aged Amateuk, Cheriton, Hants. FEEDING BEES WITH LAST YEAR'S HONEY. [1772.] In your issue of August 9th, under the heading ' Notice to Correspondents and Inquirers,' your correspondent 'C asks if it is allowed for exhibits to feed the bees with last year's honey to produce sections for competition for the silver medal of the B. B. K. A. I should have thought no one would have been so dis- honourable as to resort to such means. Feeding in any form ought to be discountenanced. But as it is answered in the Journal of August 16th by ' C. Cox,' I suppose it is done ; and to show the difficulty under the present Rules of the B. B. K. A., I will "state a case I have heard of. The judges go round ; there are put before them (a year like this) two or three exhibits of 1-lb. sections of inferior quality, perhaps unsealed ; they are instructed to award the silver medal to one of them by the Hon. Sec, with the words, ' We have paid our 11. Is., and if we do not award it we lose it altogether, and we have as much right to it as if the exhibits were good ; as if we do not award it this year we cannot get it, nor will they allow us two next year instead.' They (the judges) find one exhibit well sealed and filled (for the year) by honey of inferior colour and brightness. Although they may suspect it is not altogether right, they have no com- plaint before them, nor any means of ascertaining ; they must give it the prize, as there is no other honeycomb equal to it. If any one knows that it is not what it professes to be, they ought to give information to the Sec, or they are as bad as the other. — Alpha. THE ANTENNAE CLEANER OF H YMENOrTERA. Prof. Cook, in an interesting communication in The American Naturalist on morphology of the legs of hymenopterous insects, thus describes the peculiar ar- rangement by means of which the busy bee and others of its kind are enabled to keep the antennas free from soil and dust : In the anterior or prothoracic legs of the honey-bee, he writes, we first notice at the base of the first tarsal joint and in the angle between it and the tibia a short, hollow semi-cylinder. The concave surface of this cavity is smooth except at the outside margin, where there are from seventy-eight to ninety projecting hairs, which under the microscope remind one of the villi of the small intestines of mammals. These teeth, like hairs, pro- jecting as a fringe, form a most delicate brush. The tibial spur is so modified as to resemble a very short-handled razor, the blade of which is for a wide space facing the tarsus, a most delicate mem- brane, and this blade forms a sort of lid to the cavity just described. When the leg is straightened this lid rarely reaches the cavity; but when the first tarsus is flexed upon the tibia it serves as a cover to the cavity and really closes it. As the antennae are not only the sensile tactile organs but also the organs of smell, it is of the highest importance that they be kept from the dust. But the very habits of most hymenop- terous insects, visiting as they do, flowers laden with August 23, 1888.] tHE BRITISH BEE JOUENAL. 415 pollen, or digging in the mud and dust, tend to soil the antennas. If a captive bee or wasp on the window pane of our room have its antennas quietly dusted with lime or flour, we will see it pass an anterior leg forward, draw an antenna through the cleaner, and then pass the fore- legs, now foul with dust, between the brushes formed by the soft hairy inner faces of the basal tarsi of the inner legs. This will be repeated several times, when upon examination the antennae will be found entirely freed from the troublesome dust. (jBrtjocs front ibc fjtbcs. World's End, Newbury, Aug. 17th. — Wails from the Hives fur mini/ the Royal Berks Apiary. — We've had no summer, no chance to gather honey ; we're on the verge of starvation in the middle of August ; our numbers are Legion, every hive teems with a multitude of hungry bees glad to sip even the juice of the raspberries when the weather is warm enough for us to venture forth ; but to-day we are prisoners ; the thermometer stands only a few degrees above zero. Our outlook is gloomy as far as our own labour is concerned, but we trust the ' Boss ' will not let us starve, as some ' Bosses ' do their bees. We heard of even old-established hives of the whole colony dying of sheer starvation last week, and swarms of this year have died wholesale all round the district during the past week or two. — Apis Mellikica. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Letters or queries asking for addresses oj manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt oj their communication. Robert de B. S. — 1. Condemned Bees.— Condemned bees will rarely do any good if placed in empty skeps. We should not think of so wintering them. They ought to be put on frames of comb or, at least, on alternate fully-built combs and foundation. 2. Illegal interfering with Bees. — Place them under lock and key in the loft, moving them during the winter after they have been confined to their hives for four or five weeks by bad weather. They must be allowed an entrance and exit through wall of loft. .'3. Feeding Condemned Bees. — Feed on autumn syrup. It is worth the expense and trouble if you give them combs ; the cost will be about 4s. Novice, Sussex. — 1. Wintering Bees. — Remove supers after honey harvest and examine frames ; if well filled they will winter, if not, feed quickly with autumn syrup. Do not enlarge the hive. 2. Transferring . — It can be done now, but we should advise their being fed up and transferred about April. If you transfer them now do not destroy the combs, there will be brood in them (see answer to 11. de B. S.), as your bees will be but condemned if you remove the combs. 3. Dividing Colony. — It is too late in the season for dividing your colony. Remove supers and feed up for winter. L. VV. R. — 1. Super. — This should be removed now. 2. Feeding. — Feed now with twenty-five to thirty pounds of syrup, as per Cowan's Guide, for autumn feeding, otherwise it may be too cold for the bees to get it properly ripened and capped. 3. Condemned Bees. — Now. 4. Driving two Skeps. — Drive into separate skeps. 5. Securing Qtieeiis. — Surplus queen of no use except to introduce to a queenless hive at once. 6. Hiving Driven Bees.— Join the two lots together by shaking them on a sheet in front of the frame-hive so that they run in together. One queen must be removed first, 7. Bees 'Travelling. — They will be all right for twenty-four hours in the skeps or swarm-boxes. 8. — Comb-building. — They would still build out the foundation. G. M. Thompson. — A reply to your questions will appear in our next week's issue. In the meantime, if you would take the trouble to refer to our article on ' Sugar for Bee-feeding,' which appeared in No. 162, Vol. XIII., you will fiud the subjects you have written on fully treated, and your questions, we trust satis- factorily, answered. West Kent. — 1. Hive with Foul Brood. — We have had exactly the same experience with several stocks. 2. Enamel Cloth. — Yes. E. — Eucalyptus Honey. — This kind of honey was kept last season by the British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch Street. We do not know whether their stock is exhausted. We should be obliged by any bee-keeper informing us where it may now be procured. Enquirer. — Honey. — The sample of honey forwarded is of good colour and of excellent flavour. It has been gathered by the bees from clover, and possibly from the lirues. A. W. House. — Driving and uniting Colonies.. — Your plan will do very well. No. 3 may be driven, or bumped if you prefer it. You will not find muchl brood now ; of course you will lose what there may be if you do not wish to transfer it. The honey you can use. See reply to ' Novice.' St. Dunstan's. — Heather. — Sample enclosed is the real honey heather. You should get honey by the — well, we envy you. P. P. K. — Dislodging Bees. — If they must be got rid of and the roof must not be moved, you might kill them with sulphur, if you can get it alight below them. But are they obnoxious ? Can you not get under the roof and hive them ? ' Father L anqstroth, in acknowledging the receipt of the money subscribed to the Annuity Fund, through the American Bee Journal, expresses himself thus to all who have helped to ameliorate his latter-day infirmities : — " I cannot well express how much the kindness of my bee- keeping friends has done to make me comfortable in my old age. Your kind wishes make what you sent me the more acceptable." He concludes his letter thus : — " May we all meet at last in that blessed fold from which no friend ever departeth." This sentence will strike a re- sponsive chord in every true heart, for he is one of the best and most God-like men we ever met. To spend an eternity with such is worth the " battle of life." ' — A. B.J, SHOWS TO COME. August 29 & i!0. — Derbyshire Show at Derby. Hon. Secretary, VV. T. Atkins, 6 North Street, Derby. September 5 & 6. — Surrey. Hon. Secretary, Captain Campbell. Entries close August .'!0. September 5-7. — Lancashire and Cheshire Association at Lancaster. Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Lees McUlure, The Lathoms, Prescot. Entries close August Kith. business directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Huskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme Peterborough. ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug 23, 1888. Hutchings, A. P., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C. , 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B, Binfield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 0 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins' Bee Company, Limtd., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godjian, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howakd, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godhan, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. IT ot i o E. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent k Co.f 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of alU al Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON. H. M.. 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER. W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bowdley, Worcestershire. DORRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury. Herefordshire. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich. RTJDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHLNSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. Special prepaid ^advertisements. Exchange Column. — Sales of Honey and Second-hand Goods. — Intended to aid Bee-keepers in the disposal of Bee- produce and Appliances for which they have no further use. Terms: Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad- ditional Three words, One Penny extra. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, dx. — Twenty words and under, One Shilling ; for every additional Three words. One Penny. No reduction made for continuous insertion. Now Ready. SIMMINS' NEW BOOK.— 'A MODERN BEE-FARM, AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.' Popular Edition, limp cloth cover, 3s. 9<2. Special Edition, stiff covers, 7s. Orf., post free. The Special Edition includes Photos of the Author's Domestic Hive ; his Home Apiary, and another covered Apiary ; also one of Queen and Workers on a Comb. Of the Author, Rottingdean, Brighton ; Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent Street, London ; and J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. BEE-KEEPING, Plain and Practical : How to Make it Pay. By A. Rusbridge, Is. 6 29 BEES. — Stocks or Swarms in exchange for splendid Single-barrelled Gun, new last season. Address JonN Thos. Gregory, Heathersage, Sheffield. D 31 h H ONEY WANTED.— Extracted and Sections. Samples. Address W. Griffin, 251 Oxford Road, Reading, d 32 WANTED.— Vol. I. Cheshire's ' Bees and Bee-keeping.' Cheap. Address Parkin, Upper Villiers Street, Wolverhampton. • r> 33 Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stranoewats' Printing! Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 323. Vol. XVI.] AUGUST 30, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (Bbitaxml, ^atms^&t. SUGARS-FEEDING UP FOR WINTER. I thank you for replies on ' Sugar,' etc., but should like further light about buying for winter feeding. I have about eighty stocks, so cannot afford to buy the wrong kind. I have used the white granulated sugar in bags in former years, but have lately been led to think that it was prin- cipally beet. Of course there was some cane in it, and it was called ' cane' sugar. 1. Please say why the raw BUgars are not tit for feeding — would the molasses they contain purge the bees in winter ? 2. I am told that many of the cane sugars are retined with acid— is not this acid injurious to the bees ? Are all the best sugars so refined ? 3. What is the difference between the three qualities of Tate's, or Martineau's, or Lyle's ? Are the inferior ones mixed with beet, or do they contain more acid ? 1. I have a difliculty in buying the granulated cane here. Are the cubes as good for bees ? If so, please give mc the name of the best brand, price and suitability considered. 5. Would beet sugar (the white granulated) do for stimulating purposes equally with the best sugars ? Why is beet objected to ? All these questions refer to syrup-feeding. Shall be very glad if the answer can be in next issue, as I wish to purchase as early as I know what will bo safe to be done. I think many other readers of the Journal are anxious to know the safe path for feeding. — G. M. Thompson, Keelby, Uleeby, August 18th. We think the season of 1888 may be reckoned as the most disastrous that modern bee-keepers have ever experienced in the liritish Isles. Flowers have been plentiful, but when in bloom the weather prevented the bees leaving their hives and also retarded the secretion of the necessary nectar in them. In consequence of this, many stocks at the present time are either starving' or bordering on that condition. Last week we drove (bumped) seven stocks of bees in straw Bleeps, the property of a cottager who, in other seasons, has aver- aged from fifteen to twenty pounds of hone)* per sleep. Although these skeps were full to overflowing- with bees — we took four pounds and a half of bees from one having a super on — the total amount of honey obtained from the seven shirks was just a trifle over three pounds; one of them had commenced to succumb, hundreds lying dead on the no r-board. The foregoing we take as almost a general average, in our district, of the condition of colonies left entirely to their own resources. At the present time, therefore, the question left fir consideration is, will it pay to feed the colonies the quantity of stores necessary for their winter's con- sumption ? With the frame-hive bee-keeper his answer, given we should think without am im nt's consideration, wili )).• • Ye:..' Of this theve canuot be two opinions, but with the cottager an outlay of (say) four shillings per hive is a consideration ; yet it will pay him. Many of these poor folks have all their work cut out for them to make two ends meet with their present earnings, but to expend four shillings per colony money down, to keep the bees alive is an impossibility, and so the dying out of such colonics during the coming winter will be most calamitous. Having satisfied ourselves that 'feeding up' is now the only and most remunerative course to pursue, the next question to arise i-, What to fed'-' There is such a variety of sugars on the market that (lie novice scare.' knows which to choose, and even when he docs Un iw the description of sugar, the form ill which it is to be given to the bees is a stumbling-block. ' Dry sugar feeding,1 says one; 'Syrup,' says another; 'Candy,' another; '"Good" candy,' o fourth; 'Place the sugar in a dummy-board,' advises a lifth; 'No, don't; put it on top of the frames,' chimes in a sixth. Well, be- tween all these numerous words of advice he becomes bewildered, and gives the apparent enigma up in despair; and yet each <.f these advisers is giving sound advice in us far as the different requirements of a colony al a given time necessitate. A little reflection on the part of tha bee-keeper will prove to him that dry sugar feeding alone during the coming season will be of no use what- ever; the food given must be syrup — good thick cane- sugar syrup; no washy siigai-and-water — we might almost say, water and syrup. We have for some years tried dry sugar feeding, and have found it in some cases very useful, but where a colony has little or no natural stores it has invariably been a failure; times and times have we endeavouied to rear condemned bees placed in fully-built combs upon dry sugar, but always failed. A colony at commencement of winter having six or seven pounds of stores, if fed on dry sugar will die out, or be of little use the next season, but where a colony has just a shortness of stores barely enough to last it until the following spring, then dry sugar feeding will be in- valuable, and so will candy, both ordinary and ' Good.' Having then satisfied ourselves that for the present season, at least, syrup feeding is our only resource, it behoves us to consider What sugar to use, how to make the syrup, and how to feed. The first question is, perhaps, of the greatest importance, as the quality of — we cannot call it adulterated — unsuitable sugar for bee feeding on the market is enormous. Sugar at the present time is obtained commercially from a variety of vegetable substances ; of course those yielding the greatest quantity are chosen before others, and as the beet-root yields eight per cent of cane-sugar it is the principal, after the sugar-cine, vegetable re- quisitioned to supply the tea and breakfast table. Then again cane (sugar-cane) sugars when damaged, or of bad colour, are after chemical treatment transformed into good coloured and sound samples, and used for admixing 1 with beet-sugar; this description of sugar can be mostly 418 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [August 30, 1888. detected by the smell, by an adept by the sight, the chemicals used in the bleaching process giving a most decided acid odour. The smell of beet-sugar to most people, for our own part we should say to all people, is most nauseous, but when mixed with other sugars and refined it loses to a great extent, but not entirely so, this unpleasant, odour. Sugars of this description are known in the trade by the term ' pieces.' When feed- ing bees such sugar should be avoided. Any respectable grocer will give an applicant the information as to what is, or what is not, ' pieces ' ; they are now selling at Hrf. and 2d. per pound. Loaf-sugar, best qualities, are almost free from beet, the best being ' Tate's cubes' No. 1 quality, black brand, Martineau's cubes first quality ; both these are in hundredweight square, wood cases ; their wholesale price now is for ' Tate's cubes,' 21*. Gd. ; and Martineau's 20s. per cwt. Dutch crushed, sold now in large quantities for preserving purposes, is not to be j-ecommended, as frequently other than sugar-cane sugars are used in its manufacture. This sugar is packed in bags of about two hundredweight, mostly having a lead seal attached to mouth of bag. It is in irregular-shaped pieces of loaf-sugar, together with large quantilies of the dust of same ; as its name denotes it is ' crushed ' loaf sugar. Other descriptions of loaf-sugar we do not re- commend. We now come to a description of sugar which we have found eminently suited for bee-feeding, not only have we found it useful and suitable in this respect, but we never use any other description upon our table, as its clean sweetening properties are far before loaf and raw sugars. It is called ' granulated.' When this was first brought before the bee-keeping public one manu- facturer only produced it, Duncan ; it then was known by the name of ' Duncan's Pearl Sugar.' This firm ceased refilling, and certain manufacturers in America purchased the royalty, manufacturing and importing large quantities to England packed in barrels of about 238 pounds; unfortunately during the last few months no consignments of this sugar have been received in England. This sugar made a splendid clear thick syrup if half-a-piut of water was added to each pound of sugar and made in the ordinary manner. The foregoing sugar being now beyond our reach, we have found an excellent substitute for same in a granulated sugar manufactured by two firms, viz., Messrs. Geo. Crosfield and Co., of 6 Stanley Street, Liverpool (registered trade-mark C. in a diamond,) and Messrs. Lyle, of Glasgow and London ; both these firms guarantee their granulated sugar as perfectly free from beet. These firms, being refiners, will not supply a private individual, but any respectable grocer will obtain the sugar for a consumer; the wholesale price is from 19s. to 20*. Gd. per cwt. ; of course, the grocer will require a profit on these prices, the rate would be about 3d. per pound in small quantities or in hundredweights about 24s. to 2os. Haw sugar--, sucli as Demerara, 17s. to 10s. Gd. per cwt. ; Barbadoes 14s. Gd. to 18s. Gd. ; Porto Rico 15s. to 16s. Gd , will make very good syrup, upon which the bees will successfully winter, but their colour detracts from their merits, as such syrup will stain the combs; this, according to our experience, is the only objection. Deme- rara sugar is imitated by one firm who colour a white crystallised sugar with some material (a trade secret), this sugar can easily be detected by placing a small quantity in the mouth. After sucking a short time the remainder left iu the mouth will be quite white, the act of sucking having removed the colouring matter, which is only superficial. As we do not know what the colouring matter is composed of we object to its being used in the apiary. Porto Pico sugar we find the most suitable for dry sugar feeding as it is very deliquescent, it also, for feed- ing on top of the frames, binds together with slight pressure, so forming itself into almost a solid cake. ' Good ' candy is made by mixing icing sugar with hot honey until of the consistency of putty ; this is much too ex- pensive and on account of the same suitable only for the food used in queens' travelling boxes. The answer then to the question, What sugar to use in making syrup ? will be found to be granulated guaranteed by the makers to be free from beet. How to make the syrup is answered also in the above paragraph, and will also be found in any modern manual on bee-keeping. How to feed is then the next question. The ordinary regulating bottle-feeder will be of little service this season ; a fast-feeder must be used. There are plenty of these to choose from, and where expense is of little object any of the boxes with numerous divisions, upon the principle of which most fast-feeders now are made, can be used, but there are other and cheaper methods of making a fast-feeder, the following one we frequently use :— Obtain a 2d. tin dish, having almost perpendicular sides, into this place a wood float almost fitting the dish, and having a number of holes, freely dispersed, bored through, we place this on top of the frames, after filling it with syrup, aud under the quilts, allowing, by laying pieces of wood across the tin dish, the bees to work up over the edge and take the syrup down. This feeder costs 3d. It is not what we call a tidy way of doing it, but it answers as well as the most expensive feeder. The dish is refilled through the hole in the quilt, and will hold about four pounds of syrup. The quilts must be tucked down snugly all round. A good stock with this feeder can be fed up in about ten days or less if weather is warm. It is very noticeable that beet-sugar is objected to by most bee-keepers, aud rightly so. Although beet-sugar is, chemically speaking, cane-sugar, it is vastly inferior in its saccharine properties to sugar made from the sugar-cane. If we place a quantity equal in bulk to what we usually find with sugar-cane sugar sufficient for sweetening a cup of tea, it will be found quite unsuited to our taste, necessitating a further addition of at least one-fourth the original bulk. Bees fed on same do not winter in at all a satisfactory manner, therefore we think that a knowledge as to where to get a sugar free from beet will be of great service to our readers, and likewise a comfort to our poor little dependants through the rigours of the winter l«88-9. RECOGNITION BY BEES. We presuppose that in a greater or less degree, nearly all questions affecting the physiology of bee life will also refer to a vast number of winged insects, if not to all their various orders. This is true when dealing with such matters as the use of chitine as building material in the fundamental structure of many insects ; or, the clawed feet of Arthropods, or the ring-like arrangements of the bodies of the Annulosse. So that when we notice peculiarities in the conduct of such insects (other than bees) as live in colonies for mutual support, protection, and defence, it will not be an unfair assumption that such seemingly strange or wonderful behaviour will also be found in the life conduct of bee*. Examples of these will also be found in the cleaning out of refusefrom nests, carrying out dead, eating eggs, thecarry- ing in aud feeding the helpless young with stores gathered by individuals other than the parents. Methods of signal- ling and summoning members of the community to aid in various undertakings, the appointment of thesi to this duty, those to that, and so on. Such are a few from a long catalogue of analogies which might be given between the habits of bees and other insects. Their methods of recognition are doubtless not much dissimilar, whether it be the recognition of friend or foe, and whether it bj accomplished by the seeing, speaking, hearing, touching, or smellingorgans, all of which they seem to have in common with most other animals; and this, by the way, forces into prominence the thought that throughout both the August 30, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 419 animal and vegetable kingdoms there seems such a great similarity of parts, that one is constrained to consider one living thing modified into another by a chain of almost imperceptible links. We wonder at the vast diversity there is existing side by side with so much similarity. We have but to ex- amine the contents and construction of a bit of cellular tissue of both plant and animal, and their methods of carrying on their generations, in order to see a wondrous sameness of idea; or, to compare the lichen with the oak (in the vegetable kingdom), the microbe with the elephant (in the animal world), in order to get a view of the gigantic difference co-existing with the utmost similarity. Revenons a nos abeilles. Not long ago we had the in- teresting subject of the vocal organs of bees discussed, and now, let us leave the speaking and hearing senses of bees on one side, powerful but silent factors though they be, and used though the}' be to some extent as aids in recognition, while we consider the most probable method (as it seems to us) by which our bees know each other as friendly members of one community, or the reverse, by which they recognise their queen and their home. It is a truism, about which there is now no argument whatever, that the sense of smell in insects is acute t< i an intense degree ; so extremely attenuated is this faculty that some have classed it as a separate sense from that of smelling as we know it. Night and dusk flying insects are guided about in search of food (and each other) by this sense alone, until their organs of sight are brought near the white flowers, which arrest their vision after having attracted them by their perfumed nectar. So probably do coloured flowers in daylight exactly treat our honey-bees. We are told of the now common practice of carrying the female of the Lepidoptera, thus ensuring the early and near presence of the male insect, guided to the insect-hunter by its acute sense of smell. So pro- bably in the daytime, in the heights of air beyond the ken of worker bee, do the drones and queens of a district dart about at rapid rates, in a selective chase, which seems intended to bj almost perfectly preventive of that very in-and-in breeding which was recently under controversy in our columns; but guided about are the drones by their acute olfactory organs. Within the hive much the same condition prevails we think, that is, in the darkness of the house the sense of smell is the most important factor. We find little or no extra atten- tion paid by the workers to a virgin queen, and when they are presided over by such a one, or even are queen- less, the robber bee or wasp, the mouse or earwig, finds little resistance made by the disheartened insects who are without a ready and rapid means of telling foe from friend. Immediately, however, our queen begins laying or receives stimulating food and attention from the workers all is changed, and a busy, prosperous com- munity jealously guards the portals of the house. What is it, then which produces the volte face I Simply, in our opinion, the queen herself provides the workers with the means of recognising each other and herself in a manner not unlike that adopted by other insects and by other animals. So)id/«res are only dust- like from the egg-layer, but with the ovaries in great activity and prepared liquid food (ready at the top of the tongue of every worker) in large consumption, it is the fact, as is to be expected, that liquid dejecta are pro- fuse, the flooring of the hive receiving the greater portion of this kind of faces f i om the queen, who descends to the lower edge of the comb for defalcation. This, and this only, in our opinion, gives the honey bee the distinctive and characteristic odour or perfume (for such it is) which enables it to recognise the house and every member of its family. Alter the smell of this dejection by phenol, peppermint, or what not, and we are able to unite strangers. Is not this the magnificent smell of bees (not nectar nor pollen ) noticeable when all is prosperity in a good stock ? Let there be no false delicacy about this matter, or let the collector of Oriental perfumes silence the prudish by narrating the source* of his wares. Many people can bear witness to the scent left on the hands after handling a queen, an aroma which attracts workers, and which is a silent, yet sure, means of enabling a swarm in a dazzling blaze of sunlight to keep together, and to gather round the queen as the nucleus of the new home. In case of robbery we spray the hive with carbolic solution, so that the thieves re- turning home may have lost their scent ; we use scent in uniting, to destroy, for a time, the distinctive ' home- scent,' until the hive is again charged with it ; and, believing each hive to have a distinctive smell, by the conduct of sentinels towards wanderers or thieves, surely we may inquire what is the cause of this power of recog- nition hitherto considered wonderful! It may be urged that formic acid (plentiful in every hive) gives the dis- tinctive odour we speak of, but we find this present with queenless bees; and, if this were the case, every bee would have a separate characteristic smell, which would vary by the food it fed on ; besides, the ejection of formic acid by angry bees, or the odour of it from a crushed bee, seems to so alter the ' home-smell ' that there is a rush of bees to the rescue. The smell of poison, therefore, is of such an unusual and exceptional character in a hive, varying in every bee, and producing war in- stead of peace, that we must look in some other direction for the common cause of bee-recognition — the direction we have indicated. There is no question that bees com- municate by tapping on the framework of the head, immediately above the brain, with the antenna?, and also by crossing, rubbing, and touching together these sensi- tive rods, containing, as they do, the ends of the smelling, hearing, and feeling nerves ; yet we have only to watch the behaviour of sentinels towards returning bees, in a busy time, to know that they smell without having time to touch the returning co-inmates of home. True, a satisfactory aroma of incoming honey may be a passport into the hive, as it often is, but bees after a cleansing flight, drones, and young bees, are passed into the lodge with only such examination as could be made by sound, sight, or smell, the latter being, we think, the more cor- rect test of right of entry. All other tests fail to account for that apparently wonderful use of some mysterious method of recognition, an almost (seeming) uncanny application of a hidden faculty. USEFUL HINTS. Weatheh. — The fine weather, on which We Con- gratulated ourselves in last 'Hints,' proved, alas! evanes- cent and fleeting. Again, rain, thunder, storms, and an unusually low temperature for the month of August, have been the theme on every tongue. We are tempted to ask how it is possible that 'Trophies of comb and ex- tracted honey, large and beautiful, exciting the admiration of all ; not only all large in quantity, but of remarkably fine quality throughout,' could be produced in such a season as we have experienced P To that highly favoured Kent, with its myriad cherry orchards, its countless fields of fruit — sainfoin and clover, and what not ? — we suppose must chiefly be assigned the honour of so grand a display at the Crystal Palace Co-operative Exhibition. Well, we are downright envious. Here are our own poor bees unable to store surplus at, all — feed, feed, feed, has been our everlasting song all through the summer ; our hives are overcrowded with population, but honey less, simply because the modicum of honey collected during the very few fine days granted to us has vanished in a trice, as food to the hungry producers. Queens Mating. — Our virgin queens, however, have all mated successfully, about twenty in number, with one exception only, and are increasing the population of their hives as young queens alone can. It is a pleasant 420 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [August 30, 1888. sight to behold the solid sheets of sealed brood furnished by these queens, and destined, we trust, for work in another year more prosperous than the present one. Swallows and Sparrows. — Swallows are plentiful around us, but we never credited them with the whole- sale destruction of bees justly charged upon the sparrows and tomtits. As regards the former, we can fully en- dorse the indictment brought against them by ' Aged Amateur ' in his letter (1771, p. 414, B. B.J.). There are no birds more destructive to bees during the breeding season than sparrows, and he who tolerates their nests near his apiary is certainly most unwise. In the Canadian Bee Journal (vol. iv., No. 18, p. 345) a serious charge was made and proved by Mr. 1). A. Jones, its editor and proprietor, against the martins, as follows : — ' Some years since our home bee-yard was the best of all that we had in which to rear and fertilise queens, but for the last two or three years it has been getting gradually poorer until the present, when we have, as reported in our late numbers, lost probably seventy- live per cent of the queens which went out to mate. We were unable, until a day or two ago, to get any satisfactory reason for the loss. The foreman of the apiary had almost given up the rearing of queens here for a bad job, and was giving his attention to the outside yards where from seventy-live to eighty per cent of the queens were fertilised. Yesterday we were putting up a lot of queens, and our attention was drawn to the fact that quite a number of martins were Hying about the yard. The sky was cloudy, and the bees could be seen distinctly for some distance Hying about in the air. In watching them we noticed a martin catching one on the wing. The thought suddenly Hashed through our minds that, perhaps, this was where our queens had gone. Farther observation proved conclusively that the martins were, at any rate, making away with a great number of bees. Going to the house we procured our gun and brought down one of the martins which was Hying arouud. On dissecting it we found the gizzard crowded almost to bursting with bees. We shot three more, and found the same results. To-day six more were brought down, and we have proved quite conclusively to our own mind that we have been losing our queens' through the presence of these birds. In most instances we found nothing but bees in the gizzards ; they have been ap- parently feeding on our bees for the past two or three years, and we have, until now, been without knowledge of the fact. . . . These birds resemble much in their size, shape, general appearance, and flight, a bird which we found very destructive in the Island of Cyprus. In certain seasons oi the year they came from the south in great numbers, and we lost many queens at our apiary at Larnaca. We should like to have information on this point from others.' We re-echo this wish. Has any English bee-keeper proved that the swallows, or martins, which frequent our homes during the summer season, are equally apicidal in their propensities? This is a most important question for all bee-keepers, and should not be allowed to rest until the full truth has been elicited. Superseding QuEBNS, which are unlikely to be serviceable another year, should now take place'. Those which are in their third year may be advantageously superseded by queens of the present year. The age of every queen ought to be known, which is not so easy of accomplishment as many suppose ; since the superseding is often done very quickly by the bees, during the summer months, unknown to their owners. l'V.u i ii.i-; Wohkebs.- Two colonies in our own apiary have lately made an abortive attempt at supersession abortive in consequence, wo believe, of the cold, ungenial weather. In both cases a dead nymph was found in a sealed queen-cell, and in both cases fertile workers were depositing egg . which apparently induced the bees t,, continue in lull work and to bring home pollen in large quantity. Both colonies are now doing well under im- ported Italian queens, the fertile workers having been deposed by the usual course of shaking all the bees from the combs at a distance from the stands. Condemned Bees. — We have several inquiries re- specting the practicability of building up condemned bees into colonies, strong enough for wintering, by placing them on foundation alone. So much will depend on the autumnal weather that it is impossible to give a categorical reply. With fine, warm weather, and a supply of one or two built-out combs, and full sheets of foundation for each colony, no doubt it may be done. But ' if 'twere done, 'twere well 'twere done quickly ; ' there must be no delay. The populations of three ordinary skeps at least, and a plentiful supply of syrup from a rapid feeder, together with wrapping up warmly, and careful protection from robbers, are requisites for success. Some years ago we united three lots of con- demned bees in the early part of October, and placed them on full sheets of foundation, feeding copiously with thick syrup, and by the middle of November they had eight combs well drawn out and stored with sealed food. On these they wintered well, and swarmed early in the following spring. The autumn was unusually fine and mild, and bright sunny days prevailed. Con- demned bees are also very useful for strengthening we.ik colonies, but when the population of a hive is sufficient to cover well eight standard frames, it is not advisable to add more bees. Too many bees on going into winter quarters is almost as great an evil as too few. Brood without Honey. — Many hives will be found, even at this late period of the summer, full of sealed brood, but possessing little or no sealed honey. In such case we advise that no time be Inst in feeding up to full winter store. From twenty-five to thirty pounds of thick syrup should be given to each colony. We prefer syrup as food in all cases to dry sugar. Copious feeding will put a stop to breeding, and we do not care for young bees hatched later than the middle of September. All supers, except in the heather districts, should now give place to rapid feeders. Bees at the distance of half a mile from the heather-bloom should store rapidly in fine weather. It is the opinion of many practical men that they collect as much honey at that distance as when placed upon the heather. Passage-way over the Frames is preferred by many, and ' Hill's device,' which provides this, is much needed in America. Winter loss, however, is far greater there than here, whatever the cause may be, whether climatic or otherwise. We are in favour of allowing no passage above the combs, but of cutting winter passages through them where such are not provided at the upper corners by the bees themselves. This is more in accord- ance with the natural instinct of the bees than creating a vacuum above. The inducement to build queen-cells in these winter passages we consider no disadvantage, since a better position in the hive than the uppermost and central parts of the comb could not be selected, and we may trust the bees to waste neither time nor labour in the construction of queen-cells when such are not required. Whenever they are required they will certainly be provided, independently of the existence or non- existence of winter passages. Introducing Queens. — A clerical friend sends us the following, which may interest some of our readers : — ' During the last three years I have introduced queens by removing the old queen and then shaking off the bees from one frame after another on to a board slanting up to the entrance of the hive. I began with the frame nearest to the entrance, and worked backwards, returning each frame to its original position. While the hees are scampering back to the hive, and at about the last frame but one, I throw out the new queen and all her attendants amongst the ascending bees, when they have been invariably re- ceived. The nearest approach to failure occurred on August 30, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 421 Wednesday last, August 15th, when I gave an imported Italian queen, received from Messrs. Neighbour, at noon to a stock that had been queenless certainly a month, and which had neither brood nor honey. So many of the attendant strangers were killed that I feared much for the queen's safety, but at 3 p.m. I saw one bee carrying in pollen, and now, thanks to liberal feeding, they are busily bringing in plenty, and the queen is safe. Possibly others have tried the same plan, but I have not seen it mentioned, and I certainly think it the most direct, as it involves but a single operation, and has been, in my experience, uni- formly successful, to say nothing of saving the attendants' lives.' Our friend is correct iu saying, ' possibly others have tried the same plan.' In Mr. Cheshire's Bees and Bee- keeping (Vol. II., pp. 041-2), the method is given in externa, with these concluding words : — ' I have experi- mented on this plan with many hundred* of colonies — condemned bees and others — and can truthfully assert that it has never failed in a single instance.' One word of caution we would add : Do not attempt to practise the method during the daytime when honey is scarce and robbing is rife. At such a time let it be dune in the evening, when the temperature is sufficiently high to prevent chilling the bees, liut, after all, introduction by the improved pipe-cover cage in the hands of an expert is just as safe, and really occupies less time. Let us advise all who intend making introductions to get them over a3 soon as possible. There is less danger of queens being chilled and of robbers attacking now than there will be a month hence. jacket cb %tcrn. [22.] What number of standard frames do you consider best for the brood-chamber t Do you prefer the frames at right angles, or parallel to the entrance? Give your reasons. I consider ten frames, standard size, best for ordinary purposes. I do not think it signifies a straw which way the bars hang, provided you can get from side to side of the hive by going round the back. Bees in skeps start their comb from the highest point inside the dome, and at right angles to the shortest perpendicular section through the cavity of the hive. Hence it is possible to determine beforehand which way the combs shall run in a skep. — E. Ball. I cannot fix upon any specific number, but should be governed by circumstances. A swarm should have as many frames given to it as will give room for all the bees to work on them — one of my swarms this year re- quired twelve frames — and others, from .four upwards. Prior to swarming a stock should have as man}' frames in its brood-nest as the queen and the bees can command, so that there may be no enforced limit to the production of brood and bees; and even during the honey-harvest, when it is good policy to have the queen's power of pro- duction under control, great care should be exercised, or swarming out might be the consequence. I prefer the frames across the entrance way, parallel with the front of the hive. Among the very many reasons in favour of that arrangement, the chief is that of convenience for manipulation by the bee-keeper. The question of which is best for the bees has been already answered, pro and con, and the verdict arrived at appears to be that one way is as good as the other. Assuredly, judging from the way bees act wdien they take" possession of perfectly level domiciles, as, for instance, the spaces between the floor and ceiling of a house, when they almost invariably build across the entrance, from joist to joist, the advocates of the parallel principle gain much support. It being, however, admitted that preference by the bees is some- what doubtful and that results under either system are equal, I claim that the great advantage the parallel system gives to the manipulator carries the point in its favour. Bees will do their best in any hive under any system, and the best hive and system are those which afford most facilities to the bee-keeper. — 0. N. Abbott. Ten frames, with power to add, on removal of the dummies, yet two more. All frames and surplus work right angles to entrance. To reject or accept the charm entrance-crossing frames do present, we were compelled to a practical trial, finding, after three seasons, the right angle to entrance-frame, in a body of the above capacity, and used as a brood-chamber only, give the far better results. With the latter, power to give or with- hold at all times, a more perfect ventilation is to hand ; thus influencing a colony's work and purpose in a manner frustrated by any other system. — John II. Howard, Holme, Peterborough. Ten; right angle to entrance in using long hives. They are more easily manipulated, but in using both ways in my apiary I do not find bees do better in one or other. — TOW fsliLLS. I always use twelve frames for the brood-chamber in the height of the season. It' less than this number 1 do not consider the queen has sufficient cells, and if the ex- cluder-zinc is not used she will deposit eggs in prohibited places. I prefer the frames running parallel to the en- trance. I find the manipulation easier, and the hives have a better shape, where twelve or more frames are used. — Henry Beswick, I consider ten a good average number, but often super on nine, increasing if the colony swarms to eleven or twelve — that is, presuming 1 return the swarm to the hive from which it issues. I have hives with frames both angular and parallel to entrance, but find no differ- ence as regards the well-being of the bees, but 1 prefer the parallel for working with. Your hive opens from the back, forming a good screen from the flying bees, and when crates of sections are on the dummy can easily be moved back and frames removed, if desired, without disturbing the colony. — W. Wooulky. About ten, though I vary them at times from nine to twelve in different hives. I have my hives with frames both ways, and can see no difference. I think it is all a matter of opinion, not affecting the bees very much. — John Walton. I consider twelve standard frames best for the brood- chamber, and prefer the frames to be parallel with the hive entrance, as I consider hives are more easily manipu- lated and better adapted for the prevention of swarming when the frames are so arranged. — H. Wood, Lichfield. Ten-frame hives are handiest, if more- room is wanted double or tier up. So far as bees are concerned I do not think it matters, have wintered about a hundred colonies half each way, with no perceptible difference, but con- sider right-angled hives rather the most easily manipu- lated, especially iu preparing for winter quarters. — John Edky. A strong colony with a prolific queen at its head will occupy well ten standard frames. I prefer the frames at right angles to the entrance for the sake of ventilation, dryness of hive, freedom of passage for working bees, a?id ease of manipulation. — Gbohge Raynor. Ten standard frames. The frames should be at right angles to the entrance. The ventilation of the hive is much better; in hot weather the bees at the entrance can control the temperature between all the combs; and with a wide entrance in winter there will be no mouldy combs if the back of the hive is raised an inch, so that any moisture or condensation may escape by the entrance. In tho combination hives (about which we hear less than we used to do), with the frames across the entrance, there are several disadvantages : — The hive cannot be laised at the back to let out the moisture and prevent the rain from pouring in, or the frames will not hang 422 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [August 30, 1888. true and the combs would not be built in them properly; the liability of the entrance becoming stopped by the dead bees falling in front of it, as has occurred with me ; the frames hanging across the entrance and stopping the ventilation ; the combs getting mouldy; in manipulating the front combs you have to reach over all the others. The majority of most advanced bee-keepers both here and in America use hives with frames at right angles with the entrance. — John M. Hooker. BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY; Ob, Glossary of Technical and Scientific Words used in "Works upon Bee-keeping. Bar super. — Boxes fitted with bars, placed on the top of hive and used by the bees for storing surplus comb honey. Barley-sugar, a. — A confection, usually in twisted sticks, made by boiling sugar till it becomes brittle on cooling, formerly in a decoction of barley. Barren, a. and sb. (O. Fr. baraigne, fr. Celt, brah, a sprout, and une, without.) — Unproductive, sterile; in- capable of producing young ; void of vital germs. Barricade, n. (Fr. barricade, fr. barr, a bar; that which bars out, blocks up, protects, or defends.) — Applied to a construction of propolis and wax erected by bees to reduce size of entrance, and thus exclude enemies. Barricades are frequently found in districts where the death's-head moth is prevalent. Basilar membrane, (mod. L. busilaris, fr. L. basis, base, and L. membrana — membnim, a member.) — The membrane in the compound eye of the bee, found at the base of the great rods, which they perforate in their connexion with the bundle of optic nerve fibrils situated beneath. Batten, n. (fr. Fr. baton, a stick.) — A piece of squared timber, not more than 7 inches broad and 2^ inches thick ; a bar or strip nailed or glued across any- thing composed of parallel boards to hold them together, give strength, and prevent warping ; a ledge ; a clamp. Battened, p. pi, and a. — Formed of battens; strengthened with battens. Bean. n. (Sax. bean.)— Name given to that part of the male organ coming immediately below the ductus ejaculatorius, from its resemblance to a bean, and from its enveloping the spermatophore like the outer skin of a bean. By some writers it is called ' lentil.' Bees. n. pi. (A. Sax. bev.) — Various forms: To thirteenth century, beo ; thirteenth to nineteenth cen- turies, bee ; fifth century, by ; fifth and sixth centuries, be; sixth century, bey. I'l. bees; also to twelfth cen- tury, beoii ; thirteenth to seventeenth centuries, been ; fourteenth century, bene, bien ; sixth century, beene. — Applied to the different species of insects of the genus Apis ; also in scientific use in a general way, including all insects of the honey-gathering division of the sting- bearing Hymenoptera, and comprising two families — the Social Bees or Apida, and Solitary Bees or Andramidce. Bee -bike. — A nest of wild bees. (Provincial, North.) Bee-bird. n. (Sax. bird or bridd, a chicken.) — Name given in BOme localities to the spotted fly-catcher (Muscicapa grisola). Bee-birds, n. pi. — Used by some old writers for bees. Bees are still occasionally called bee-birds in some out-of-the-way rural districts. Bee-bob. n. (Gael, bob, a tuft or cluster.) — A bunch or cluster of dead bees strung together, forming u ball about the size of an egg, and used as a decoy for inducing a swarm to settle. JOTTINGS BY 'AMATEUR EXPERT.' 'Mel Sapit Omnia.' The August number of the American Apiculturist is solely from the pen of Mr. Henry Alley. 1 have ' boiled down' a few jottings from its columns for the benefit of the readers of the B.B.J. Cheap Queens. He is advertising his best American -bred Italian queen-bees at a dollar each (4s. \\d) Lucky Americans, to get a good queen in July for a dollar ! Early in the spring I tried to induce him to send us in England queens at that price, as the postage on ' suuples' is very small. The trouble is with the Post Office, who refuse to pass live bees through the post. Here is work for the committee of the B. B. K. A., to get the absurd restric- tions removed. Feeding Back Mr. Alley is opposed to ; he says it will not pay for the time, trouble, and waste of honey involved. The partly filled sections are of far more value in early sum- mer to induce the bees to take to the supers readily. In this I agree with Mr. Alley, as well as the recent remarks of our own Editor in the Journal. It will not pay. Do Bees Mix Honey in the Cells ? Last year a party of bee-keepers at my house were discussing this point over our ' Bohea.' I never remember seeing anything on the point in print till this month's Apt. Mr. Alley says only ' one kind of honey is stored in any one cell;' thus one will be full of clover, another basswood, another buckwheat honey, and so on.' I have found, especially late in the season, a great diversity in the flavour of the honey stored even in one section. But a microscope is a more certain guide in this m.itter than the palate, as the origin of any honey may be traced by the minute pollen grains it contains. Bee Veils. Mr. Alley says, sooner or later the eyes of all those who use bee-veils will be damaged by the constant straining caused by looking through ' the fuzzy meshes of a cloth bee-veil.' His remedy is to use a good smoker and no veil. The veil I use has been my companion for nine years, and will last nine more with proper care. It was a little costly at first, being comprised of the finest silk net, but it gives one no consciousness of anything being between the eyes and the object; and when not in use I can carry it in my waistcoat pocket. I certainly should not advise any one to do without a veil, but some of the cheap veils sold are a great obstruction to the light, I admit, and possibly may prove harmful in time. Next to silk net, give me Dr. Pine's wire gauze veils, only they are bulky and require a hat-box to carry them in if you are on an expert's tour. Honey Boards and Queen Excluders Are not used by the manager of Api. An attempt is being made to 'boom' them in England, after having been discouraged for a few seasons. It looks as if some one had an ' axe to grind' in the shape of a new inven- tion. It is very wicked of me to make such a suggestion, I am aware, but. I have not had a single queen in my supers again this year, and the Americans are beginning to do without them just as we are asked to rush back to them again. Requeening after a Swarm has issued. Three days after a swarm has issued Mr. Alley Bays if you cut out all the queen-cells, and run a fertile-laying queen in at the entrance, she will always be received and much valuable time will be saved. I have done this suc- cessfully in two cases this season; consequently I think the probability is as he says. August 30, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 423 Getting Bees out op Sections. Several cases of sections were removed from the hives just before sunset and placed in the bee-house, standing on one end. A cage containing a queen was nailed in a box, and the box was then inverted on the section cases. In the morning every bee had left the sections, and most of them were quietly clustering on the queen-cage. The box was then placed out-of-doors, the queen and cage removed, and all the. bees at once proceeded to fly home to their respective hives. Had it been desirable they might have been utilised as an artificial swarm. Some Queer Things about Bees. These I had better give you in Mr. Alley's own words adding a thought of my own as we proceed : — ' I have a number of queens in cages that are used in the yard as decoy queens. These queens I do not feed nor take any care of, except to shelter from the hot sun and cover up when it rains. The cages are placed on a hive, or upon the handiest object, when I am done with them for a time. As soon as left, the bees find them and furnish all the food and take all the needed care. Some of the queens have been used in this way for nearly a month, and they are very bright and lively, and will stand it for a month yet.' (I do not see the object of ' decoy ' queens. — ' A. E.') ' Bees do not seem to notice a virgin queen ; yet, if they are deprived of one, they seem to miss her aud feel as bad as though she had been a fertile queen.' (That is my experience. — ' A. E.') 'I have watched the worker, queen, and drone bees when they seem to be struggling to emerge from the cell, and though they had hard work to crawl out, the bees woidd not offer the slightest assistance nor would they take any notice of them; but should one of those bees die in its attempts to leave the cell the bees would at once remove it. Bather poor judgment in the bees.' (No! nature abhors a weakling, but tolerates it in the highest order of animals. — ' A. B.') ' Should a bee be born with defective wings he is at once invited to go outside the hive, as his room is more valuable than his company. This seems heartless ; yet a bee without wings is of no account. " The survival of the fittest" seems to be the motto of the hive.' (Exactly. — ' A. E.') ' When a bee goes and finds some honey after the general harvest is over, on his return home he makes known the fact to his companions that he has it by shaking his whole body as though trying to remove some dirt from his wings. If more stolen sweets are to be had at the same price, the bee quickly unloads and starts for more plunder, and at the same time several other bees will follow. By the time three or more bees have loaded and return, the whole colony begins to become excited, and in a very short time the roar of the bees indicates that something was wrong in the apiary. By following the hum of the bees the apiarist can easily find the mischief the bees are about. I should have said in the beginning, that when the first bee returns loaded the other bees seem to detain it at the entrance and try to make him tell where he obtained the stolen property.' (I have frequently noticed that a bee loaded with lumen, as distinct from nectar, is detained at the entrance by the guards. — ' A. E.') If you wish to know 'How to prevent excessive swarming; ' or about 'Feeding new swarms : ' or, ' How to get drones late in the season ; ' or, how and when to 'Form new colonies ; ' or, 'How to find a queen;' or, ' Do bees know a stranger ? ' or, ' How to keep brood- combs during winter ; ' or, ' Preparing for winter ; ' and a host of other things, you must get Api, and read it for yourselves, or ask for further information on any point you wish to know about from— Amateur Expert. ASSOCIATIONS. THE SHROPSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Annual Exhibition of this Association was held on Wednesday and Thursday last, upon the occasion of the great Floral Fete at Shrewsbury held under the auspices of the Shropshire Horticultural Society. The comprehensive prize list attracted a fair competi- tion, aud brought together a capital display of bees, honey, hives, and appliances; and we are pleased to state that, although the Association was dissolved three years ago, yet, through the energy aud exertions of the present Hon. Secretaries and Committee, it now appears to be in a most satisfactory condition; this, the second show, held under the new regime, being a very important exhibition. The great speciality in the apiarian depart- ment was the institution of a series of lectures, which were gi ven in a seated tent ; and when it is remembered that 40,000 persons attended the fete, it must be ad- mitted that there is ample scope from which to induce recruits to the humane teachings of modern bee-keeping. The lectures were delivered at advertised hours by -Mr. S. J. Baldwin, the subjects taken being, ' Bee-keeping Past and Present, with comparative results, aud illustra- tions, showing also the Horticultural Value of the li ie ;' ' The Bee-hive : its Mysteries ;' ' Superstitions and their causes and resulting stumbling-block;' 'The various Races of Bjes;' and ' Bee-keeping as an Industry: for the Amateur, for the Cottager, with Hints on Profitable Management and Marketing Honey.' These lectures were repeated each day. and attracted numerous and appreciative audiences, Mr. Baldwin treating each sub- ject in a masterly and exhaustive manner; his usual fluency, pleasing address, an 1 'plain unvarnished tale,' being most attentively heard ; the many resulting queries put to the lecturer at the close of each demonstration proving the intelligent manner in which the information was conveyed and received. The exhibits of honey compared but indifferently with the enormous display of last year, ~t>0 lbs. being staged only as against .six tons, thus showing that Shropshire has also experienced the effect of the bad season. As regards the exhibits generally, the display must be considered as very satisfactory, bearing in mind the short spell of summer weather we have experienced. The collection of appliances was far in .advance of any- thing previously attempted in the locality. Eighteen hives were entered in the Single Hive Open Class, Mr. Redshaw's First R. A. S. E. Nottingham Hive again securing first prize, a well-made hive by Mr. Palmer, of Wellington, Salop, built closely following Mr. Redshaw's pattern, being placed second. Messrs. Abbott of Southall secured first prize for the collection of appli- ances with an excellent display. Mr. Baldwin of Bromley being second, a special third being awarded by tha judges to Mr. Whittingham, Shrewsbury, thus showing the importance of the class. Mr. Lewis, of Oswestry, who, we heard, has been appointed an agent for Mr. Meadows, being commended ; over twenty new inventions appeared in this class, many being of real utility. The whole show afforded a real practical lesson in modern bee-keeping to the novice and 'skeppist;' and this, taken in conjunction with the lectures, really proved a most instructive exhibition, the tent being entirely thronged the whole time. The comb-honey exhibited by Mr. W. G Preece, whose name we remember in this con- nexion at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition at South Kensington, aud the run honey of Mr. Goduian, and a particularly attractive show stand of Mr. Palmer's, being much admired; while so great were the inquiries round the Observatory Hives, that it was almost necessary to tell off an attendant to comply with visitors' demands. The handsome show case of the Association's 424 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [August 30, 1888. silver and bronze medals to be awarded at the exhibi- tion, added to the attractiveness of the exhibition, and especially also the nicely-mounted specimens of ' honey- yieldiug plants ' contributed by Messrs. Abbott. The judges were Thomas W. Cowan, Esq., and H. Clegg', Esq., of Loppington Hall, Shropshire, whose awards gave every satisfaction. We are pleased to congratulate the Committee of the Shropshire B. K. A. upon the results of their labours, not forgetting also that to the Hon. Sees, great credit is due for their exertions on behalf of the Shropshire bee- keepers. Below is the official list of prize takers : — ■ Honey. — Class 1 — For the best exhibition of comb honey in sections to exceed 601b., silver medal and 11. — 1, W. G. Preece, jun., Shrewsbury. Class 2— For the best 48 1b. sections of comb honey, silver medal and 15s. — W. G. Preece, jun. Class 3 — For the best 24 lb. sections of comb honey, silver medal and 10s., for the second best ditto, bronze medal and 5s.— 1, W. G. Preece ; 2, S. J. Baldwin, Bromley, Kent. Class 4— For the best exhibition of run honey to exceed GO lb., silver medal and 10s. — 1, John Palmer, Wrockwardine. Class 5 — For the best 48 1-lb. bottles of run honey, silver medal and 7s. 6d. ; for the second best ditto, bronze medal— 1, A. Godman, St. Albans ; 2, T. E. Horton. Class 6— For the best 24 1-lb. bottles of run honey, silver medal and 5s. ; for the second best ditto, bronze medal — 1, S. J. Baldwin ; 2, T. B. Horton. Class 7 — For any novelty in honey of sufficient interest — Not awarded. Appliances, Hives, &c— Class 8— For the best hive suit- able for modern bee-keeping, It. ; for the second best ditto, 10s. — 1, Charles Bedshaw, Leicester, won with first prize Nottingham hive, E.A.S.E.; 2, J. Palmer, Wrock- wardine ; h. c, W. G. Preece, jun. Class U— For the best hive as the foregoing, the work of an amateur, 10s. ; for the second best ditto, 5s. — 1, J. Palmer ; 2, J. Bradley. Class 10— For the best collection of apiarian appliances, 1/. 10s. ; for the second best, 15s. — 1, Abbott Brothers, Southall, London ; 2, S. J. Baldwin ; special third prize, T. Whitting- ham, Shrewsbury. Class 11 — For the best honey extractor — 1, bronze medal, W. H. Lewis, Oswald Road, Oswestry. Class 12 — For the best section rack — 1, bronze medal, S. J. Baldwin. Class 13— For the best 1-lb. sample of super- foundation— 1, bronze medal, W. H. Lewis. Class 14 — For the best new and useful invention — 1st, bronze medal, T. Whittingham. Bees. — Class 15— For the best exhibition of live foreign bees with queen, in Observatory hive — 1, silver medal, W. H. Lewis ; 2, Abbott Brothers, London. Class 16 — For the best exhibition of live British bees with queen, in Observa- tory hive — 1, silver medal, J. Bradley, 2, W. G. Preece, jun. Artisans' and Cottagers' Classes. — Class 17 — For the best exhibition of notless than 24 lbs. of comb honey, 15s. ; for the second best ditto, 7s. 6<;.— This class was not filled. Class 18 — For the best 12 lb. sections of comb honey, 10s. ; for the second best ditto, 5s.— Not filled. Class 19— For the best exhibition of not less than 24 lb. run honey, 10s. ; for the second best ditto, 5s.— 1, Richard Watson. Classes 20, 21, 22, and 23, were not tilled. (Cottagers' classes.) YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SHOW. Huddehsfield. Among the many very interesting exhibits at this show none was more popular among those interested in the matter thnu that illustrating bee-driving. In this department Mr. R. A. Grhnshaw, the lion. Sec. of the Yorkshire Bee-keepers' Association, gave lectures in the bee-tent at intervals, with the assistance of Mr. W. Dixon, Leeds, their expert. The life-history of the bee, worker, queen, and drone, was sketched, and the manipu- lation (if the bar-frame hive and the obtaining of honey by means of .sections and the extractor, were explained. Hue prominence was also given to the advantages of l lern or scientific bee-keeping, in which the lives of the bees are preserved, over the old method of keeping bees in the straw skeps of, what we hope are, bygone genera- tions. One point was made quite prominent, that if we were not repaid a single drop of honey it would still be a duty we owe to the community to keep bees for the sake of the benefit they confer upon the fruit, clover, bean, and other crops. It is a pretty well conceded fact that the cross-fertilisation of plants gives us a better quality of seed and a larger volume of the surrounding fruit ; the assimilation of nitrogenous matter by fertilised seeds is more rapid and profuse when the pollen is brought from another plaut, than when, so to speak, self-fertilised. The humane aspect of scientific bee-keeping was laid stress on — that now-a-days bee-keepers preserve the lives of their bees ; whereas by the old methods they were ; condemned to perish in the sulphur pit. There is no doubt about one thing, that bees can be handled without much fear of being stung, for Mr. Urimshaw handed | round, outside the bee-tent, frames covered by bees, queen, drones, and workers, exhibiting to the spectators the varying phases of bee life, without receiving a single sting, and this on a sunny day without any protection of veil or gloves, the only iutimidaut being smoke used by Mr. Dixon. This has the effect of frightening the bees into gorging themselves with their stores, when, the honey sac being full, they are disinclined to sting. The collection of bee-appliances was one seldom met with, even at the Yorkshire Show, and consisted of every known convenience for dealing with the various exigencies of bee-life. Mr. A. C. Jemieson, York, had one of his cottage hives and his ' York ' champion hive. The latter is a remarkable combination, and contains every modern improvement. He also showed his ' Dreadnought Hive,' and a 'A 1' doubling-hive, besides a collection of articles of use to the bee-keeper. Mr. John Dixon, of Ayton, showed his improved patent bar-framed hives and super- crates, section -boxes for straw hives, and a rather cleverly -conceived bar -lifter. Mr. W. Dixon, Leeds, bad on view a complete stock of hives and appliances, and a novelty, worked by bees hi the hive, giving a good representation of the words ' God save the Queen.' He had a decidedly novel rustic bee-hive also on the stand. Messrs. Abbott Bros., London, too, had a good show of useful appliances. Among the prize-winners Messrs. Abbott, London, took first honours for a bar-frame hive, not exceeding 15*. in value, and Mr. A. C. Jemieson, York, took second place. The class was above the average. In the next class for bar-frame hives, not exceeding 10s. in value, the honours were also taken by the same exhibitors : but in straw hives Mr. William Dixon, Leeds, comes in second, Messrs. Abbott still re- taining the premier position. They were also successful in another class of straw hive, Mr. John Dixon, Ayton, coming in second. In bar-frame extractors Messrs. Abbott are first, and Mr. William Dixon second ; but in extractors for sections on any principle, the honours are reversed. In the class for samples of honey in pound- sections, Mr. C. Atkinson, Tockwith, had an easy victory, securing both first and second prizes. The following is the list of awards : — Bar-frame hive, not exceeding 15s.: first, It., Abbott Bros., Southall, London ; second, 10s., Arthur C. Jemieson, 26 Colliergate, York ; reserve, William Dixon, 5 Beckett Street, Leeds. Bar-frame hive, not exceeding 10s. : first, 1/., Abbott Bros. ; second, 10s., Arthur C. Jemieson ; reserve, William Dixon. Straw hive, rlat-topped, with hole not less than three inches wide : first, 1/., Abbott Bros. ; second, 10s., William Dixon ; reserve, Arthur C. Jemieson. Straw hive, flat-topped, with hole not less than three inches wide : first, 1/., Abbott Bros. ; second, 10s., John Dixon, Great Ayton ; reserve, William Dixon. Exhibit of bee-furniture ; first, 1/., Abbott Bros.; second, 10s., Arthur C. Jemieson; reserve; William Dixon. Honcy-extractor, for bar-frames: first, ]/., Abbott Bros.; second, 10s., William Dixon; re- serve, John Dixon. Extractor or sling, for sections on any principle: first, 1/. .William Dixon; second, 10s., At>l>ott Bros. Sample of honey in six 1-lb. sections : first, 1/., and August 30, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 425 second, 10s., C. Atkinson, Tockwith, York. Super honey in other form : second, 10s., William Dixon. The Rev. J. Lingen Seager, of The Grange, Stevenage, Herts, acted as judge. Concspiiuciicc. TODMORDEN FLORAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. On Saturday, Aug. 18, the thirteenth exhibition of this Society was held on the Scaitcliffe estate. There was a good display in all classes, and the awards of the judges appeared to give general satisfaction. A new feature in this year's programme was the bee department. For this the public are indebted to the exertions of Mr. G. II. Greenwood, Post Office, Fastwood, and the enter- prise of the Todmorden committee. Todmorden is situ- ated partly in Lancashire, ami partly in Yorkshire, but by mutual arrangement between the Honorary Secre- j taries of the two County Associations the district has been assigned to the care of the Yorkshire Bee-keepers' Association. The tent on this occasion was in charge of Mr. W. Dixon, Leeds, who displayed specimens of all the appliances requisite for modern bee-keeping. He also exhibited a small observatory hive well stocked with bees, and gave practical illustrations of the man- ipulation of the bar-frame hive. Lectures on bees and bee-keeping were given at intervals by Mr. B, A. II. Grimshaw, Hon. Sec. of the Yorkshire B.K.A., and Mr. J. Dodgsou, Hon. Sec. of the Craven District B.K.A. Fach lecture was attended by a large and interested audience. BliF AND HONEY SHOW AT WOTTON- UNDER-EDGE. A show of bees, hives, and honey, was held iu con- nexion with the Wotton-under-Edge Horticultural Society, on Tuesday the 21st August. Although the weather in the morning assumed a threatening aspect, it gradually cleared off, and the weather was everything one could wish for. Owing to the complete failure of the honey crop in this district, it was thought by some that the exhibition would be a failure, but bad as the season was there was staged about two hundredweight and a half to the surprise of a good many ; but it was chiefly last season's honey. This was the first bee show ever held in this town. The honey tent drew crowds of people through it, the stage being very tastefully decorated with plants in bloom kindly lent for the occasion by the Rev. E. M. Farquhar. During the afiernoon Mr. W. D. Slade, Hon. Secretary to the county, gave lectures and manipulations with the bees in the driving tent. About 300 people paid for admission to witness the mysteries of the hive. Following is a list of awards, all the classes did not lid: — For the best twelve 1-lb. bottles of extracted honey: 1st, Mr. E. ltobin-on; 2nd, -Mrs. Perrett; 3rd, Itev. N. W. Gresley. For the best twelve 1-lb. sections: 1st, Mr. W. Fowler; 3rd, Mr. Davis. The best 6 lb. of extracted honey : 2nd, Mr. Davis. For the best bar- frame hive made by a cottager : 1st, G. Venn ; 2nd, A. J. Brown; 3rd, \V. Griffin. Dees in observatory hive: 1st, \V. Griffin; 2nd, A. .1. Drown; 3rd, W. Griffin. Wax: 1st, W. Griffin; 2nd, G. Gunston ; 3rd, A. J. Brown. We should like to take this opportunity of thanking Mr. Slade for his valuable services. — A. J. Bbown, Local Secretary. Bees on the Raid. — On Wednesday, the 22nd inst. a great number of bees made a descent on the confectioner', stalls in Bishop Auckland market-place and literally took possession of them. Business was stopped, and the owners of the stalls took to flight. It is presumed that the cold ami inclement season had deprived the insects of their ordinary source of sustenance, and that they were driven bv mine from the country into the town. The Editor does not hold himself responsi dsfot I ■ opinion? expressed hi his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents ore requested to wtite on ons w&o of the p iper only, and giee their full names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Heelings, Echoes, Queries, Boots for Review, ,(•,-.. must be addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," do tfessrs. Stranystcaya and Sons, IWer Street, Cambridge CliCUf, IK.CV All business communications relating to Adoertisements, ,i , must be addressed to Mr. J. Hockle, Kings ljangiey, Herts (suo jjnt ua ;i of .Mi- irtieements.) %* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query preeiouilg in, rted, loili oblige '"/ mentioning the ii umber of He ' tter, as well a* th pajeon which itappi ire. THE MINORCAN QUEEN. [1773.] 1 am glad to be able to say that the one gentleman of the B. B. Committee who took sufficient interest in the introduction of ' new bl 1 ' into England to express a willingness to receive a young Minorcan queen, has duly received the first that saw daylight in this country. Fear of the weather we have all been deploring, caused me to offer princesses only, and, fortunately, my moderation was well grounded, for had 1 offered fertile queens I should have been in a difficulty, for out of fourteen other princesses duly hatched in full hives, 1 can only find one that has proved fertile, aud many have apparently departed. I was successful in my efforts to induce the original queen to deposit a large number of eggs in drone-cells, aud they duly became larvae, but I could not persuade the worker bees to rear them, although they were kept well supplied with food — the cold, wet weather was evidently too much for them. A second batch of queen-cells has been raised in the hope of remedying the queen failures, but continuance of unfavourable weather may spoil this venture, as it has spoiled so many in this unparalleled season. I must beg to be excused from attempting to enter upon the merits or demerits of the Minorcan race, they, in common with all others, having had no chance of showing of what they are capable. Then/ is, however, time for. things to mend, even though they become patchy, and it may become possible to give assurances of some of the Minorcan characterstics— C. N. Abbott, Svuthall, August 25th. DIVISION BOARDS. Their Utility and Historic Use in Bee-keeping. [1774.] Division-boards should have a place in every well-regulated apiary. In fact, every well-managed apiary will include "the division-board' as a necessary adjunct to successful handling of bees. The division- board fits into a place in the handling of bees which no system of management can fill without them, hence they are a necessity. This necessity in their use has grown out of the system by which bees are kept, an understanding of their ways and workings calling into requisition many things, as moveable frames, the extractor, section-cases, honey-sections, aud the various appliances which render bee-keeping profitable, and, among them all, the division- board ranks as important a feature as either of the requisites named. Introduction of Division-boards. — Although the use of division-hoards in the apiary as a factor of prominence dates lack but a few years, it may be known to some of the more advanced apiarists that as long ago as 1652 a patent was ta en out on division-b lards by Itev. L. L.Langstroth. This was thirty-six years ago; but the division-board, we think, did not verj generally come into use till quite recently. -Mr. Langstroth's board was made as follows, and will be found described on page 37il of bis book, The Hire and Honey Bee : — ' One piece 1 8g x 9g x 5, each side of each end made 426 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [August 30, 1888. made j-inch bevelling, for easy adjustment. One piece § x § x 10| nailed on the first piece, like the top-piece of the moveable comb-frames. By this divider the size of hive can be determined at will.' This reveals the use the division-board was first put to, to contract or enlarge the size of the hive. And this is an important matter when rightly considered. While there are various ways in which division-boards are useful in handling bees, perhaps the two most impor- tant advantages derived from their use is, in preparing colonies for winter, and in adapting the size of the hive to the strength of the colony in spring. Preparing Bees for Winter. — In preparing for winter, it is known to be best to allow the bees only space according to their numbers. That may be to occupy four, five, or six frames. We all know that it is easier to heat a small room in winter than a large one, and so this principle applies to the bee-hive. And again, we do not want to depart from established rules in building hives as to size ; were we to do so, we might lumber our premises with a large number of different - sized bee- hives, of no use only as occasion called for wintering, and occasionally for nuclei colonies in summer. If we use division-boards, the question of making hives to carry eight or ten frames is easily solved. It is an advantage to have some hives which will carry ten frames, as side-storing can then be practised if one like 3 that way, and in working for extracted honey it is an advantage to use ten frames in the lower storey, as a prolific queen will occupy that number and leave the upper storey clear of brood. Then, if such hives are desired to work for comb honey, and five to six frames in the brood-chamber are found sufficient, the contrac- tion is easily made by using division-boards, or the same contraction made for wintering, and, if deemed necessary, the spaces between the walls of the hives and division- boards can be filled with some material which is non- conducting to cold, as leaves, chaff, &c. Use of Division-boards in Spring. — In rearing large nnmbers of bees early in the season, queens are induced to early breeding from two especial causes, viz., heat and a supply of proper food. A requisite of spring care is to reduce the size of the brood-nest to just as small compass as the bees can comfortably fill. Having done this in the fall previous, while the bees were more numerous, crowding them upon six frames, we will say, April may find the bees only able to cover two frames comfortably. The division-board upon each side has been the means of contracting their domicile, enabling the bees to more easily warm up their house; and the consequence is, the queen will commence laying earlier by some weeks than if the whole space of eight or ten frames had been given the colony in the fall. Often winter and spring dwindling will be such that two frames will bj adequate to the requirements of the colony. It is, then, of the highest importance that the division-boards be used so that the heat may be utilised, and by that means a few bees be enabled to do in small contracted quarters, in the way of rearing brood, what double the number could not do in three or four times the space. Division-boards in Surplus Chambers. — In case of ex- tracting, division-boards are indispensable to place over the brood-chamber and grade the number of frames as they are put in from time to time. It is a fact known by all practical bee-keepers, that bees, in order to build combs, must keep a high temperature where they are working, to keep the wax in a proper consistency to admit of being manipulated into combs. Hence, if the surplus room is much larger than the bees can occupy, because these conditions of necessary heat are waiting, comb-building will often be delayed for the necessary amount of bees to engender sufficient heat. By the use of division-boards, combs or sheets of foundation can be supplied as the bees require them, and are able to occupy them. Construction of Division-boards. — How to properly construct division-boards is of some importance. Solid boards answer very well, but such are liable to warp and make their use not quite so handy as those that are true. Those made of thin material and the interior filled with chaff, have advantages. Whatever kind are used, it is of importance that the ends have some material of a yielding nature tacked to them, so as to allow this board slight friction to hold it when crowded into place. — L. F. Abbott, Lewiston, Maine. (Read at the Maine Convention.) — American Bee Journal. WHAT BECOMES OF THE BART LEFT IN THE FLESH ? [1775.] I am requested by a subscriber to explain how the bee-sting is removed from one's skin when broken off in the act of stinging. He suggests that, if it does not work out, it must be absorbed by the system ; in which case be thinks that some bee-keepers must be largely composed of stings. The skin consists of two layers — the outer scarf skin, or cuticle, also called epidermis, and the inner true skin, or corium, also called cutis vera. The outer skin is made up of what is known as scaly, or pavement epithelium ; that is, it consists of innumerable minute overlapping scales. The inuer scales contain pigment in their sub- stance, and thus the colour of skin. The albino has no pigment, and hence his skin is transparent, and looks pinkish, as we look right through and see minute blood- vessels filled with blood. The inner skin consists of an outer part, which, like the cuticle, has no nerves, and so is not sensitive to pain or touch. This is made up of white fibrous tissue and small involuntary muscles that contract if the skin is chilled, and drawing the skin away from about the hairs forms the well-known 'goose flesh.' Beneath this layer, which is known as the reti- culum, because of its intercrossing fibres, is the papillary layer. This is the very inner part of the skin. It takes its name from the fact that little teat-like processes — papillae — push up against the outer part of the skin. The ridges seen on the inside of our hands are but the elevations of these papilla:. Into these papiike from beneath come nerves and blood-vessels. Thus from here comes all nourishment to the outer skin ; and here is the sensitive part of the skin. Thus, a bee to hurt us must push its sting through the cuticle and reticulated part of the corium till it pierces the papilla;, where the blood receives the poison, and the nerves twinge with its venom. Now, as we understand the anatomy of the skin we can see bow the sting, if broken off in the skin, is loosened and liberated. The scaly, or outer skin, is con- stantly being worn off. When we bathe, the water often is clouded with these minute scales. The snake sheds its scales once a-year ; but we are doing it all the time. As these scales are constantly wearing off, any minute portion of .sting which is held in them is also worn off and separated from the body. Even if a small portion of a sting is caught by the reticulum, tho part would probably suppurate and loosen the sting, as is done with slivers that enter and are caught and held in the skin. We thus see that a bee-keeper is not made up of stings, by any means. In case of porcupine quills, which are barbed like a bee's sting, they are thrust through into the muscle, so that every move of the muscle pushes them ; and as they cannot go back, they are pushed on. Thus a porcupine quill may pass some distance through the unlucky animal which has caught them in its tissues. — FrtOF. A. J. Cook, Agricultural College. Mich. (Gleanings in Bee Culture), August 30, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 427 ROBBING. When once Started it is very Difficult to Control. [177G.] When the honey-flow is over, and there is very little to be gathered, there is danger of one colony of bees robbing another. If, in an unguarded moment, a pilfering robber is allowed to enter a hive and escape with a load to its own hive, the bees there will be quick to detect it, and the robber will go back with a dozen excited bees determined to have some of that honey or die, and if the entrance is not strongly guarded they will be apt to get it. Then a still larger crowd comes next time ; the excite- ment runs high ; battle ensues, and the bees of other hives are drawn into the fuss, and the long and short of it is, they make a ' run ' oil the unfortunate colony and clean it up in a few minutes. Like a liou that has tasted blood, their fury is aroused, and they are ready for other victims, and woe unto the colony that i> unable to withstand the first assault. To guard against such disastrous proceedings, we must be particular in opening hives during a dearth of honey-flow, and not let robbing commence. We must see that there are no cracks whereby a prowling robber- bee may sneak iu to get the coveted treasure. Then keep the entrance contracted to correspond with the strength of the colony, so that they miy be able to guard it. The man that has one real good case of wholesale robbing on his hands will never forget it, and for the time being at least he will wish he never saw a bee. — J. M. Jenkins, Metumpka, Ala. (American Bee Journal). THE SEASON. [1777.] The long winter of '87r'88, with its ac- companying east wind that continued far into the spring (?), militated severely against the progress of our colonies. Nevertheless, swarming began on May 19th, when three strong lots were hived, and on the 24th three more came forth, and were duly housed, and after that swarms and casts came in irregular order far into July, the last issuing on the Oth of the present month. All our casts were hived among three, four, or five combs, tilled (?) with syrup, with one frame of foundation, for the amusement of the bees prior to the young queen assuming matronly duty. Never- theless, two lots went wrong at the beginning of July, deserting their hives and leaving small patches of sealed brood. In June about 00 lbs. of honey were extracted from two hives, and twelve sections taken from another, and at that time it would have been easy to have taken several hundredweight of ex- tracted honey, but being busy, and not wanting it at the time, it was left with the bees, and when it was wanted, it was gone. During the summer, or rather the summer months, we have melted '.ih cwts. of loaf-sugar into syrup, nearly the whole of which the bees have con- sumed, and it is highly probable that another 5 cwts. will be required to lit the bees fur wintering, as we have no autumn yield of honey in the neighbourhood. Our bees got nothing from our crocuses or arabis in spring, and nothing from the limes and white clover in summer. They have been very busy on limnanthes, comfrey, and blue veronica. These plants cannot be too highly spoken of, the last two being perennial, and giving no trouble in cultivation. Feeding in hope lias secured us plenty of bees, combs, and brood, but honey is not to be tound iu the apiary. — C. N. Abbott, Southall, August 2~>th. SEASON IN LINCOLNSHIRE. [1778.] Judging from those districts in Lincolnshire which I have visited, and from reports which have reached me, I fear the present season will have to be recorded as one of the most disastrous both to bees and bee-keepers that has been known. Early spring forage was all but a blank, and where feeding was neglected, stocks were at a standstill or losing ground, and since there have only been catch days for what little nectar may have been secured. At the present time stocks are sorely in need of the syrup-bottle, and quite rare cases where I have found supers occupied. With the skeppist swarms have not been numerous, though plenty of bees. Clover late, but has been abundant, unfortunately to little purpose. Sun and warmth being absent, the limes, usually of short duration, were alike of little help. All is now over for this season, and where the bee-keeper's harvest will be the question. — K. R. Godfrey. P.S. — Not much honey to be had this year at Qd. per pound, I guess. SWARMING. Do Bees Select a Habitation before Swarming? [1770.] Although the above caption is destitute of originality, the question is a much-mooted one, judging from the correspondence, /wo and con, that has appeared in the bee-periodicals during my acquaintance with the subject. As I have been much interested in the diversity of opinion by those who have given their testimony with reference to bees ' seeking a home before swarming,' I feel prompted to add my mite*to the general fund of ob- servation and experience. Eight years ago I had a powerful colony of black bees in a box-hive. The colony had wintered excellently, and as the season was favourable, by the middle of June they began to 'bang out' in large masses, which the knowing ones admonished me to be a sure indication that I might expect a swarm from the colony at any time. As I had but three colonies at that time, I watched them closely for about three weeks. The morning of July 8th, 1880, was cloudy with a heavy fog, and as I could not work at haying, I took my axe and went to repair some fence about a hundred rods from the apiary. Being busy with the fence, the thought of bees had deserted my mind, until Old Sol from a rent in the clouds warned me of my forgetfulness. It may I"' truthfully imagined that I took a bee-line for the apiary, double- quick and— more. On my arrival, I found my long-looked-for swarm clinging to the under-side of a large limb, on an old- fashioned apple-tree. The cluster was about two feet long, and must have contained at least ten quarts of bees — a black, seething mass, presenting to a novice of my experience a serious job of hiving, with the ex- perience of the hiving of but one swarm to ' fall back on.' After ' fixing up ' as per instructions, viz. : — Pants tucked into my boot-legs, thick coat on and buttoned up, thick woollen mittens on my hands and a couple of yards of musquito-netting enveloping my head, I tackled the swarm with brush and basket. A couple of swoops with the brush landed about two-thirds of the bees in the basket ; the remainder went back to their hive. After emptying my captives on a shirt in front of the hire that I had prepared for them, and getting them started iu, I went into the house to ' unharness,' and cool off. In a short time I returned to the yard, to note the success of my efforts; and while I stood compla- cently observing laggards disappear as they entered the hive — presto! out they all came with a rush, some returning to the old hive, while the rest, after circling in the air awhile, clustered on a high limb. I took them down on the limb and put them into the hive again ; but they would not stay. On coming out, they circled around a few minutes, as if to marshal their forces, and took a bee-line for the woods, some ten rods distant. After following the rovers twenty rods or more, and marking their course, I concluded to give up the pursuit and postpone the concluding act of the drama to a more favourable opportunity, deciding that 428 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL [August 30, 1888. the weather was extremely hot, and that two quarts of bees were not worth further effort. On the third day after leaving' the. swarms, I took the line where I left it, and after following- the directions a short distance, I found my absconders passing in and out of a knot-hole in the trunk of a decaying hemlock, twenty-five feet from the ground, not more than forty rods from the apiary. Ou reviewing the course afterwards, I was satisfied that the swarm went in a direct line from where they were clustered when I attempted to hive them, to the tree in which I found them, impressing me very strongly in the belief that they had selected a home in that same tree prior to leaving the maternal domicile. Had I kept the swarm in view, from the time they left the bee-yard until they reached their abiding-place, the proof of pre- emption— a 'fore-thought ' — would have been very con- clusive.— J. F. Latham, Cumberland, Maine {American Bee Journal). BEE-KEEPING. That keeping bees should pleasure bring, May little wonder cause, For honey is the sweetest thing Produced by Nature's laws. And Nature's products far outmatch A chemist's highest art; The bees the inspiration catch, And each fulfils its part. Without a ruler, yet all rule, With one design possessed Each does its duty to the full, And works as seemeth best. Dunbah. dBtbaes from tbc $jibcs. Fairspeir Hawse, Aecott, Oxford, August 24fh. — The honey season here is completely over. My six stocks have yielded just thirty-four sections, which was collected during the first few days of June. On looking into the hives a short time ago, I found the two heaviest, or rather strongest, had just one pound each only of winter stores. I had eight swarms, but I turned them all back except one, so I have now seven stocks for 1889. I have just bought 140 pounds of sugar, and have begun to give them twenty pounds each in tin square feeders. Strange to say, my worst stock last year was my best this year. Unless the cottagers feed them up, I imagine there will be few bees in this district next season. I have ' weighted ' several stocks round here, and the heaviest has only been sixteen pounds, hive included. I find that a hive will take down twenty pounds of sugar boiled into syrup in a week. The reason I was able to get any sections tilled at all in a season like this was owing to my having them full of comb left over from last year ; there was, therefore, nothing to do but to fill them and seal up. — J. Wareham, August 24th. — I have taken twenty sections fairly well filled from one of my hives, which is very strong, and, I believe, has not swarmed at all this year, but my other hives have given me nothing except two swarms from one of them. That hive has, however, still a few sections in a frame at the back, and I hope I may get three or four of them filled. — A Novice. Weston, Leamington, August 27th. — Feeing there did not appear much chance for honey, on Hank holiday I took off hundreds of 1-lb. sections, — not full though, but so empty that there were none worth trying to get any honey from, so I just took them fifty yards away under n. tree, and left the bees to leave them of their own accord, and take away whatever they could, which was very small indeed. Now the chief thing to do is to get them in order for winter ; I have laid in heavily of pure cane granulated sugar, and have commenced feeding up — no little job for fifty or sixty stocks. When it is nice and warm, bees are on the alert, everywhere looking out for anything sweet. I have had no sections filled at all, and have only taken about forty pounds of extracted. It appears the Canadians and Americans are about as bad off for honey as we are. Misery loves company. — John Walton. llgthe, Southampton, Aug. 27th. -This has been a wretched season so far here as elsewhere. My bees are still working the blackberry blossom, and also, I doubt not, the heather, of which there is plenty within a couple of miles ; but I fear I shall not find much increase now to the contents of my section-boxes. — G. S. Coxwell. Cumberland. — Our Wigton correspondent sends us the following : — ' From personal inquiries made from bee- keepers in Wigton district we find that the yield of honey is not half of what it was last year; in fact, in some instances, the yield is not one-fourth. Mr. John Hall, who has by far the largest apiary in the neigh- bourhood, secured over 1000 lbs. last season, and this year he has only got 160 lbs. ; and though he has not held quite so many stocks this season, the decrease has been fully what is indicated above. Other bee-keepers report about the same average diminution. This is attributed to the cold east winds and wet weather which have prevailed during the spring and early summer, wheu the bees make most honey. It was all the more tantalising to see the abundance of white clover in this district which the bees are said to utilise to a great extent, the cold wet preventing the bees from leaving their hives, and when they did venture out they succumbed to the inclemency of the weather before they could return. For a few seasons two or three bee- keepers have moved stocks to the neighbourhood of Wedholme Flow, where there is abundance of heather, but this year one of them assured us that he did not think it worth the trouble, as the bees made very little heather honey in the best of seasons. This appears rather strange, as it is well known that in the mountain districts bees have filled their sleeps and hives in two or three weeks when the weather lias been favourable. Wedholme Flow is of a marshy nature, and whether this makes the difference is a question that will have to be settled by the observations of others interested. It- appears to be of the same variety of heather that we see on the Cumberland fells, and is a beautiful sight when in full bloom or approaching it as at present. Perhaps some of our correspondents and bee-keepers could afford enlightenment on the point. — West Cumber/and Times. [The above opens up an interesting question on which we shall be glad to have the opinions of our readers. May it not be that in low situations early frosts, or, at any rate, low night temperatures, may curtail the secretion of honey ? Again, the breezy hill-side gains vigour much earlier in the day than the marsh. — Ed.] Over Stowey. — In ' Echoes' for 16th August I see a notice of a swarm on 3rd August. Last year I had a swarm on the 14th of August; it did well, and was amongst my strongest stocks last spring. — It. \V. Berlin House, Donegal, August 25th. — Not having sent you an Echo from my Apiary this year before, I trust it will not lie out of place to do so now, when the honey season is nearly over, except with the heather. There is no doubt it has been a bad season, but I am happy to state I am a great deal better off for honey than some accounts I see from different apiaries in other places. The weather here has been very changeable throughout the whole honey seas two or three days line, i hen three or fowr days wet, cold, and stormy, just August 30, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 429 as bees were beginning to work well; but the only day that there was a smell of honey about my apiary was on 20th July, and only lasted the one day, but it has been pretty favourable since then up to date, with occasional heavy rain and blowing. I have extracted up to 400 pounds so far. I have six hives with top storeys on, that is, with eight frames (Langstroth size) above and eight below. I selected two of the strongest, that is with 1 1 j • - whole sixteen frames covered with bees, and in the last week of July I extracted about .".0 pounds of honey from them, and in doing so took the queens away, and allowed them to raise young ones. I extracted on the 15th inst. 47 pounds, and on the 22nd inst. 1 again extracted 52 pounds, and all sealed and from the lop storey; the young queens had just commenced to lay. It is an astonishing fact, that each of those hives stored up to five pounds of honey a-day, for the 10th was showery and blowing hard, ami they did not work much. I have twelve hives up at the heather and hope to gel about 200 sections, that is, if the weather keeps fine. 1 have thirty hives altogether, and I shall be nearly half-a-ton of hone}' short of what I should have had if it had been as good a season as last year ; but I must be thankful for what I have taken. — Gkoiige TuBNJER. iV. Searsmnnt, Waldo County, Maine, U.S.A. — It has been a very poor season for bees here so far; unless 'Golden Rod' yields well we shall have to feed heavily. — II. K. Miller. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS. fatten or Queries asking for addresses of manufaci wrers or correal - dents, or when appliances can be purchased, or rflplta giving, such information, can only he inserted as advertisements. The space devnted to letter*, queries, and replies, is meant far the ijeneral aand «>/' bee-keepen, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondent* to bear in mind that, ae [I is necessary for us to .] HOOKER'S WINTER MANAGEMENT. [1784.] May I venture to ask Mr. Hooker to be good enough to supplement his remarks on winter manage- in his Guide to /Successful Bee-keeping, by kindly stating what his 'quilts ' are composed of, whether of porous or impervious material, and, if composite, which material is laid next the top of the frames? I observe that in the Guide a dry hive and plenty of food are considered essential ; but in the Bee Journal of last week, in reply to a query, Mr. Hooker insists on the back of the hive being raised that the water may run out of it. I see also that the hive entrance is to be kept open six inches wide all the winter, yet that it will be necessary to clear such entrance from dead bees from time to tints to prevent it becoming choked and the bees dying from want of ventilation and excitement. These apparent incongruities are doubtless easily explainable, but at present I feel puzzled, because I cannot see how water can run out of a dry hive, nor how, under a proper system of management the choking of a hive entrance six inches wide, with dead bees, can be possible. — A. B., Hounslow, Sept. 1st. THE FOREIGN BEES AND THEIR IMPORTATION. [1785.] Since the first importation of Italian queens into Austria, England, and America, bee-keepers have shown much energy in their search for something still better. Long voyages have been taken to various parts of Eu- rope, Asia, and Africa, and the forests of Java and Ceylon, the home of the Apis dorsata, have been visited in search of this famous race. A few years after the importation of Italians, it was learned in Europe that the bees of the island of Cyprus were a superior yellow race, and they were soon procured by European bee-keepers who were loud in their praises. Several Americans procured some of this stock from these hee-keepers, and in 1880, when there was such an interest in them, and when September 6, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 44i news came of the good qualities of the Syrians, D. A. Jones of Canada started out in search of the new varieties, and returned with one hundred colonies of Cyprian and Syrian bees. Others have visited Cyprus, Syria, and Egypt, for queens, and for a few years an American (Frank Benton) has made this his business, and now has queen-rearing' apiaries in Syria, Cyprus, and Carniola, from which he supplies queens to bee-keepers in all parts of the world. They are packed to take long voyages in safety at the proper season. We are now able, for a moderate sum, not only to obtain queens from Italy, but Cyprians from the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean, Syrians from Northern Syria, Palestines from the Holy Land, Egyptians from Egypt, and Carniolans from the mountains of Carniola, a small district in south-western Austria. Each race or variety has certain qualities not found in the others, and from this list the modern bee-keeper may select his breeding stock, and combine whatever qualities he may require in his location, or for any special branch of the pursuit he may desire to follow. For instance, one who runs his colonies entirely for ex- tracted honey, to do the best needs different stock from one who makes a speciality of choice comb honey only ; while one who makes a business of rearing queens for sale, finds certain varieties far superior for this work. Others who do not work for honey but simply for in- crease, may do best with still another strain ; and again, the one who combines these branches wants the best all- purpose bee. Certain varieties do the best in the South ; others are most desirable in the North. In some locations, very early and heavy honey-flows are the main reliance, in others, the fall crop furnishes the only surplus ; while in another place a moderate flow extends through the whole season. Therefore, each locality must be studied, not only to learn the special management required, but the race or strain of bees most adapted to it. My own bees, in four different locations, require different management in each apiary. A few miles may make a great dif- ference. When there is a failure of the crop in one apiary, another differently situated may have a full yield. — Samuel Cushman (American Agriculturist). STANDARD FRAMES.— HONEY YET. [1786.] I think it has been overlooked, that the British standard frame is 8A inches outside measurement, f inch of this is taken up by the top-bar ; therefore. if the hive side is only 8^ inches (the height given in Modern Bee-keepinff), there is a space of £ inch between frames and floorboard, the frame only banging down 8^ inch. This morning, armed with confidence from the fact mentioned in the B. B. J., that bees cannot sting a person holding his breath, I went for the first time with- out gloves, and was not stung ; but I did not feel in- clined to nip a bee to try. I looked through one hive twice to find a Carniolan queen from Simmins', inserted on Tuesdav night, but could not, though I saw a few grubs looking only two days old. To this hive I gave a feeder of syrup over perforated zinc, placing it by means of a piece of tin pulled away when the feeder is in place. This made a little mess, so I thought at the next hive to try without the tin shovel ; placing the perforated zinc over feeder, I turned it all over, when, lo ! before it was in position, the whole of the contents, with the exception of a little in the neck, had emptied themselves into the hive. ' There, I've done it,' I thought. ' How am I to prevent the others from robbing ? then I shan't be able to extract their honey.' As I closed the hive I saw the syrup running out of the entrance, but bees from other hives seemed to take no notice. Then to Nos. 3 and 4, when, lo and behold ! after these cold, wet, and sunless days, I discovered they had both begun to stow honey in a box of half frames above the brood-nest. This in spite of my not having fed an ounce of syrup during the honey season— nay, this whole year, Mr. Editor. Nevertheless I am much obliged for your explanation of feeding during honey-harvest, but it would never do, as reputation would be gone at once did the skeppists discover that by the new system they feed their bees in midsummer. This discovered, I put on twelve sections and began to repent me that I had commenced feeding the others just too soon. You will hear if I get the sections tilled. — F. G. Buzz, near Hull. RAPIDITY OF BEES IN GATHERING HONEY. T1787.] In your issue of August 2.'lrd (letter 17GC) ' East Glamorgan,' alias ' Welsh Novice,' endeavoured to cast doubts upon the statement of Mr. Sims of Navigation respecting the amount of honey gathered by one of his hives. Neither 'East Glamorgan' nor Mr. Sims is known personally to me, but I would point out that Mr. Sims is a very well-known and reliable keeper of minor live slock, and as such is more likely to be correct than 'E. G.,' who, by not giving his real name to his fellow bee-keepers, prevents "them from forming a proper value of his writings. As a proof that what Mr. Sims states is possible, I have written you the following: A large bee-keeper in this district, during a short but excellent honey-flow some years ago, obtained 40 lbs. from one hive in rather less than three days. Now ' E. G.' admits Mr. Sims' bees had six days of fine weather; and if the blackberry was in flower, I see no reason to question that a strong hive in first-class order, having very little young brood, might gather 58 lbs. in six days. As an instance of how short a distance makes a difference, I may mention that at the end of July, when my hives had not a pound of honey per hive, I "removed a dozen very fair sections from a hive kept by mv brother within four miles of my apiary, and a dozen" frames were half filled in addition with sealed honey-. From what I hear I expect we shall all find Mr. Sims a powerful competitor when he meets us at the honey shows.— Edward J. Gidbins, Neath, Glamorgan, August 23rd. VENTILATION. While Such is Necessary, it Must Not be Much. [1788.] A great deal has been said about bees win- tering without upward ventilation, and quite a number of bee-keepers claim that they winter better without any upward ventilation, saying: Bees in their natural state in the trees of the forest — have no ventilation and winter well, and seem to do much better than those having the best of ventilation. We have found many wild swarms in the last thirty years in many kinds of trees, and in nearly every instance we found, either above or on the si. Irs of the -warm, rotten wood which the perspiration from the bees could pass into, acting the same as upward ventilation. Some parties claim that they winter bees safelv without upward ventilation, and that it is the proper w'av. If they will invert theil hives and pour water into them, it will run out, therefore they are not air-tight, for where water will run through air will escape. It is true, if bees are kept in a perfectly dry place and at a temperature of from 45° to 50°, they require much less ventilation than they would if kept m a damp, cold place. If bees are kept where it is continually freezing, and there is no place in the hive for the escapement, of the perspiration that passes from the bees, it will com- mence to freeze on the outside of the hive ; and if it continues cold you will find vour bees dead, and ice formed all around the cluster of bees. Had there been 442 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 6, 1888. a small opening at the top, or near the top of the hive, for the air to escape, nothing of the kind would have happened. It only needs a very little upward ventilation for bees ; a good many bee-keepers give altogether too much. They need all the heat in the whiter and spring months that can be obtained. Give only what will be necessary to let the perspiration out, so that the hive will not be- come damp on the inside. It is a good plan to leave the bottom-board off, or raise it up on blocks one inch, when wintering, especially in cellars; as the foul air always settles, and if the hive is raised it gives a chance for it to escape ; and if there is any dampness in the winter depository it will prevent the combe from moulding. The heat and circulation of the cluster of bees render the combs dry for some distance around the cluster, but there is not enough of this circulation of air, nor force to drive it to all parts of the brood chamber, and a part (often a very large part) of the comb that is damp with moisture extends up at the sides of the cluster to the top bees. This moisture gets into the honey and causes it to sour ; and as the foul air is impure, gas rises on top of the brood-chamber, making the bees uneasy and they begui to move about, use the sour honey (which causes the diarrhoea), and the destruction of the colony ensues. We are safe in saying that a colony of bees never was known to have the diarrhoea when the honey and combs were kept perfectly dry. Those that winter their bees without proper ventila- tion are often heard to complain that their bees got rest- less and uneasy from being too warm. My experience has proven that it is not the warmth, but the fumes of the sour honey arising below and accumulating in the upper portions of the brood-chamber that makes them uneasy, and the removal of the tight cover on top of the hive at such a time will convince any person that proper ventilation is necessary to the health of the colony. — Wm. Ubib, Minneapolis, Minn. (Farm Stock and Home.) BEES IN SKEP BUILDING COMBS PARALELL TO ENTRANCE. [1780.] It is a well-known fact that bees hived in an ordinary skep without foundation being inserted, will build comb at right angles to the ' key-hole,' but I have come across an exception to this rule. I made and sold a skep and crate to a ' skeppist,' and he put a swarm in it in the beginning of June, giving the bees liberty to go up into the sections in five days (he having discon- tinued feeding after that time), and on making an ex- amination some time afterwards, I found the combs in skep were built parallel to the entrance. It may be of interest to readers of the B.B.J, to know how I made the hive and crate. It was thus: I cut the top out of an ordinary skep, and inserted a circular piece of |-in. board 10 in. in diameter, and bored five holes in centre of it, each hole being J in. in diameter, then nailed strips of wood § in. thick round the holes, forming a square 6 x G in. to give bee-space between skep and crate when placed on, the crate haviug a hole in bottom 4 in. in diameter, covered with excluder zinc. The entrance I cut in floor-board 3 in. wide, with tin slides to contract it when necessary. I gave the skep and crate three good coats of blue paint (the roof white, of course), and there is a strong lot of bees in it with a touch of foreign blood in them, and how they got it is a mystery, as foreign bees are unknown here, in Lingfield, Surrey. — Idiot. BIRDS AND BEES. |"1700.] I am surprised that any bee-keepers should have doubted that martins as well as swallows and sparrows are most destructive to bees. From my own observation I should say there is not a pin to choose between them, though sparrows are far the boldest. The other day I saw an old cock sparrow catch five bees on the wing in two minutes; he sat on the top of the hive and pounced at them as they came home, but I have never seen them eat drones. When the ground was covered with the dead and dying the sparrows carefully picked out live workers, while the swallow's and martins (chiefly the former) scud after the bees as they come home before a shower, and catch hundreds on the wing, and when a swarm has turned out they will fly back- wards and forwards through the cloud of bees. I have seen this times out of number. — W. E. Burkitt, Buttermere Rectory, Aug. 31, 1888. P.S. — I have not seen a hive with 2 lbs. of honey in this season, and some cottagers have lost all their swarms from starvation. SHALLOW FRAMES. [1701.] I was very pleased to see your 'Selected Query ' as to the relative merits of shallow and standard frames for extracting. The more so that while using the standard frames exclusively myself, I was wondering whether the Bhallow would not be an improvement. I noticed the foremost, reasons, to my thinking, in favour of the shallow were not mentioned. Thefirst is, that in adopt- ing the tiering system with standard frames, and when putting an empty chamber under a nearly filled one, tie' weight, sometimes 60 lbs., is more than I can well lift, and I have to adopt other methods to attain the same results, so the idea of using sets of shallow frames at about half the weight is certainly attractive. Next, I should think thinner foundation could be used with safety in shallow frames: and, lastly, would they not lie less liable to be bred in? I mean that the frames being shallow, there is the greater chance of their being filled with either brood or honey than the standard size, which so often are half tilled with both. Mr. Abbott has so much experience, and expresses his opinion in such a decided manner, that I hardly like to differ from him, but I most certainly prefer the ten-frame storifying hive to any lung combination hive, and am discarding the latter kind in my apiary. The question as to whether frames parallel or at, right angles to the entrance are the better, seems to be quite a matter of taste, but to obtain the same result tin' hives want a slightly different treatment. Thus, all other things being equal, the stocks on the parallel system build up more rapidly in spring, owing to the extra warmth, but seem to me to be more iiable to cluster outside during Summer. But if we give the li glit -anglers a smaller entrance, and perhaps a little more covering, one is quite as good as the other for spring use, and the extra ventilation of the right-angle system an advantage in summer. At least such is the experience of — Honeysuckle. STINGING. A DREAM ABOUT ' HOLDING THE BREATH ' TO PREVENT STINGS. [1702.] I had a dream. You know it has been asserted as a scientific fact that a bee-sting cannot penetrate a man's cuticle while he holds his breath. I have a pro- found respect for science. When science says a thing is so it's got to be so. Science used to say the world was flat, and that the sun made its daily circuit around it. Of course it was flat then. Even Galileo openly recanted the spherical heresy. But now the world is round be- cause science sa3Ts so. When science says ' thumbs up,' thumbs must go up. People never suspect science of joking. When it said several years ago that 'In com- mercial honey, which is entirely free from bee-mediation, the comb is made of paraffine and filled with pure glucose by appropriate machinery,' they believed it, and all the September 6, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 443 bee-keepers in Christendom have failed to convince them that it is not a fact. But to my dream. My mind had been exercised over that scientific dis- covery, or the revelation of it, rather. I wanted to test it. I had no doubt it was scientifically true, but you know the spirit of inquiry that pervades the mind of young America. For a man to be an agnostic in religious mat- ters is considered smart in some circles, but to be a know- nothing in science is to lose caste. This is a practical age, too, and the Yankee wants to demonstrate every theory he hears of. The only reason be does not is because life is too short to devote to scientific investigation and money-making too. It was a hot day at the close of the basswood harvest. But little honey was coming in. Swarming was appa- rently over. Bees were cross. I bad lain down in the hammock for a short rest after dinner. I could hear the sweet hum from forty colonies as the happy young bees sported in front of their hives. I lay there enjoying the music when I saw an after-swarm rushing with new- born zeal from one of my hybrid colonies. The frisky young queen soared high. After an unusually long frolic in the air they alighted in a jack oak-tree fully twenty- five feet from the ground. As luck would have it, the swarming-pole was broken, and the boys bad gone to the hay field. The great twenty-foot ladder was brought into requisition. As I could reach about eight feet myself, it looked easy enough to secure them without any assistance. 1 leaned it against a dead limb, and it did not lack more than five feet of reaching to where the bees hung. With saw in one hand I ascended. Beaching next to the top round I could reach the limb on which the bees were clustered. 1 proceeded to hold the limb with one hand and to saw it off with the other. Just as it was severed, the added weight of the limb and bees with my own, broke the dead limb. The ladder dropped back two or three feet with a sudden jerk, shaking about half the bees off on my head, neck, and hands. Didn't I have a veil on ? Not much. I am no green- horn in this business. Besides, I was determined to de- monstrate a great truth in science. I had the oppor- tunity. They were not amiable. They were bent on mischief. With a wonderful unanimity of purpose, and surprising concert of action, they unsheathed their swords and proceeded to business. Of course I held my breath. I had been holding it for the major part of a minute in anticipation of just such a contingency. I filled my skin so full of resistance there wasn't any room for even the point of a javelin. About a thousand bees, more or less, were humping themselves to get in the first ' lick ' at me. It sounded like frying fresh fish in salted butter. I held the fort, i.e., I held my breath. I thought they would get tired of resisting the inevitable laws of science, but they 'held the fort ' too. In my zeal to demonstrate a scientific truth, I forgot to descend the ladder until I was as red in the face as a boiled lobster. I then, for the first time, realised the fact that I could not hold my breath more than several minutes, even to accommodate science. I must have some oxygen anyhow, or my lungs would collapse like a pancake with too little soda in. I was not organized like a fish, that is sure (unless it was a whale), for I wanted to blow. I was all the time standing on next to the top round of the ladder, holding on nervously by one band to a small limb, and a severed limb and a part of the bees in the other. The rest were clutching my naked flesh with their claws, their backs elevated like a cat on the back fence at a feline concert. No matter, breathe I must. Just then the faithful dog appeared on the scene, under the tree, as interested as if I was capturing a 'coon for his especial delectation. Although I was the centre of attraction, enough scouts paid respects to him to give him a warm reception. After rolling over several times, he started for the house in haste. You see he had not been educated to hold his breath. In going be ran against the foot of the ladder, and down it came, and 'me too.' When I struck the ground, I awoke. It was only a dream. A couple of robber bees were angrily buzzing around my head. — Eugene Secor, Forest City, Iowa (American Bee Journal). BACILLUS OUR BANE. 0 bogie-like baleful Bacillus, Untouched by our potions and pills, You enter to conquer and kill us, The taint that brings terrible ills. You lurk in the air and the water, The presage of peril and pain, You stride on serene to our slaughter, Bacillus our bane! You must have existed for ages, But ne'er in the past you appear In mystical medical pages — When suddenly, lo! you are here. Though climates be arctic or tropic, You come with disease in your train: Seen surely on slide microscopic, Bacillus our bane! ' De minimis non curat lex' is A motto we've all heard before; The tiny Bacdlus that vexes No medical man can ignore. The smallest of things in creation An eminence high may attain; You pull down the head of a nation, Bacillus our bane ! Though some folks deny your existence, Though tierce physiologists fight, With painful, unpleasing persistence, Professors bring new ones to light. Each boasts of the one he detected, Its beauties will gladly explain; Is our admiration expected, Bacillus our baneP While knowledge is power, recognition Of such horrid atoms as these, Each like a malific magician, Can scarce be expected to pleas.-. Although we've endeavoured to quiz it, It smiles vibrionic disdain; But don't bother us with a visit, Bacillus our bane ! ■ — Punch. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keeperst and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt oj their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered hi this column. F. J. — Sugar. — The sample of sugar enclosed is a very good one. We should certainly use it. Thanks. A. T. — Your letter has been forwarded to the compiler of ' Useful Hints.' * Eureka.' — Feeding. — Cease feeding, and give one comb to the stock, placing it in the centre for the queen to breed in if she choose. If the hive is crowded with bees, you may venture to give two combs. 444 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 6, 1888. W. F. C. — Heather. — We should consider ourselves fortunate if we had an abundance of the plant you enclose growing in the neighbourhood of our apiary. East Dulwich. — Salicylic Acid. — We should say your salicylic acid mixture is still serviceable if the bottle has been kept securely corked. W. M. B. — Syrup Making. — Make up 14 lbs. of sugar with 7 pints of water for a start, you will probably require more if the queen breeds rapidly. Granulated sugar is preferable to ' good lump at 2d. per lb.' Mrs. O'B. — Honey. — You will get a fair price for your honey by applying to Messrs. Abbott, Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Nucleus. — Nucleus Hives. — Nucleus, singular ; nuclei, plural. The literal meaning of nucleus is the kernel of a nut; but in ordinary usage the central part of any body about which matter may be collected. In api- arian language a nucleus is a colony of bees on a small scale, which may be strengthened and built up into a stock. Nucleus hives are generally used to enable the bees placed in them to hatch out queens from cells which have been raised in strong colonies. A nucleus may be formed by removing two or three combs from a populous stock, one of which should contain honey and pollen, and the others brood. These may be placed in an ordinary hive, and enclosed by division- boards, so as to conserve the heat. For further inform- ation consult Cowan's Guide Book, page \2'i. R, J. T. Peeks. — To Phenolate Syrup. No. 1. Pure phenol in crystals .... 12 oz. Water , 3 oz. Shake till dissolved. No. 2. Solution No. 1 1 oz. Water 16 oz. Shake till oily appearance is entirely gone. No. 3. Solution No. 2 1 oz. Sugar syrup 1G oz. It. H. — Suspected Comb. — Foul brood decidedly ■ S. Booth. — Floor-boards. — Entrances through the floor- board have not been extensively tried, but it would appear advantageous in cases of robbing, it also pro- vides a sheltered dry alighting place in all weathers and an easier descent for any dead bees and debris from the hive. We have not tried this style -ulli- ciently to detail the disadvantages fairly. S. W. K.— Plants.— Nos. 1 and 2 are heaths and generally considered of slight honey value. No. •'! is the real heather and certainly should, other tilings being equal, give a good honey-yield. Do you keep your sections warmly covered up ? If not the bees will not keep up in them during heather time with cold nights frequent. A. B. Tyro. — Old Honey. — Judging by the specimen sent we should say destroy it. It is not good. The yellow substance is pollen which is essential. We should recommend you to prut new foundation in the frames for the bees you intend removing from the box hive. business directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C. , 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Boad, Beading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn, FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Caruiola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins' Bee Company, Limtd., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godman, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTIC E. The^ British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Go., 23 Paternoster Row, "and may be obtained of alt local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREC, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J„ Wensum Street, Norwich. RUDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHINSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WHEN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. Communication* to the Editor to be addressed ' Stbangeways' Peintino Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 325. Vol. XVI.] SEPTEMBER 13, 1888. [Published Weekly.] $bxtaxmlt goitas, #r. KAPID FEEDING— HOW TO MAKE A FAST FEEDER. In our article of the issue of the 30th ult. we fully stated the description and quality of sugar required for feeding up our bees for the coming winter. In most cases sugar syrup will be the only stores the bees will have to consume during this period, as natural (honey) stores will be found to be non-existent. Since penning the article in question we have further strengthened our opinion as to the starving condition of stocks in England. So numerous are the cases of starving colonies, even at this exceptionally early date, that we are obliged to confess being of opinion that the quantity of honey produced next year will fall short of the average supply on account of the great loss of colonies that will assuredly take place during next winter. Although our efforts to prevent as much as possible this disastrous condition of things will be appreciated, and also recognised, by a portion of the bee-keeping public, all will not benefit by our advice, though the majority of modern bee-keepers will, as our Journal and its satellite the Bee-keeper's Adviser are read by most of the frame-hive bee-keepers in the British Isles ; and where our advice is fully acted upon, their colonies will certainly he saved from a premature death. A rough rapid-feeder was sketched in the same article, but many bee-keepers would be ill satisfied with so rough and primitive a method; therefore wo will give a description of ' How to make a Rapid-feeder,' — an article within the skill of most, if not all, bee-keepers. The feeder de- scribed we find answers so admirably that it seems to leave nothing to be desired as a rapid-feeder. In the following description the size, or rather capacity, can be altered according to the desires of the maker, but upon no consideration ought it to be of less capacity, as it would then require a greater amount of attention than is advisable at the present season. We must always bear in mind that the less syrup is exposed in the apiary the better will our colonies behave. Having procured two four cut (f inch) pine boards, as free irom knots as possible, one five cut (half-inch), and another of just under one-eighth inch in thickness — this latter will he cut specially by any respectable timber merchant (some, but very few, keep them already in stock), one of the four cut hoards is cut into three strips of full .'is inches width, thus making them, when planed, just 3£ inches wide. Two of these strips are cut into lengths of !>£ inches and 5| inches respectively, the third strip, being planed a quarter of an inch narrower, is cut into lengths of 8| inches. The pieces measuring 3± x of inches are the ends of what, when nailed together with those measuring Oi x 3J, will form a box, minus top and bottom. These short pieces are marked with pencil lines — in the event of the maker not having a cir- cular saw— across their width, thus, at an inch full from each end and every half inch between these lines. Now with a handsaw make a saw-curf of about an eighth of an inch deep along each line, except the two outermost ones. Having cleaned out these saw-curfs from the burr, caused by using so coarse a saw as a hand-saw, two of these are nailed to two of the longer pieces, measuring 3f inches in width, and so formed into a bottomless box. Now take two of the pieces, 8| x 3^, and place them with their outside edges flush along the outermost pencil line on inside ends of box, and nail them securely in this position. You now have a box with three divisions lengthways, the two outside divisions being just under half an inch, and the centre one full 3i inches wide. Then take one of the five cut hoards and cut it down to 7 inches in width and then into lengths of 9i inches. These pieces are for the bottom, and are to be nailed in this position on to the pieces already nailed together. Having thus formed a box, two slots must be cut along the bottom corresponding with the two narrow divisions at each side of box ; this can be done with a sharp penknife, or better with a cutting guage : the bottom is then securely nailed along the bottom of the two partitions. We now have a box having double sides, but with a bottom only covering the inner division. Now take some ^-inch strips of wood J-inch thick, and nail these on the bottom around the outside edge ; this forms a bee-space under the box when placed in position for feeding. Then take the thin board and cut it into strips 3J inches wide, and then into lengths of 8| inches full. The ends of these pieces are thinned down with a chisel, and slid into the saw-curfs already described in ends of box, so forming seven divisions lengthways, each rather under i-inch. Before placing in these thin wood partitions each of their bottom edges has four or five notches cut in it. The remaining five cut board is then cut down to 7 inches wide, and then into lengths to form lids ; the remaining portion of board (4 inches) can be used as sides to other feeders. The lids must then have two 1-inch centre-bit holes bored at each end, exactly in the centre. Having done this, two cones of coarsely perforated zinc are made, and placed in each of these holes, being tacked in securely at their inner edges to sides of holes and flush with same. Screw to lid two circular tin covers, which are made to shift over the mouths of these two cones. The lid is then placed upon the box, when it will be found that the points of these cones pass between the thin partitions in centre of box and close against the ends of this division, thus effec- tually preventing any lateral or longitudinal movement of the lid when once' placed in position. You now have 440 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 13, 1888. a fast-feeder from which a thousand bees can, if they choose, load up at the same time, with plenty of warm space to pass and repass each other in when carrying the syrup to be stored below in their combs. The method of arranging the feeder upon the hive is as follows : — Having removed quilts the feeder is placed upon the frames, the space around the feeder and edge of hive on tops of frames being covered with the quilts folded to accommodate them to the altered shape required. A coarse covering, such a Spratt's dog-biscuit bag — these make excellent, over-quilts when washed and folded — is provided for tucking down snugly over and around feeder. Having everything ready, the two tin covers to cones are slid on one side, and warm syrup is poured into one of them — you thus see they form funnels to feeder. While pouring in syrup the second cone can be watched, and when the syrup commences to rise in this cone the feeder is full. The tin covers are then slid back again over the cone mouths, the feeder wrapped up, and all is finished for twenty-four hours' feeding. These feeders will hold from five to six pounds of syrup. In the case of a weak colony — which, without strengthening, ought not to be wintered — these feeders do not answer as well as a bottle-feeder, as the amount of heat from the hive is scarcely sufficient to keep a nice temperature in the feeder; but with a tine colony the warmth from the cluster keeps the syrup al quite a nice, cosy temperature : this is especially the case when tile syrup is given warm. At the first feeding, at least, the syrup should be given at a temperature of blood-heat — that is, if the finger is immersed in the syrup it feels a comfortable warmth — and a small quantity of the syrup should be run down the two outer divisions, allowing it to trickle down the inner side of partitions; this entices the bees to the feeder, and also sets up an excitement in the hive, which materially raises the temperature. Towards evening, at the present season, the bees are very — as we often hear bee-keepers express it — ' dummyfied.' While in this condition they seldom move about the hive, and, without giving the syrup warm and allowing a ' trail ' of it to lead them to the supply, would in some cases fail to f 1: this is the ration d'etre of feeding with warm syrup. With a strong colony supplied with warm syrup, the excitement of the 'trail' causes such a rise in the temperature that, with the assistance of the heat con- tained in the syrup, an even temperature, equal to the internal heat of the hive, is maintained throughout the night and the following day ; but in order to further economise the heat, the feeder and tops of frames must be covered up very snugly with some warm material that is sufficiently pliable to tuck into all the inequalities occasioned by placing so large an appliance as a fast feeder upon the frames. There is another very great advantage in keeping up such — shall we call it — artificial heat in the hive ; it is the assistance thus given to the bees enabling them to evaporate and seal over tho supply of stores given them. The present month being so cold, without such a temperature they will frequently be un- able to manipulate the wax so as to form cell-mappings. If the stores are not sealed over dysentery will appear, and weaken, if not entirely destroy, the colony. It has been frequently recommended to extract, before packing the bees for winter, all unsealed stores; this advice is good, but it is an enormous amount of unnecessary work, and with a largo apiary almost an impossibility. To obviate this, early (September) feeding is res irted to, that befoie th) advent of wintir all unsealed syrup may be con- sumed; a'so by having very strong colonies fed up from a fast feeder with warm syrup in a hive with frames whose numbers have bean s > reduced that they will only accommodate t'ae number of bees contained in a hive, and by covering up feeders ami frames with good coverings. Wh>n all these attentions have been be- stowed upon a colony, and they have twenty-five pounds weight of stores, the bee-keeper can, after removing the feeder and packing for winter, rely upon his colonies turning out strong next spring with plenty of bees ready to gather in the harvest, which we all earnestly hope will be as plentif ul as has been gathered each year before the advent of 1888. USEFUL HINTS. The Weaiubb, we are sorry to remark, does not improve. From one end of the country to the other the cry is the same. There are still to be seen, especially throughout the Midlands and the North, large crops of hay rotting in the fields, whilst the damaged corn remains in shocks, or stooks, and no opportunity is afforded of gathering it into the garners. In the autumn of 79 —a year as disastrous, perhaps, as the present — we find the B. B. J. full of complaints : e. //., ' Owing to this most inclement season so many frame-hives are not half tilled with comb, that hundreds of stocks are likely to disappear during the winter. A few hints on the best system of doubling (? uniting), feeding, and preparation of food, would probably save many valuable lives. I have been feeding both English and Ligurian bees nearly all the summer, and certainly, since Kilburn, except during one week. — J. 1'., Penrith.' The same statement may again be truly made for all parts of the country. What, then, is to be done ? Experts and Associations. — Here is work for our experts and associations, whose objects, we are told, are ' the encouragement, improvement, and advancement of bee-keeping, with a view to bettering the condition of the labouring classes.' Wheat has already risen something like ten shillings a quarter, and the poor man has to look forward to a dearer loaf, a long winter, and, it is much to be feared, to lack of employment. Can we advise him, with such prospect, in view, to expend four or live shillings per hive on feedinghisbees? Hiswifeand children maybe starving for want of bread ! But his bees, unfed, to a certainty will perish. Our Associations divide their territories into districts. One has eighteen of these districts under District Secretaries, Local Advisers, &c. Now, is it not possible, with such machinery at work, to establish a fund in each district, either for advancing money to the poor members, to enable them to ' feed up' their bees, or to purchase the bees, feed them, and sell them to the original owners on easy terms of payment by instalments when spring arrives ? Surely an effort of some kind should lie made to prevent t he evil foreseen — an evil which, otherwise, will result in the utter loss of the greater part of the cottagers' bees throughout tho kingdom. We wish to prescribe neither the method nor the means of procedure. Our object, is not to dictate, but to suggest, and we earnestly hope that our Associa- tions will consider the subject before it is too late. There is no time to be lost. Rapid Feeding should be commenced at once. Recipes for syrup-making are given in all modern bee-books — in Mr. ( 'owan's Guide, in Modern Bee-keeping, and in tifty others, almost all agreeing in the quantities and prepara- tion. Experts and local advisers have the matter at their fingers' ends. With all this knowledge, scattered broadcast over the land, shall we let the poor mini's bees die? Feeders — The lintjnor. — For the rapid feeding of colonies in skeps many of our authorities consider the ' Raynor Feeder' one of the best. It is a bottle-feeder, which holds a quart of syrup, and from it, when tho twelve holes are turned on, a colony strong in bees will take readily a quart per day. Hence, in about a wee],, a starving colony may be transformed into a healthy one, with full store of winter food laid up for the rainy dav. September 13, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 447 The Canadian is, in our opinion, one of the best rapid feeders for use on a frame-hive. Messrs. Neigh- bour's Improved Canadian, exactly fitting the top of a hive containing ten frames, and holding- twenty pounds of syrup, enables the bee-master, at one filling, and in a couple of days at most, to entirely provision a strong colony for the whole winter, so that one feeder will suffice for supplying an apiary — say of ten or twelve hives — with winter stores [in about three weeks. Mr. Meadows' 'Nottingham' 1st Prize Rapid Feeder is constructed on the same lines as the ' Canadian,' and is equally efficient. It is capable of bidding about an equal quantity of syrup, but, being divided into three parts, on the plan of the 'ltaynor Divisible Section Crates,' it is more portable, and capable of being used in one, two, or three parts, for supplying as many hives, at a slower rate, of course. Both feeders are constructed entirely of wood, the only material allowable in our view, since no danger of poisoning the bees is incurred, which cannot be said of zinc and other metals. The feeders are illustrated in our advertising columns. Melted wax should be applied to the inside of the syrup receptacles before they leave the makers' bands, in order to prevent leakage, but if this is not done they should be filled with water and allowed to stand for twenty-four hours before being used. Sugar. — As regards the quality and price of sugar best adapted for syrup-making we refer our readers to the article on that subject in our issue of August 30, pp. 417-18). ' Duncan's l'earl Sugar' was the best for the purpose we ever used, and we were very sorry to learn, some two or three years ago, that the firm bad ceased refining. We now get our 'Granulated Pearl' — as we do many other articles required in the apiaries — from America. It is far more economical to give 3d. per pound for a good and suitable sugar than 2d, for an inferior article. Economy, truly, is necessary in these hard times, but 'Cheap Johnism' never will pay. 'A thoroughly good article, at a fair remunerative price to the manufacturer,' has always been our motto, and we have no reason to regret it. Again we say, Let feeding be commenced without delay. Breeding will be encouraged thereby, and "by the middle or end of next month we shall have the pleasure of putting our bees into winter quarters with every prospect of successfully wintering them — the keynote of all success in an apiarian point of view — and shall look forward hopefully to the honey season of '89, trusting that it may prove as boun- tiful after the present disastrous one as '80 proved after the disheartening one of 70. Only let the bee-keeper so provide that the bees may be forthcoming to gather in the harvest when it arrives. Carbolic Acid. — To those who use the acid as a bee- quieter a word of warning is necessary. Nine cases of poisoning by this drug have been recorded in the daily papers during the last seven or eight weeks, chiefly by mistake or misadventure. Kxtreme care, therefore, is re- quired in the use of it. We always keep our pure car- bolic under lock and key. The weak solution, for moist- ening cloths and feathers, is not so dangerous. It should never be carelessly left in places where the ignorant or others may by chance mistake it for other fluids, as the smallest quantity, when swallowed, will quickly prove fatal, and there is no antidote. Queen Introduction should be completed as soon as possible. Much of course depends upon the weather, but we do not like to introduce after the present month as a rule. The thermometer is now standing at 35° Fahr., and a bitterly cold north wind is blowing — anything but agreeable weather for opening hives and introducing queens. Before closing up for winter be well assured that every hive contains a fertile queen. We fear that many will be found queenless. There seems to have been a mania amongst the bees for changing their queens, and in many cases they have been unable to provide a suc- cessor, owing to the unfavourable season, no doubt. People who fail in life generally become morose, and dis- sati-lied with all around them. Just so witli the bees. When confined to their hives during tie' summer months by cold and rainy weather, and unable to store food for the winter's supply ; aware that a screw is loose some- where ; restless, unhappy, and morose ; the blame is too often laid at the door of the poor queen, and sentence of death is passed. The foreign races are said to change queens oftener than the English bees, but of late English and foreign races alike have been practising this amuse- ment to a greater extent than we ever experienced be- fore, so abnormal has the season of '68 proved. Stohifving v. Tiering -ui'. — Winch shall it be? There is a tendency in some minds to apply the former word to section-crates (for obtaining comb-honey), and the latter to doubling or piling up shallow hives, con- taining shallow frames, above the brood-chamber (for obtaining extracted honey). But, surely, we do not re- quire two words to express the action of ' piling up.' A friend sends us the following pertinent remarks on the subject : — ' I have been looking up the word " storifying," and find it in Johnson, but it is used in the sense of " historical." Webster gives the verb to storify, to make stories. Storey, or story, a set of rooms on one floor ; a story comprehends the distance from one floor to another. Verb, to story, to range under one another, or in stories. The Imperial Lexicon, by lirag, gives storify, v. t. to form stories. So Joes Nuttall. They all agree that tier is a row, a rank. Webster says especially when two or more rows are placed one above another, as a tier of seats, in a church or theatre. There is no verb to tier. 1 think, therefore, that storify is the word we should use, from storia, storium, and facere, to make — to make a store. I think tier can only be applied to rows of sections, and not to the space given for storing surplus.' Our Johnson (the largest edition, in two large volumes, 177-'!) gives 'Story, o. a. (not storify). 1. To tell in history. 2. To arrange one under another.' Neither in Skeat nor Chambers, Nuttall nor Walker, can we find the word ' storify.' We are, therefore, inclined to the opinion that it is a modern word, of late coinage ; but that is no reason why it should not be adopted. The exigencies of modern art and science are constantly requiring new words, and these' are almost invariably formed from the ancient lan- guages of Greece and Rome. FROM HERTS TO ESSEX. The story is told of a once very famous Dean (Dr Buckland, the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford) that when he met the farmers of the Vale of Taunton at a dinner, he informed them that the farther he went West, the more convinced he was that the Wise Men came from the East ! I ought, then, I suppose, to congratulate myself that a change of occupation and of residence has brought me from West Herts into East Anglia. Essex is said by some to be a very fiat and a very marshy country, but the district in which I live is neither fiat nor marshy. My house is on the high ground that separates the rivers Colne and Stour, so that we have two rivers at no great distance. The river Colne winds in the valley below us, and on the other side rise hills with waving woods, very refreshing to the eye. And what a country for bees ! The deep, rich, fertile soil produces trees equal to any I have ever seen in England, and the lime-trees in full bloom are far more beautiful than those I have ever noticed in Herts. And what a profusion of white clover! The life of a bee in my neighbourhood, during an ordinary summer, must be a perpetual feast. Early in the season acres; of turnip seed supply their golden treasure ; the charlock (• carlock,' the Essex labourer 448 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 13, 1888. calls it), or wild mustard, is far too abundant from May to September ; while masses of mignonette are in reserve for those who forage in August. The best English honey that I have ever tasted came from Essex. When living in Herts I purchased a large quantity of honey from the neighbourhood of Braintree, as the demands of my household, numbering nearly a hundred, were necessarily large. My friend, and now my neighbour, the Rev. W. Marsh of Wethersfleld, near Braintree, tells me that his bees in the early part of the season feed on trefoil, winter beans, and mustard. Mr. Cowan has suggested to me that a combination of honey from various sources may perhaps produce the best results. Unless I am much mistaken, two of the prize-winners at the recent show at the Crystal Palace came from the neighbourhood of Braintree, and four or live came from Essex. A few months after my arrival in East Anglia I learnt that I was more rich in bees than I supposed, for did not three stocks show themselves in the sunny days of spring, issuing from the eaves of my house ? A friend, whose ' hints ' are always interesting as well as ' use- fid,' warned me that I must drive out the intruders at any cost. ' For twelve years,' said my friend, ' I was curate to the parish of . Bees had settled in the roof of my house. The scent of the wax or of the honey, or some other attraction, drew all the bees to- wards that quarter. I lost swarm after swarm. One swarm at length settled in the church-porch. The boys of the village used to take long sticks and poke up the bees shortly before the service, so as to sting the would- be worshippers ! The nuisance had become intolerable. So we got rid of the bees from the church-porch, and from my bouse. I advise you to do the same.' This excellent advice I could not but take. So I sent for an expert (not certificated !) who was not afraid (as I am) to mount a high ladder. He came, he saw, he mounted the ladder, and came down again ! I was, unfortunately, not at home when he came. But I was informed, sub- sequently, that I must put up a scaffold and be prepared to pull down part of the main wall in order to eject these intruders. 'Of the greater of two evils choose the lesser,' says the proverb — so the bees are still in posses- sion. Perhaps, nay, probably, this winter will save me any further trouble. Hunger and poverty will probably prove more powerful than any efforts of mine in pulling down a wall or putting up a scaffold. The ' sulphur-pit ' still nourishes, I regret to say, even in enlightened East Anglia ! One of my near neighbours is supposed to be clever at bees, but he hitherto has always destroyed some of his stocks each year. So I bought his condemned stocks and drove the bees. In three skeps we did not find three pounds of honey. A good swarm (so described) had not half filled the skep. A few days since I drove five or six lots of bees and did not find five pounds of honey. The destruction of bees this winter in the skeps of the cottagers will be terrible. An incident that occurred on one of these occasions may furnish a useful hint to others. All went well, apparently, with the driving. Half-a-dozen spectators were present, but no one was stung. An unhappy dog, however, was chained up at no great distance. The bees determined to wreak their vengeance upon him. They stung him to such a degree that the cry of ' mad dog ' was raised, and a gunshot concluded his career. Com- pensation, of course, was claimed, and, as a matter of prudence, paid. A wag has suggested that the well- known warning on the Roman houses, ' Cave canem,' should henceforth be changed, wherever bees are kept, into ' Cam's, cape.' Although the sulphur-pit is not altogether out of fashion, bee-keeping in Essex — thanks to Mr. Raynor, Mr. Meggy, and others — has evidently advanced ' by leaps and bounds.' Not long since, when attending a Committee formed for holding a horticultural show in my neighbourhood, I found that a circular had been sent to the Secretary by the Secretary of the Essex Bee Association offering the use of the tent and other ad- vantages. In fact, in whatever part of the county I have been, I have come upon traces of the Essex Associ- ation. That very valuable and most important person- age, the village policeman of my neighbourhood, is a bar-framist. He lives four or five miles away, so that I have not yet seen his hives, but I know that he has had some honey this j'ear, and the fact that we are both bee-keepers has made us excellent friends. The year 1888 has, no doubt, been a very disastrous one, but honey has been obtained in some cases. During the spell of fine weather early in the season, one of my hives gave me from twenty to thirty good sections, and the fact that there are bees in abundance close to your fruit trees has a marked effect on the fruit crop. The bees in my roof may hereafter prove a nuisance, but I am assured that I have more apples in my garden than the great majority of my neighbours; and a friend, whose bees I drove recently, pointed with pride to his apple-trees, loaded with fruit, because (as I showed him) he had seven or eight hives close at hand. The influence of bees on the fertilisation of fruit is scarcely credited as yet as it should be. Two or three years ago I told a friend who has a large garden that the continuance of wet weather while the apple- trees were in bloom would seriously affect his crop. After the lapse of some weeks my friend (a well-known rose exhibitor and meteorologist, but no great lover of bees) pointed with triumph to his trees, which appeared to be loaded with fruit and full of promise. ' Finis coronat opus,' was my reply. ' Wait until the crop is ripe, and then see how many you will gather.' Before long most of the apples had fallen, and my incredulous friend is now beginning to be a believer in the fertilisation of fruit. Mr. Cheshire puts the point very plainly iu the first volume of his Bees and Bee-keeping , page 323 : — ' The apple is strictly a fusion of five fruits into one, and demands for its production in perfection no less than five independent fertilisations. If none are effected, the calyx, which really forms the flesh of the fruit, instead of swelling, dries, and soon drops. An apple often de- velopes, though imperfectly, if four only of the stigmas have been pollen-dusted, but it rarely hangs long enough to ripen. I examined 200 apples that had dropped in a gale, and the cause of falling in every case but eight was traceable to imperfect fertilisation.' It is, I believe, a matter of practical importance that the bees should be in immediate proximity to a fruit garden. Even if the weather has been as bad as has been the case this year, there are gleams of sunshine and short intervals which the bees will utilise, to the great advantage of the gardener. My experience in removing from Herts to Essex may be of some service to those who shall hereafter have occasion to change their residence. I am inclined to think that it is almost better to begin de novo than to send your hives and bees by rail. If you tan attend to every detail yourself, you may not suffer very seriously ; but if, in addition to heavy railway charges, you find your extractor damaged, your combs broken, the legs of half your hives smashed, screws and nails driven in so that they refuse to come out, you will be disposed to regret that you did not begin life again as a bee-keeper, with new stocks and improved appliances in 'fresh fields and pastures new.' — E. Bartrum, D.B., Wakes Colne, IX. Puzzling tub Expert.— Bystander. Why is the bee an aristocratic insect ? Expert (busy). Eh I Don't know. Give it up. Bystander. Because its chief property is strictly in- tailed (slight pause and then picking one out hastily). By Jove — it's landed too.— Reported by Honeysuckle. September 13, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 44:9 Sfelftteb (§Hcxm [24.] What is the best cover for frames (1) in winter (2) in summer f Do you recommend unbleached calico.' If not, what do you prefer ? (1), A wooden frame (at least 4 in. deep), with a loose canvas bottom, fill this with cork-dust from grape barrels, and place it over one layer of hemp carpet. (2), Unbleached calico next the frames, and as many layers of felt as may be necessary to regulate the necessary warmth. — W. M. Ghaham. 1. Winter covering for hives: — (1), A carefully fitted cover of ticking ; (2), a double layer of soft flannel (scouring flannel will do, and so will old blanket) ; (3), quilt made of three sheets of brown paper and three of druggeting,or thin carpet, or worn-out floor-cloth, or close sacking (the paper and other material are placed alter- nately and stitched) ; (4), a piece of Bristol mill-board over the feed-hole ; (5), a large bag of sawdust, or cork- dust, or chaff. 2. Summer covering: — Remove the chaff bag. Prefer ' ticking' to anything. — Edwin Ball. I find hemp stair carpet as good and cheap as anything for both summer and winter covers for frames. I cannot recommend calico, the bees gnaw it so much. After the carpet is propolised by the bees they do not make many holes in it. Squares of old Brussels carpet answer well, and last for years as quilts. I always use cushions over the carpet quilts, except when the crates of sections are on the hives. — W. Woodley. (1), I use as a cover on top of frames green blind stuff next to the frames, then two or three thicknesses of scouring flannel, and a couple of folded rice or sugar bags. (2), The same as before, only minus the bags. I sometimes use unbleached calico, but do not like it, as the bees gnaw it very much. I prefer the green blind stuff.— John Walton. I like calico that has had the dressing washed out of it next the frames in winter, with several thicknesses of house-flannel, pieces of old blanket, or carpets above it. In early spring, when breeding commences in earnest, a piece of American cloth may be used next above the calico. In summer the hives should have supers on all the time. — John M. Hooker. (1), Enamel cloth, glazed side downwards. (2), The same ; I use nothing else, but cover the enamel cloth with several felt or carpet quilts, giving plenty of venti- lation below. I neither use nor recommend calico, which the bees cover with propolis. — George Raynor. The best cover for frames in winter and summer is a piece of bed ticking, covered with two or more pieces of carpet or flannel. Unbleached calico is soon eaten through by the bees, and therefore not sufficiently durable. — H. Wood, Lichfield. (1), Thin American cloth, shiny side down, and warm quilt upon it. (2), Thin American cloth, oilcloth, or kamptulicon. We thus better imitate the natural con- ditions under which the bees live. I do not recommend unbleached calico. Should prefer instead canvas, but before all I prefer, as stated, impervious cloth. — R. A. H. Grimshaw. In winter a stout unbleached calico known as ' duck.' In summer a non-porous cover of some kind. Nothing beats an old calico quilt well propolised, and rendered smooth by passing a hot iron over the back of it. — Amateur Expert. I find for my strong colonies enamel cloth answers the best, both winter and summer. In winter I like to have an empty b'-in. storey underneath the hive. For weak colonies in the cold months I use porous material, such as well-woven sugar bags or hop bags, two or three thicknesses, and generally chaff-cushion above. This answers very well, and comes in much less expensive than new material. — C, Atkinson, Tockiritk, Jump. FRANCE. According to the Apiculteur of Paris, just received, the month of August has been more favourable to apiculture than July, but the improvement upon its predecessor was not so great as to make up for the ground lost in the earlier part of the season. Bee- keepers are, therefore, strongly advised to feed up their stocks without a moment's delay, wherever this may be considered necessary, in order to ensure safe wintering. With the death of M. Carcenac, which took place in the early part of last month, the bae community generally, but the Central Bee Association of France in particular, have lost a most sincere and valuable friend. The de- ceased gentleman was a familiar face at the monthly meetings of the Association, and was noted for his liberal contributions to the prize and other funds which the Association raised from time to time. M. Carcenac was also well known in France for his remarkable rustic apiary, after a Swiss fashion, established in a beautiful estate of his at Bougival, near Paris. According to the same contemporary, Paris is not now using so much wax as it did some thirty years ago, when its requirements amounted to 100,000 or 150,000 kilos annually. But, adds the said Journal, vegetable wax was unknown in those days. It appears that the old fashion of waxing the floors of palaces and of other buildings was a great advantage to the wax trade, which, upon this score, is bound to regret the introduction of carpets. In a few instances the old practice is kept up in a small degree, but then the wax is not used pure. CANADA. Cool nights and long evenings remind us that winter is approaching, and, sad to say, we have secured but little honey. There has been no clover, but little linden, some thistle honey, and now in localities where buck- wheat is cultivated some buckwheat honey is being gathered by the bees. Some apiaries may secure an average yield of fifty pounds to the colony, and enough for winter, but the majority will be less favoured; in fact, I know of parts of Canada where the bee-keeper has to feed not only for winter, but all that the bees will consume until that time, and have had to feed through the height of the honey harvest. Localities, too, where the average yield per colony for the last four years is over one hundred pounds ! Such a season cannot be remembered by the oldest bee-keeper, and gives new patent hives the quietus, as no one has the heart to spend any money in unnecessary directions. We in Canada make more of a specialty of bee-keeping, and many an one who has just had sufficient means to stock an apiary, and has been dependent upon honey for his living, will find himself in straitened circumstances. I know of those who have not enough food for their bees for winter, even who offered half their bees for $2.50 per colony in order to secure enough money to buy sugar for the balance, but could not readily find a purchaser. Of course we all know that a good season will make us forget — perhaps too readily — the bad years for bee-keepers, and every one will be smiling and happy. •Sugar Feeding. — I see by the British Bee Journal and standard works that there is one very marked difference between bee-keeping in Canada and Britain that I have not touched upon, and that is, feeding with sugar. It appears to be advocated that bee-keepers shall feed far more than we do here. For winter and very early spring we sometimes feed, but not otherwise, and the majority of bee-keepers are discountenancing even this, as it throws more honey upon the market, wears out the bees as in a honey flow to a certain extent, and at least 450 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 13, 1888. gives the occasion to outsiders to say honey is adul- terated. Echinops Sphterocephalus, — The Chapman honey plant, as the above is commonly called, is receiving a more extensive trial this season in America. About one third of an acre is in blossom near the apiary. It appeared to find favour with the bees when other blossoms yielded nectar, and I rather think it may prove a good honey plant. Of course so small a quantity can give no results of practical value. — R. F. Holtermann, Brantford, Canada, August 22. EUROPE. The Weather, and Chops. Old Earth seems to be crazy. While we in America and those in Central and Southern Europe have been experiencing such cold and wet weather, in Norway the heat has been very uncomfortable. At Nyborg it has been as high as 9o° Fahr., and at Christiana it has re- peatedly been from 8G° to 8U° in the shade. In Great Britain this month has been characterised by cold rains, which have not done so much damage as might naturally have been expected. Everything turns upon the continuance of the good weather to the close of the month. In France, July has proved an exceedingly unfortu- nate month. Rain and cold, with very little sun, have damaged the crop prospect in every direction. The critical periods of the blooming and earing were passed under the most favourable conditions; and the com- plaints, which are increasing on all sides, make a late and deficient harvest certain. In Germany the weather has been generally cold and rainy, with an occasional day or two of warmth. The month has not particularly advanced the pros- pect of the Austro-IIungarian crops. Up to the 10th of the month the general Russian prospects have seldom, if ever, been so brilliant. Later in the month dangerously persistent rains, accompanied by hail, were common in Southern Russia. The wheat crop in Sicily has proved very deficient, but an average was obtained in Apulia and the Neapoli- tan districts. Sardinia has almost lost her entire crop. In Upper Italy the harvest is expected to prove fairly good in quality, but will not reach an average in quantity. For thirty years the rainfall in Spain has not] been so great, or the mean temperature so low all over the kingdom, as in June and July of this year. There was snow at Valladolid on the 10th, and from every direc- tioil came news of damage to crops from the unseason- able temperature and the raging gales. Telegrams from Greece about the middle of the month report that the currant crop was in imminent danger of being lost ; the vines being dried up with the scorching wind. The harvest anticipations in Prussia are quite dis- couraging. The rye-fields, from which the great masses of Germany derive their chief bread supply, have suf- fered to a great extent, and the continued inclemency of the weather has likewise done severe damage to the fields. — American Bee Journal. AUSTRALIA. Eucalyptus Honey. At a meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society in Loudon a sample of eucalyptus honey was shown, and created much interest from the fact of its containing all the essential properties of those invaluable trees. The existence of this peculiar honey was made known in 1884 by a French traveller, M. Guilmuth, who, while exploring the island of Tasmania, noticed at the summit of one of the eucalypts a peculiar formation, which appeared to him to be a gigantic gall. Having for some time ex- amined it through his glass, he was much surprised to notice that it was frequented by a legion of small black bees, which swarmed around the 'gall,' or hive as it was now revealed to him. A strong desire to possess this hive led him to order his native followers to cut down the tree, which had a girth of seven metres and a height of eighty metres. The men before beginning their work were well protected over the face and hands, while M. Gudmeth retired to a safe distance to watch the pro- ceedings of the bees during the time the men were at their laborious work of sawing through this large tree. At first no notice was taken of them, but as progress was made the explorer was much interested and amused by the sight which met his gaze. A swarm of the bees Hew down to within a few yards of the toilers, and after flying around for a time, rapidly returned to the hive, their places being filled by others. This curious behaviour of the bees continued until the tree was sufficiently cut through to be pulled to the ground by ropes. When the tree was finally laid low, the men were instructed to drive away the queen, and this they did after a deal of shouting and beating of utensils. They would have fared very badly had they not been well protected, for the bees greatly resented this inter- ference with their home. The hive and several bees which had lingered were captured, and the honey collected. Upon tasting the honey, M. Guilmeth, much to his surprise, found that it possessed the characteristic odour and flavour of the eucalyptus essences. This he thought so important a discovery as to lead him to forward a shipment of it to a French doctor in Nor- mandy for examination. Upon carefully inspecting the bees that had been captured, they were found to be of a species not known in Europe, and accordingly the name of A/iis nigra mellijica was provisionally given to them. They were of a smaller size than the common bee of Europe, and quite black, with a far more developed proboscis. Ex- periments failed to acclimatise it in Algeria and in France. It is curious to note that in Algeria, where the eucalypts have been acclimatised, it was sought to obtain this honey by means of the Algerian bee. All flowering crops were cut down, and the bees forced to turn their attention to the eucalypts, with the result that the bees gradually died. To prevent a disaster, fresh flowering plants had to be imported. The euca- lypts being biennial, this honey is only obtainable every two years ; but it does not during that period lose any of its important constituents. It is of a deep orange colour, of a transparent syrupy consistence in warm weather ; but in this country it is usually partly solidi- fied. It has the characteristic odour of the eucalyptus essences, and also their flavour. It is said to contain about sixty-two per cent of the purest sugar, and over seventeen per cent of the essential constituents of the eucalyptus, consisting of eucalyptol, eucalyptene, cymol, and terpene, all of which play an important part in the therapeutics of the present day. It was thought that a similar honey could be obtained by mixing these ingre- dients ; and experiments were tried in Paris, but without success, as it was found that the ingredients gradually separated and volatilised off. Eucalyptus honey is designed to take an important place as a therapeutical agent and as an article of food, on account of the unusually large percentage of sugar it contains and of the presence of the eucalyptus essences, the properties of which as antiseptics and deodorisers are well known. It is usually given in warm milk or warm water. One or two teaspoonfuls twice or thrice daily have produced beneficial effects on bronchitis, asthma, and diseases of the lungs and respiratory organs, producing elasticity of the lungs and a decided increase of the vocal powers. The breath is said to be perfumed, and a sense of warmth and well-being to pervade the body. September 13, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 451 The field for such an important honey would almost appear unlimited, owing to its antiseptic properties; and already cases have been recorded of its use in typhoid gastric infection, whooping-cough, and catarrhs. As a substitute for cod-liver oil, the advent of eucalyptus honey will be hailed with delight by all who have to undergo the nauseous experience of a course of this oil, while its nutrient powers are not thought to be inferior. Much interest was created a short time since by the chemical analysis of the famous Trebizond honey, which produces narcotic effects upon all who take it, followed by strong excitement and toxic effects. It was carefully analysed in this country, and its ingredients, when separated, were tried physiologically upon animals with a two-fold object; firstly, to ascertain the nature of the poison; and secondly, to determine, if possible, by this means, the species of plant the bees producing this honey frequented. The result thus obtained led the experi- mentalists to suspect a certain plant ; and communica- tions were made to friends residing in the districts whence this honey was sent as to the names of the plants mostly abounding in the neighbourhood. It was thus ascertained that the bees relied upon a poisonous plant for their honey. There are now many honeys containing either toxic properties or peculiar odours, which have been traced to the bees frequenting a certain plant ; for instance, the Narbonne honey owes its peculiar flavour to the rose- mary, which grows so profusely in the neighbourhood. Another instance is that of the Mount Ilymettus honey, which derives its flower and odour from the labiates. With such facts before us, wo should not be surprised to see our Australian brethren's example followed in this country, and apiaries started for the production of huuey of a distinct flavour, odour, and effect. — C/mmbers's Journal, Aug. 1. ASSOCIATIONS. LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. This Association held its chief Show of the year in conjunction with the Royal Manchester, Liverpool, and North Lancashire Agricultural Society, at Lancaster, on the 5th, 6th, and 7th of September, 1888. The Agri- cultural Society made excellent arrangements as regards location for this section of the Show and, in addition to a grant of 20/., provided shedding fifty yards in length, in the centre of which a small platform was fitted, pro- tected on all sides with netting, the canvas roof being thrown open, thus enabling manipulations to be carried on at intervals. The D. B. Journal has during the season drawn atten- tion to what was intended to be the feature of the Show, viz. the County Competition. Unfortunately for all bee-keepers any exhibit in this class was out of the question, seeing that very little honey has been collected in any county throughout the country. Even witli this drawback the Lancashire and Cheshire Bee-keepers' Association have to congratulate themselves on having succeeded in getting together a grand display of ap- pliances. The manipulations being carried out by the ablest bee-masters, attracted large and enthusiastic audiences. Mr. W. Broughton Carr took the work the first two days, Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Blow occupying it on the last day. Class A. Collection of Appliances. — Of six entries, five were staged by those who have attended most of the bee-shows in the country. The collection which took the first prize is stated to be the largest that has ever been exhibited, and though so large there was nothing trashy on the stand ; the other prize collections were fully up to the usual standard. Classes B and C. Hives. — There were fifteen entries and fourteen hives staged in the former, and fourteen entries with thirteen staged in the latter. It was the general remark, when the prize hives were examined by the visitors, ' How are these produced at the prices marked on them?' Class D. Observatory Hives stocked with Bees. — There were seven entries and fixe staged. These were quite au attraction, and in placing them at future shows we woidd suggest that they are given more space, that visitors can see the bees to better advantage. Classes E, F, and G. Honey. — Taking into account the season, these exhibits were creditable both as to quantity and quality. Class II. Granulated Honey. — This is a new class. Ten entered and eight were staged; but, taking into ac- count that granulated honey of any year may be shown, we hope to see a larger number of entries in the future, and we would suggest that there be a similar class in the next schedule for sections of any previous year, whether granulated or otherwise. A small award was given for the only lot of sections staged in this class. Class I. Wax. — The three prize lot s were attractively got up. Class K. Novelties. — The only exhibits calling for mention are No. 079, a hive for the moors, and Nos. 07.'i and 074, extractors. Judges. — The Rev. George Raynor and Mr. Cowan took all the Classes except A and f ' ; these were judged by the Rev. J. L. Seager and Mr. liaitt. The arduous work these four gentlemen had can be imagined when it is stated that the former two were kept busy the whole of the first day, and the latter two did not give in the awards for Class 0 till Wednesday morning, and the result of their labours gave general satisfaction, and the Lancashire and Cheshire Liee-keepers' Association are to be congratulated in having had these four gentlemen — with Mi'. W. Broughton Carr — at one time at one of their shows. Below we give full details of the prizes awarded : — Class A. — Collection of hives, bee-furniture, and appli- ances: 1, Abbott Brothers, Southall, London; 2, 8. J. Baldwiu, Bromley, Kent ; 3, George Neighbour aud Son, London. Class B. — Complete frame-bive for general use in an apiary, with arrangements for summer and winter use, capable of being used for tiering to obtain extracted honey, or of being storified with one or two crates filled with sections to obtain comb-honey : 1, T. B. Blow, Welwyn, Herts ; 2, Charles Kedshaw, South Wigston, Leicester ; 3, Abbott Brothers, Southall. Class C. — For the best and most complete storifying frame-hive with arrangements for summer and winter use, price not to exceed 12s. 6d., unpainted : 1, C. Kedshaw, South Wigston, Leicestershire; 2, Abbott Brothers, Southall; 3, W. P. Meadows, Syston, Leicester. Class D. — Observatory hive, to be exhibited stocked with bees (English or foreign) and their queens, all combs to be visible on both sides : 1, George Neighbour and Son, Regent Street, London ; 2, E. C. Walton, Preston ; 3, T. B. Blow, Welwyn. Class E.— Exhibition of honey from one apiary, in quantity not less than 1 cwt. : 1, S. J. Baldwin, Bromley, Kent ; 2, W. Drinkall, Bank House, Scotfoith, Lancaster ; 3, B. Alty, Pilling, Lancaster. Class F. — Comb honey in sections, from 12 lbs. to 20 lbs. in weight, the produce of exhibitor's own bees : 1, S. J. Baldwin ; 2, William Woodley, World's End, Newbury ; 3, Henry Beswick, Tibenham, Norfolk. Class G. — Extracted honey in glass jars, from 12 lbs. to 20 lbs. in weight, the produce of exhibitor's own bees : 1, Henry Beswick, Tibenliam, Norfolk; 2, S. J. Baldwin; 3, Henry Corlett, Kamsay, Isle of Man ; i, C. Atkinson, Toekwith, York ; 5, A. Simpson, Mansfield, Woodhouse, Notts. Class H. — 12 lbs. to 20 lbs. granulated honey: 1, S. J. Baldwin ; 2, E. C Kerr, Dumbells Bank, Kamsey ; o, Miss Bawlinsou, Temple Sowerby ; extra, C Atkinson, Toekwith. Class I. — For the best sample of bees-wax (the produce of the exhibitor's own bees) in cakes, the aggregate weight 452 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 13, 1888. not to be less than 3 lbs. : 1, Abbott Brothers, Southall; 2, T. B. Blow, Welwyn, Herts ; 3, E. Clowes, Hole House Farm, Milton, Stoke-on-Trent. Class K. — Novelties and useful inventions connected with bee appliances or the products of an apiary : for model hive and pocket smoker, Abbott Brothers, Southall ; for two new extractors and a rapid feeder, W. P. Meadows, Svston, Leicester ; for Lee's frames with block and Lee's crates with hanging frames, George Neighbour and Son, Begent Street, London. In Class G the bronze medal of the B. B. K. A. was awarded to B. L. Garnett, Esq., being the best exhibit by any member of the Lancashire and Cheshire Bee-keepers' Association residing in the county. THE EAST LOTHIAN BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The show of bees, hives, honey, &c, of this Associa- tion, was held in the Side Room, Corn Exchange, Haddington, on Tuesday, 4th September, at the same time that the County Flower Show was going on. Owing to the backwardness of the season, which is said to be the worst experienced for thirty years, the exhibition of honey was not large. Indeed there were only about 100 pounds to be bad, and that was sup- plied by Mr. G. D. Clark, Kirklandhill. Despite this the exhibition was very interesting, and attracted a great deal of attention. The designs in comb honey were particularly good, and greatly admired by those who understood the difficulties. The initials G. 1). C. and the word ' Bee,' were very nicely worked out by Mr. Clark. A glass hive shown by Mr. T. S. Robertson, Westbarns, was specially interesting for the ingenuity displayed, and its fine finish. Frame-hives were a large show and represented the various ideas. There was a varied collection of extra articles, almost all from Mr. G. D. Clark, whose flowers from which honey is col- lected attracted considerable attention. There was no competition in Classes 3 and 4 owing to the bad weather spoiling the heather harvest, for which these classes were allotted. This was very unfortunate as this county is noted for its heather honey, and strong competition is usually shown. The judges, Mr. Mason, Dalkeith, for hives and appliances, and Mr. Pringle, Cockburnspath, for honey, awarded the following prizes : — Class 1 — Twelve sections of comb honey (not heather), lib. size.— G. D. Clark, Kirklandhill. Class 2— Twelve glass jars of liquid honey, lib. size. — 1 and 2 — G. D. Clark, Class 3 — Single super of comb honey, any size (not heather) — G. D. Clark. Class 6 — Best design in comb honey — 1 and 2 — G. D. Clark. Class 7— Observatory hive stocked with bees and queen. — 1, T. S. Robertson, West- barns ; 2, G. D. Clark. Class 8 — Best frame-hive and super, cheapness and quality considered. — 1, Alex. Pater- son, Peffers' Place, Haddington ; 2, D. B. Taylor, Hadding- ton ; 3, T. S. Robertson. Class 9 — Anything of extra interest to bee-keepers. — 1, 2, and 3, G. D. Clark. Class 10 — Collection of bee-furniture, no two articles to be alike. — T. S. Robertson. Class 11 — Specimens (cut) of best honey producing flowers and plants. — G. D. Clark. DERBYSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. At the show on August 29th and 30th, although it lias been a bad season for honey, the Derbyshire Bee- keepers' Association must be congratulated upon the very successful show of honey, appliances, and frame- hives, &c. The judges, Messrs. Walton, of Preston, and Fisher, of Farasfield, Notts, must have bad no easy task to perform in awarding the prizes, as the compe- tition was very keen, but, nevertheless, their decisions gave general satisfaction. In the hive department it is a wonder to all how the hives could be produced at the money asked for them. The principal makers who had exhibits were Messrs. W. Coxon, of Ambaston; A. Cooper, of Normanton ; C. Redsluiw, of South Wigston ; S. Skermer, of Swanwick ; and Messrs. Turner & Son, of Radeliffe-on-Trent. The bee-driving competition was of the usual attractive character, and was as well patron- ised as on former occasions. Mr. A. G. Pugh, of Amber- gate, succeeded in finding the queen-bee in the short space of two and a half minutes. The competition was continued to the close of the second day. The show itself was a great success, and excellent arrangements were made for the comfort of all, which, to a great degree, are due to the services of the Secretary, Mr. W. T. Atkins. The price of honey this year is Is. 6d. a pound, which is 6rf. a pound more than in previous years. The awards were as follows : — Class 2. — Foreign bees. —1, B. Skermer, Swanwick ; 2, B. S. Rawson, Selston. Class 3. — English bees. — 1, J. W. Rawson, Selston; 2, T. W. Jones, Etwall ; 3, W. Handby, Hasland. Class 4. — Best, twelve sections. — 1, and silver medal of the British Bee-keepers' Association, T. W. Jones, Etwell ; 2, Joseph Rowland, Holbrook ; 3, John Stone, Little Cubley. Class 5. — Run honey (twelve pounds). — 1, and certificate of the British Bee-keepers' Association, J. Stone, Little Cubley ; 2, W. Haudbv, Hasland ; 3, B. S. Rawson, Selston ; 4, W. Atkins ; 5, H. Glover, Rodsley. Class 6.— Beeswax (one pound). — 1, W. Handby ; 2, J. Stone. Class 7.— Run honey (six pounds). — 1, and bronze medal of the British Bee-keepers' Association, T. Wilson, Ashover ; 2 and 3, R. Bridges and J. R. Bridges, Harstoft, equal; 4, S. Hadfield, Higham. Class 8. — Comb honey, open to all members, 1, and silver medal of the Derbyshire Bee-keepers' Association, J. Stone, Little Cubley ; 2, T. Wilson, Ashover ; 3, Joseph Rowland ; 4, S. Hadfield, Higham. Class 9. — Beeswax (half a pound). — 1, J. W. Rawson; 2, S. Hadfield. Class 10. — Hive by amateurs. — 1, W. T. Atkins, North Street, Derby'. Class 11.— Fifteen shilling frame-hive. — 1, W. Handby; 2, C. Redshaw, South Wigston; 3, W. Coxon, Ambaston. Class 12.— Frame-hive at 10s. 6<£— 1, W. Handby ; 2, C. Redshaw; 3, W. Coxon. Class 13.— Supers.— 1, C. Redshaw, South Wigston ; 2, Turner & Son, Radcliffe- on-Trent. Class 14.— Extractors.— 1, W. Coxon; 2, W. Handby. Class 15. — Collection of appliances. — 1, W. Handby ; 2, A. Cooper, Normanton ; 3, W. Coxon. Class 16. — Selling class. — 1, A. Cooper. EAST STIRLINGSHIRE BEE AND HONEY SHOW. The annual show of above Sociery was held in the Public Hall, Falkirk, on the 30th and 31st ult., in con- nexion whli the Falkirk Flower Show. The entries for honey in all the various classes were well contested. The chief honours, as will be seen from prize-list, fell to Mr. Wilson, Jun., Grahamstou, and also his father. Mr. Wm. Sword exhibited the design 'Let Glasgow Flourish,' which was much admired, and had it been sealed and finished would have taken first place, the first-prize design, of Mr. Wilson, Jun., being a wheel, well sealed and finished throughout. The class for display of honey was well represented. The judges were Mr. William McNally, Glenluce, and Mr. D. Gordon, Tollcross, near Glasgow, whose awards gave every satisfaction. Ap- pended is prize-list, viz. : — Observatory or unicomb-hive, stocked with bees and their queen : 1, Wm. Wilson, Campfield Street ; 2, Wm. Wilson, Gordon Terrace. Single super of flower-honey in wood or straw, not less than 1(> lbs. : 1, W. Wilson, Campfield Street; 2, W. Wilson, Gordon Terrace; 3, Wm. B.Watson, Falkirk. Single super of flower-honey in wood or straw, not less than 10 lbs. : 1, W.Wilson, Campfield Street ; 2, W. Wilson, Gordon Terrace. Run or extracted clover or flower-honey ; 1, W. Wilson, September 13, 1888.] THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL. 453 Campfield Street ; 2, W. Wilson, Gordon Terrace ; 3, W. Sword, Bonneyview. Display of honey: 1, W. Wilson, Campfield Street (Silver Medal) ; 2, W. Wilson, Gordon Terrace ; 3, Wm. Sword. Be3t super-honey, above 20 lbs. ; 1, 2, and 3, Wm. Wilson, Grahamston. Best super-honey, under 20 lbs. : 1 and 2, W. Wilson, Grahamston; 3, Wm. Baird, Carron Lodge. Best design in honeycomb : W. Wilson, Grahamston. Kun honey, not less than 7 lbs. : 1, W. Wilson, Campfield Street; 2, W. Wilson, Grahamston; 3, Wm. Sword, Bonneyview. Best six sections : 1, W.Wilson, Campfield Street; 2, W. Wilson, Grahamston; 3, Wm. Baird. Wax, not less than 2 lbs.: 1, Wm. Sword; 2. W. Wilson, Grahamston. FLOWER SHOW AT STRATHPEFFEH, ROSS-SHIRE, N.B. The most northernly bee-show in Scotland came off in the Large Pavilion of the now fashionable health-resort- ing district of Strathpeffer. The flower show was also held in the same hall. The place had been illuminated at night, and a conversazione, promenade, and vocal concert, took place in the evening. The show of flowers and fruit, was very good, and considering the backward season the honey staged for competition and sale was very good, and found a ready sale at 1*. 6d., 2s., and 2s. 3d., in 1-lb. sections. The first prize for bees in an observatory hive was awarded to Mr. J. II. Bisset, the Sehoolhouse. It proved a great attraction during the whole day, hundreds of young and old crowded around it from morn till night, each as eager as at Glasgow to get a glimpse of the queen. No extracted or run honey was shown. The exhibition of section honey was an in- teresting one. The entries were not numerous, but the quality of the honey forwarded was considered to be very satisfactory. The arrangements of the Hon. Secre- tary (Mr. Baiu, Stafford Villa, Strathpeffer), who was assisted by Mr. J. F. Macaulay, Castle Leod, as acting Secretary, were efficiently carried out. The judges of honey and bee-keeping were Mr. Ross, Stranraer, and Mr. Reid, Balloan. The prize list is as follows : — Best display of honey in sections of 1 lb., 1£ lbs., 2 lbs., or all combined, total weight to be under 20 lbs. — 1, Mr. David Morrison, Leckmelm ; 2, Mr. W. Ross, Kinnahaird ; 3, Mr. John Matheson, Contin. Best straw super, any weight. — 1, Mr. A. Simpson, nurseryman, Dingwall ; 2, Mr. Kenneth Mackenzie, Parkhill Cottage ; 3, Sir. Matheson, Contin. Best straw super, heather honey. — Mr. Matheson. Best glass super (special). — Mr. Morrison, Leckmelm. Best 2 lbs. of wax. — Mr. J. H. Bisset, Fodderty. Best observatory or unicomb hive. — ,Mr. Bisset. Best col- lection of bee-keeping appliances. — Mr. Hugh Fraser. Best bar-frame hive of local (Koss-shire) make, to con- sist of one-storey hive, with roof, floor-board, and section crate, price not to exceed 10s. (Sd., and to be supplied to members of society at that price. Special prize by Mr. Raitt, Blairgowrie, of 5 lbs. brood comb foundation, with 1/. added by Society. — 1, Mr. Hugh Maclean, Marybank, Muir of Ord ; 2, Mr. Hugh Fraser, Coul Wood Cottage, Strathpeffer. Hive of last year's honey. — Mr. Hugh Maclean, Marybank. Mr. Grant, carpenter, showed a well-made double- walled bar-frame hive of local make, and Messrs. Ross & Co., ironmongers, Dingwall, exhibited a complete bar- frame hive, with sections and feeders, and samples of wax comb foundation. Samples of this hive can be seen now on view in the Glasgow International Exhi- bition, court 18, stall 5, viz., Steam Factory for Bee- appliances, J. Ross, manager, Stranraer. We are informed by experts that Strathpeffer, and the surrounding district, on account of its salubrity and other natural advantages, forms one of the best places possible for the rearing of bees and the production of honey. This is an industry much neglected in the Highlands, but one which, capably managed, should result in both pleasure and profit to those who engage in it. A lecture, delivered in the Pavilion in July last year, on ' The Humane Treatment of the Honey Bee,' with illustrations and appliances, by Mr. James Ross, Stranraer, and which had been favourably reported and commented on by the local press, helped much to popu- larise the subject of bee-culture, and create a demand for bee-literature, which is now bearing fruit. Corrcspanuciifx The Editor docs not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to wiite on one side of the paper only, and givo their full names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of .dssociatt'ons, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, &c, must be addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," cjo Messrs. Strangcicays and Sons, Toicer Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C All business communications relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J. Hdckle, Kings Langlcy, Herts (sea 2nd page of Advertisement*. ) %,* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking oj any letter or nuery previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. HONEY IMPORTS. The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom during the month of August, 1888, was 1305/. — G. Met- calfe, Statistical Office, Sept. 5. THE JEWS' APPRECIATION OF HONEY AT THEIR FEASTS. [1793.] I have often noticed at this season of the year that there has beeu rather an unusual demand for honey in the combs, the customers for the most part bearing evidence of belonging to the Jewish persuasion. This year there has been no diminution in this respect, and our supplies (being rather limited, owing to the un- favourable weather) have been largely drawn upon — which lias led me to make inquiries into the cause of this consumption of honey by the Jewish people, and I find that it is on the occasion of the first day of their new year. This occurred last Thursday, the 6th inst., beiug the first of the month — ' Tishri, 5049 ' — and as it is a festival day, also the harvest season when most kinds of produce have been gathered, the new fruit, &c, are partaken of at mealtimes, because the opportunity admits of the additional blessing being said before eating the new ripe fruit. New honey with new apples makes an excellent bon bouche, and is greatly appreciated on the occasion. My informant tells me that observant Jews whenever partaking of food always repeat a certain short blessing of thankfulness, and an additional one when the fruit or produce is the first of the season. Moreover, their festivals are days of gladness as well as of prayer ; and in what better way can people display their pleasure and gratitude than by the sober enjoyment of the good things in season, more especially by a community who are the descendants of the inhabitants of ' a land flowing with milk aud honey?' — Alfred Neighbour, Regent Street, Se-i tember \0tli. IN THE HUT. ' Oh, try no more those tedious fields, Come taste the Bweets my feeder yields 1 ' [1794.] Thus do I apostrophise the only remaining tenants of my bee-garden, the observation bees housed within the hut. The view through the window is somewhat like that from the Speaker's Gallery — it is a question of empty benches, the other members are off to 454 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 13, 1888. the moors. Even there our ill-luck has accompanied us the weather being what we term ' six to one.' Our poor bees can only get food from hand to mouth; we are consequently having to feed (the bees) at the heather — a rather humiliating fact, I must admit ; and I can assure you that the carrying a stone or so of sugar behind one on a cycle for eight miles to a thousand feet elevation is such a labour of love that we would be delighted to change it for the more congenial task of bringing a box of heather sections home downhill. Dr. McPherson (Scottish Nights) is quoted by you, page ;)U3, as stating that eucalyptus honey will not do for Athol brose, as it will not dissolve in alcohol, and he proceeds to give you the Scotch recipe for this true Olympian nectar, a cure for a cold, thus : Equal quantities of honey and whisky mixed together till the honey is dissolved. I think if the Doctor had used the formula I gave you some time ago, obtained at Blair Athol, i.e., equal parts of honey, cream, and whisky, he would find the cream an excellent flux or emulsifierfor his obdurate honey. Don't try eucalyptus honey, by the way, unless you like to lick paint-brushes. It is pleasant for the mind to wander hack to swarm- ing time, so let me, although thus late, ' bang Banagker ' by assuring you that one of my neighbours hived a swarm weighing 24j lbs. nett weight. Of course it was a mass of bees formed by five or six swarms which had taken it into their heads to throw in their lot together. My friend assisted them by filling three large skeps, and tiering three empty hives. lie threw in the lot together. Speaking of tiering hives reminds me of a saying of Fuller's, that, ' Often the cockloft is empty in those whom Nature hath built many storeys high.' I only apply this to the hives, bear in mind, so 1 hope the Jerkes of that ilk won't come down with their thunder- bolts about X-Tractor's head. I am amongst those who believe the Combination principle (not Oo-operative, ' A. E.!') is the best, and I have been somewhat disgusted to find it condemned on the ground that one cannot, when using frames parallel with the entrance, tilt the hive up at the hack, so as to allow moisture to run out of the hive door. This is not correct, for when there is danger of comb being built einoked, thai is, in the height of the season, the floor- board may be tilted up a bit behind and the hire similarly treated in front to the same degree, two bits of chip do the lot and the frames are true. We thus get the required ventilation, and I really don't see what moisture is to run out at that time. As for winter and spring work, the inclination may he given at the back only, for the combs are then built and set. With regard to martins and swallows feeding on bees, the recent correspondence on this point seems to have convinced two or three sceptical readers that if ' one swallow does not make a summer' it often makes a pretty successful spring. In 'Jottings' by 'Amateur Expert,' Mr. Alley says, ' Only one kind of honey is stored in any otie cell.' This is quite contrary to my experience. The honey I prefer is heather mixed with fruit-blossom honey, and to obtain this I keep partly filled sections, capped and uncapped, in all stages, the cells are filled up the following summer, and the trace of the heather can be distinctly seen by its darker golden colour on being held up to the light; besides the mixture can he seen and tasted. My friend ' A. E.V microscopic test would not, I think, be a sure one, foreign pollen-grains wander about all over the place. Let me finish by giving you the latest reading of Mill on's: — ' Linked sweetness, long drawn out.' Mr. Cheshire tells us on page 96, ' the bee can sip a Stream of nectar so fine that COO miles of it will, when evaporated, store hut a 1-lb. section box.' It would also fill the — X-Tractob. THE COMBINATION PRINCIPLE. [179o.] Perhaps some of your able correspondents will kindly explain what is the Combination principle which ' C. N. A.' champions so strongly p Is it simply the placing of frames parallel to the hive entrance, or is it this in combination with a certain length of hive from front to back, and without space or arrangements for a second row of frames above p We were promised an explanation in a pamphlet, hut though I have written for it several times, it is not yet out. In the answers to the query on this subject lately, it is quite plain that, the Combination principle did not convey the same meaning to all minds. It is quite true that storifying (or tiering) is very old (as the hills p), and it has been long and successfully used in Scotland, and is so yet, whatever ' C. N. A.' may say. It would be interesting to waken out the 'Renfrewshire Bee-keeper' on this subject, as I well remember how he praised tiering (?) in my hearing years ago. The Americans coined the name, it is true, but what of that ? It is not of much consequence what name is used if the results are satisfactory. My own hives are made with frames parallel to the entrance, but all are capable of tiering, or storifying, or whatever name it may go under. Are such hives Combination, or are they not ? I must say the results are good anyhow. There are a few more than Mr. Raitt who think that the tiering system is being pushed to the front in the south, hut it is a long time since it came first in use hereabout. Speaking to an old bee-keeper near me a few days ago, he pointed out an old hive in his stock and said, ' The first queen which led a swarm into it was an Italian, in the days when each cost about 10/. That is some time ago, and yet the hive was a tiering frame-hive, very simple, square, with short frame- ends set in nicks in hive sides. Without plinths, or other elaborate means to keep out the wet, it had suc- cessfully been used year after year.' Is it not ' C. N. A.' who has the new thing, and is trying to push it into favour? Though ho has no interest in it, except that he believes it to be a good thing, yet this is enough to make him use strong language in its support ! Each likes his own child best. Through all 'C. N. A.'s' writings there runs the sentiment that tiering is a had system, and I would respectfully ask him, How is it bad p It has been found good in Scotland before his system of long hives was in existence, and it is still largely supported here. True, some use frames parallel and some at right angles to hive entrance, but does that alter the tiering principle at all ? The hives of the old bee-keeper mentioned had been used both ways, and he was surprised when I asked if it made any difference. He said 'No.' The above has been penned in the hope that it will be clearly explained wherein the two systems differ and diverge. — Dunbar. THE COMBINATION PRINCIPLE. (1780.) [1790.] 1 am sorry not to be able to agree with Mr. Abbott as to the advantage of having the frames in hives parallel to the entrance. In advocating their use I have no 'axe to grind,' or ' any friend to serve,' and I should indeed be sorry to injure any one intentionally by so doing. I, like Mr. Abbott, formerly designed several hives for which I received medals. These hives all had the frames at right angles to the entrance, and I claim an equal right with Mr. Abbott to advocate the principle I then adopted, and have since proved to my own satisfaction to be the best, and therefore recommend this system to others. 1 do not claim any originality for this plan. ' The Stewarton hive," Major Munris hive,' ' Tlv! Langstroth hive,' ' 'J'/te Woodbury hive,' all had the entrance at the end of the frames. In nearly all skeps the combs are end on to the entrance, if the floor-hoard is anything like level, or highest at the point opposite to the entrance. I have taken up a good number of skeps September 13, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 55 in my time, and have found when this rule- is departed from by the bees, the floor-board slants from one side to the other across the entrance, and the combs are built longitudinally with the fall, and this is one additional reason for raising the hive at the back that the combs may hang in the manner the bees prefer. In a hive without frames they will always commence to build from the highest point. It would be interesting if those who are about to take up skeps of condemned bees would carefully notice the position of combs to entrance and see if they cannot account for any variation from the general rule and report to the Bee Journal. Does Mr. Abbott claim to be the originator of the parallel-frames principled It would, I think, be in- teresting to many of your readers if he will explain both the combination system and the way he works his hive also. Mr. Abbott says, ' I beg leave to thank you for the honour you have done me(?) in your recognition of the principles involved by inviting opinions on the relative value of frames parallel with and at right angles to hive entrances, and to express deep satisfaction with the con- sensus of opinion set forth thereon. Out of eleven prominent bee-keepers replying to Query No. 22 on the subject, only a very small minority favour the right- angled system.' I cannot allow this statement as to the small minority in favour of the right-angled frames to pass without comment. There are live who express a decided opinion in favour of right-angled frames, namely, Mr. Haynor, Mr. Howard, Mr. Edey, Mr. Tom Sells, and myself. For the parallel frames, Mr. Abbott, Mr. Beswick, and Air. Wood, making three who express an unqualified prefer- ence for the latter. Mr. Woodley says he has hives with frames both ways, and tinds no difference as to the well-being of the bees, but prefers the latter for working. Mr. E. Ball and Mr. John Walton think it does not matter one way or the other. I may mention two well- known bee-keepers who have also expressed their opinion in print in favour of the right-angled frame, namely, Mr. Broughton-Oarr and Mr. liaitt. Mr. Abbott goes on to quote what I say: — 'The majority of most advanced bee-keepers, both here and in America, use hives with frames at right angles to the entrance.' I am still of this opinion, which is confirmed, I think, by the answers to the following question in 'Gleanings:' — 'Do you prefer the entrance at the end of the frame f Why?' There are eighteen answers. Twelve prefer the entrance at the end of the frames, and six think it makes no difference, and some of these use as many frames one way as the other. I copy some of the answers : — ' This is much debated in Europe, because the Berlepsch Hive has the entrance on the side. We prefer the Lang- stroth way, because it gives the bees and the air access to all the combs readily. Besides, we can slant the hive for- ward, for the escape of moisture, debris, &c, without caus- ing the frames to hang out of the perpendicular line. — Dabant & Sons.' ' I do. To assist the bees in getting out with a worm, when they get one by the collar, the hive should be tilted forward ; and this will not do when the combs ruu cross- wise, or is it because I'm a Yankee, and the " stupid Britiihers" all use side entrances? — E. E. Hasty.' ' We like to have the bottom-board slope slightly towards the entrance, then rain or melting snow will run out in- stead of in. If a hive does not stand level, then it ought to slant lengthways of the frames, otherwise they do not hang square with the hive. — W. Z. Hutchinson.' ' Yes; because I can tip the hive, making the entrance lowest, aiding the bees in keeping the hive clean. Besides, it is more natural for them to climb up than down or on a level. Ifthe frames run c.csswise, you can't tip the hive toward the entrance without throwing the frame out of the desirable vertical position. — James HenDON.' ' The Dzierzon method favours the so-called " warm- frame arrangement" i.e., the brood-frames hanging cross- wise of the entrance. I prefer the so-called " cold-frame arrangement," that is, the entrance at the ends of the brood-frames, because any part of the brood chamber is of easier access to the bees. Besides, practical results have proved Langstroth's arrangement superior to Dzierzon's. — Chab. P. Mute.' ' Yes. The bees have more ready access to all tin- combs as they enter. The brood-nest can be more desirably con- tracted with combs in this position. Ventilation, witli :i proper entrance, can be made more thorough. It is also often very desirable to have the hive stand so that the front is lowest, without throwing the combs out of their perpen- dicular position. — L. C. Root.' ' Yes. Well, perhaps because it is the fashion, and I never tried any other way. At least, that's the principal reason. I suppose it allows a better chance for ventilation, and for ready access to all parts of the hive. — C. C. Miller.' ' Yes, for one particular reason. The hive should always be tipped towards the entrance, to allow water to run out of, and not into the hive, as well as for other reasons, and the combs will not be built true in the frames if they are tipped sidewise. — 0. A. Poppleton.' ' Well, friends, this is pretty good. We can rest satisfied that it does not make any difference about the amount of honey stored, whether bees go into the hive sidewise or endwise; but so far as aiding the bees in house-cleaning, expelling intruders, Ac. , is concerned, the endwise doorway offers best facilities. It seems, also, as if an entrance, full width of the hive, with combs running endwise, must oiler the bees better facilities for perfect ventilation. — A. I. Boot.' I should not have presumed to have occupied so much of your valuable space, but my name was referred to in such a way I felt bound to reply, at tin- same time I can assure Mr. Abbott I have not the least unfriendly feeling towards him or his Combination hive, but I much prefer the more modern production of the Southall estab- lishment, ' Tho Gayton Hive.' — John M. Hooker. LESSONS AND EXPERIENCES. [1797.] I notice with pleasure the opportunities you continually afford to novices for expressing their opinions, ami for seeking advice from yourself and your experienced correspondents. I therefor.' take the opportunity of giving my small experience, and I intend in future, with your permission, to become a contributor to your columns whenever anything comes under my observa- tion likely to be of interest to those renders of my own limited knowledge in bee matters. For my own part, I read with great int. rest, and learn much practical know- ledge, from the communications of your inexperienced correspondents. 1 takeit, that this is a very general feeling among the uninitiated for the reason that those elemen- tary difficulties are brought under observation which are apt to be overlooked by more advanced masters of tho art. But to the subject ! My experience only begins as from the year before last, when I bought a stock in a straw hive at some little distance from my residence, making my first mistake by doing this in the middle of the summer. The hive was brought by rail, and when it .arrived (late at night) I found that, after it had been standing in my garden a little while (upside down), there was something wrong. There was a great buzzing, and on making our examination I found that the cloth over tlie opening had somehow got disarranged and that the bees were out, and, I feared, •on the war-path.' The hoe iy 1 also found was flowing freely from the hive. However, we got the hive on a. stand in the garden the right way up, and left them till morning. The next day I obtained the assistance of a local ex- pert, and on arriving at the scene of operation., we found matters in a dreadful state, the combs all broken down, and the bees, as the expert described it, 'all over the 456 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 13, 1888. shop.' Much to my dismay he took his coat off, rolled up his sleeves, and, lighting his smoker, went to work. I viewed his operations from a safe distance in wonder. I had provided a bar-frame hive, and after much trouble the combs were got in something like order, and tied into four of the frames with tape, and the hive adjusted. The smoker was again brought into requisition, and most of the bees seemed eventually to settle down in their new quarters, not, however, without giving the ' expert ' something for his trouble. He said the reason of this was that there were bees from other hives present sharing the spoil of spilt honey. He did not succeed in finding the queen, and had grave doubts as to her majesty having survived the general wreck. We took a nice lot of comb-honey from the old hive, left the remnants for the bees to clean out, and departed. On going to view the scene of operations next" day, matters appeared to my uninitiated view to be pro- gressing satisfactorily. Being advised to leave things in statu quo for some time, I did so for a week or two, till I became convinced that everything was not going on as satisfactorily as I at first thought — very few bees going in and out at the entrance. An examination was then determined on, with the result that not a vestige of brood was visible, and the suspicion as to her majesty's non-existence became a certainty. A friend of mine who had just superseded a three- year-old queen offered her to me, and I gladly accepted his offer. We introduced her under the quilt late one night, and again waited on events. I did not see the hive again for a week or two. Here, however, I had made mistake number two. I had left the. entrance wide open, with the result that when the next examination took place ruin and desolation were disclosed. It was, indeed, a city of the dead. Deserted combs ; not a drop of honey ; dead brood, sealed and in all stages : robbing, murder, and pillage, had evidently been rampant, and your humble servant was beeless. The only thing I had for my money and trouble was experience. The morals learnt were: — 1. Never buy a straw skep after the early spring months. 2. Examine a hive shortly after a transfer to ascertain if the queen is safe. 3. In the autumn never leave the door of a weak stock wide open. I purpose, in future numbers, to give some of my further experiences and lessons learnt if you, Mr. Editor, consider them sufficiently interesting for the general body of your readers. — H. P.D. [We shall be pleased to hear of your further ex- periences.— Ed.] BEES IN MALTA. [1708.] A passing good season. It is my first, and all my stocks are very weak and in bad condition; irre- gular combs, &c, which had to be replaced, and the time almost all taken up in getting them right. However, I have learnt a thing or two. First of all, as regards the position of frames. I don't think the bees care which way they rest, but I do. My hives are double where the shoulders rest, and single on the other two sides. If the entrance is through the double side, there is, of course, a kind of tunnel, whereas, if cut on the single side, there is only the thickness of the wood. And wherever this is the case, the bees have built a barricade across, beautifully loopholed, and gene- rally secured to the first frame. So no more single fronted hives for me, unless made with a tunnel. The native bees are frightful robbers, and this is pro- bably a precaution against the enemy. I have been much puzzled over one hive, fairly strong, aud yet without a scrap of stores, while the rest are pretty well off. But the B. B. J. of the 30th August opened my eyes by letter (1770) on Robbing, and on searching I found two large cracks in floor-board. Robbing made easy. Hornets are a trouble, and as they build in the loose rubble walls, and not underground, are difficult to dis- lodge. I found a nest just outside my garden, and morn- ing and evening I pay them a visit, armed with a butterfly net, and catch them as they come in and out. The first evening my bag was 63 ; next morning, 20 ; evening, 38 ; and yesterday only 16. Now I shall plaster up. QUEEN INTRODUCTION. CARNIOLANS v. ITALIANS. [1799.] I was pleased to note the letter from Mr. Pond in a late issue, giving particulars of his method of queen-introduction. During the last five weeks I have introduced no less than twenty-six queens in my own apiary. And all except one on the direct method. In this way : — Some time during the day examine hive for queen and cells, all of which must be removed ; then, in the evening, when all is quiet, either let the alien queen run in at entrance, or raise the dummy-board a little and let her run in there ; close all up again quietly and leave them at least three days. I have even done this in the middle of the day in a few instances, and have had only one failure. All through this year I have had Carniolans, Italians, and Blacks running side by side, and, without exception, the Carniolans have done the best, both for breeding and activity (among the workers). I believe Italians — when pure — are very gentle, but do not equal the Carniolans. They are not so hardy, and do not keep combs so white and clean as Carniolans. A cross between a Carniolan drone and Italian queen is very good, also between Car- niolan drone and black queen ; but of the two I prefer the latter. If 'Sherborne' will try this he will have no difficulty — under good management — in having forty frames covered with bees at the beginning of June. The season here, like in other places, is a complete failure. In transferring several stocks from straw hives to bar-frames, I have found the great majority entirely without food, and some of the bees fall off the combs quite exhausted. I will ask opinions on a freak these have done. A friend of mine here (an old bee-keeper) made up a nucleus for the purpose of giving an Italian queen-cell. After giving three or four frames of hatching-brood, with adhering bees from other hives, he inserted queen- cell. All went on all right for a week, when, on opening, he found them short of food ; so taking a frame two inches wide containing food from the back of another hive, he placed it at back of this one. Two or three days later he opened the hive, and found four queen-cells started on this frame. Now where did the eggs come from, as they were not in the frame when putting it in, and the young queen had got lost? — Chas. Howes, Cottingham. REPLY TO EAST GLAMORGAN (1766). [1800.] I did not intend troubling you with the explanation 'East Glamorgan,' alias 'Welsh Novice,' asked for in your issue of August 23rd, 1888, because I felt that anything I could say would not be of sufficient interest to your numerous readers to warrant my asking you for room in your very instructive Journal, but as Mr. E. J. Gibbins, of Neath, has been kind enough to show ' East Glamorgan ' that it is possible for fifty-eight pounds of honey to be gathered in six days, where there is a good honey flow, and that from blackberries. Although ' E. G.' says Navigation is a poor place for bees to get honey, Mr. William Gay, the Glamorganshire bee expert, says he never saw a better place, or bees do better than mine have, taking all things into consideration September 13, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 457 ' E. G.' cannot know much about Navigation, or he would be aware that we have, close to our apiary, one wood about two miles long, and half a mile wide, where tons of blackberries and wild raspberries are collected most years. There is also a good supply of other honey-producing flowers coming on in rotation, from 'the blue-bells to heather.' The atmospheric conditions of late have quite puzzled me, so I will say no more on that point, but leave it to 'E. G.'s' fertile brain to solve. Now about feeding ; I have not had occasion to feed at all since the spring, and then not very much ; some of my sections are, and have been on sale at Pontypridd : and if ' E. G,' would purchase a few, he would, perhaps, be able to tell whether pure or not, but then I don't think he would — I have just thought about the way be hefted or lifted the frame without first removing the quilt. Well, I hope ' East Glamorgan ' will not try to discourage a young beginner again, and that he will, in future, give his name, we shall then, perhaps, be able to judge whether he knows any- thing about bee-keeping or not. He may be a very clever man, and have a large well-managed apiary, or he may be a ' duffer,' who can tell ? I forgot to say before that it was honey and not brood that my frames contained. I know the difference (dear) 'E. G.,' if only by the taste. I have sent you a section per parcels post, Mr. Editor, perhaps jou will kindly say whether it is pure or not ; and if such rare quality is a treat to you, you have only to say so, and I shall be pleased to send you a dozen or so. — A. H. Sims, Navigation, Treharris, R.S.O., Glamor- ganshire. [We have received the section, for which thanks. There can be no doubt as to the purity of the honey. It is of good quality and exquisite flavour ; it is the best we have tasted this season. We are much obliged by our corres- pondent's generous intentions, but would respectfully prefer not to avail ourselves of his kind favour. — Ed.] PERCENTAGES. [1801.] Percentages, if rightly considered, play a most important part in practical bee-keeping, for we have it almost generally agreed that a very small percentage of sections is spoilt by the queen when no excluder is used above the brood nest, and that the hindrance to the bees is far in excess of any advantage gained by the use of the excluder. Another interesting question is, What percentage of hives swarm under any non-swarming system ? My ex- perience is, that by tiering up, and giving plenty of room, not more than three per cent will swarm. Con- sequently, in an apiary of six hives we shall probably have only one swarm in five years ; and, therefore, it is not worth watching during the swarming season for five years ; or reckoning for each year thirty days of six hours each, making an average of 900 hours watching for a single swarm. Truly the game is not worth the candle. Now, I should like to ask some of your correspondents what their own and knowledge of others' experience, Is the average percentage of stocks lost during winter to be attributed solely to the absence of winter passages through the combs ? I am strongly inclined to believe we should find in that case also the trouble in excess of results. I have watched the Journal tor years, and read most of our ' leading lights,' and yet not seen an explanation of the ' reason why ' able to convince me that it has any actual advantage over the Hill's device, or any similar arrange- ment giving a passage over the frames and under the quilts. — Honeysuckle. The Bee and the Honeymoon. — The wedding dress of the Princess Letitia, who is shortly to be married to her uncle, the Duke of Aosta, is to be embroidered with bees, the emblem of the house of Bonaparte. No doubt the ' going away ' costume of this young lady, who has made so singular a choice in the selection of a husband, will also include n bee— in her bonnet.— Punch, (JfoJKtcs fnmt % jjtbxs, Cottingham, September 3rd. — Season here an entire failure. Everybody feeding. What honey has been gathered was all consumed long ago. Many cottagers will doubtless lose all their bees during the next winter either through ignorance or carelessness.— Oh as. Howes. North Siding, Yorkshire. — The heather season now is a complete failure. From the time the hives went to the moors, three weeks ago, there has never been a single day fit for honey gathering. Numbers of bees have already succumbed to the weather. Considering the terrible summer the bees have had to contend with, and having been transferred to the moorland without the least particle of honey in the hives, and not having been able to be fed, the prospect is that bees in this part of the country must, ere next spring, be all but extinct. There is yet the forlorn hope of what is termed the ' gleanings,' should the weather hold fine for five or six days longer, and with good feeding after their return from the moors, a few hives may still be pulled through the winter. Mr. Charles Trueman, a large bee-keeper, who recently took thirty hives to the moors in fair con- dition, and fed up to the time of going, informs our correspondent that during the first seven days they were located on the uplands some two or three hives died off, and that it is with the greatest difficulty that the others can eke out a bare existence. The present season has been exceptionally unfavourable, as the bees, so far, have not succeeded in making honey during the summer, and there is now little or no prospect of any autumn gathering. — Yorkshire Post, September 7th. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS. Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and r.jWies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot ahcays be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of ttieir communication. W. Goodall. — Sugars. — No. 3 sample is the best quality sugar, and would be the most suitable for making syrup. The other sugars would also be serviceable for this purpose. A. Tubkington.— 1. The 'Improved Ray nor Pipe Cover Queen Cage' is always kept in stock by Messrs. Neighbour. We believe Mr. Meadows, Syston, Leicester, also supplies it. 2. Introducing Queen. — Yes, but the earlier done the better. The ' direct ' method might be tried. 3. Queenless Stock. — Give them a queen. J.J. B. — Queen-piping. — It is generally known that young queens pipe whilst yet in the cell, in answer, it is supposed, to a young queen hatched out and about to lead off a second swarm, but your experience of a young queen piping in the broad daylight is novel. You say, ' she was traversing the comb like a mature bee.' We think she ran about challenging any prob- able unhatched queen, and had she received a response would have made for the queen-cell to tear it open. Young queens seem ready for business much sooner than workers. This summer we assisted several young queens out of their cells and put them together at once under a tumbler, one queen killing two rivals in less than ten minutes from their first appearance into day- light. ' Had there been a mature queen in the hive ' it is probable she would have prevented the young queen you speak of coming forth. As to the produc- tion of the sound of piping, you are in error in saying Mr. Cheshire does not allude to it in his book, see p. 166, Vol. H. ; and if you read a paper on the ' Vocal Organs of Bees,' p. 34, Vol. XV., B.B.J., and the Editorial remarks, p. 561, Vol. XV., you will, perhaps, agree with Mr. Landois and ourselvs, that such toneg 458 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 13, 1888. are produced by the vocal apparatus (spiracles and wings) the natural complement of the auditory organs bees are known to possess'. M. Gbeen. — Doubtful Queen. — If the eggs you saw eventually hatch and are capped over on a level with the surrounding comb then the queen is fertile, if on the other hand the capping? project like domes then she is a drone-breeder. H. W. Hotvland. — Foul Brood. — The largest piece of comb is very badly infected. Can you put the bees on to fresh comb at once ; if not you will lose them ? Burn old combs and feed on phenolated syrup quickly. The smaller piece is not quite so bad. J. T. T. — 1. Sugar. — Both No. 1 and No. 2 appear good sugars, but impress on your grocer you must have pure cane sugar only. 2. Salicylic Acid. — No. 2 has the better appearance. W.— Suspicious Comb. — This is chilled brood only. J. H. P. — Foul Brood. — Feed with phenolated syrup as detailed in last B. B. J. E. C. Pressland. — Queenless Colonies. — Such a strange disappearance of every queen from your seven stocks would be inexplicable. We should very much doubt the correctness of the conclusions you have arrived at as to condition (queenless) of your colonies. At this season of the year, and having so little stores, queens have ceased breeding, but where colonies have been fed breeding is still going on. No doubt you over- looked the queens ; they more easily escaping your notice from the fact of your being under the impression at time of examination that they were not present. E. BoGNon. — 1. Transferring. — The season being now far advanced, and the weather unpropitious, it would be desirable to defer the transferring to the spring; then let the stock swarm, and twenty-one days after the the operation of transferring and straightening the combs may take place. 2. Sugar. — Crushed sugar does not resemble granulated in appearance. Granu- lated is that which is indicated by the word, being in the form of granules. Crashed sugar is, however, suitable for making syrup. Inexperienced. — Missing (}ueens. — It is very possible that all the queens of the condemned bees have been killed ; but it is desirable that you should have ocular demonstration of this. If such should be the case, a new queen should lie provided, or unite. C. II. — In a fair season, with good surroundings, with tin' best hives and advanced management, with the experience of a practical bee-keeper, and with the requisite time to devote to the superintendence of your bees, we eon.-ider that the average of each of your hives should reach 100 lbs. But with the high position you occupy in the bee-keeping world — as the hon. secretary of an important district, and as the promoter of a Bee Company — we submit, without any affecta- tion of humility, that your ability to reply to your own question is far superior to ours, the more especially as we admit but little knowledge of your locality. Capt. ('.- The report of the BiiiTty B.K.A. has not come to hand. A few replies ore postponed to vert issue. business directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol. Bakek, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Bdrtt, E. J., Stroud Eoad, Gloucester. Edey * Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hotchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C. , 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins' Bee Company, Limtd., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godman, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTIOE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Oo., 23 Paternoster Row, and may bo obtained of all loral Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDRED, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M.. 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER. W. B., Muskham, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley. Kent. BLOW. T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY. W.,Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. JN, Wensum Street, Norwich. RDDKLN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHINSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. J ^4£ ^k^k. the: British ^±5^^= Communications to the Editor to be addretied • Stranoeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 326. Vol. XVI.] SEPTEMBER 20, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (Stohorial, flolitts, #t. REV. L L. LANGSTROTH. It was not our intention to recur to the Langs- troth Fund, or to the circumstances which originated it, except in due time to report on the amount of subscriptions received, and their transference to the promoters of the Fund in America ; but having just received from Mr. Thomas B. Reynolds, of Dayton, 0., a photograph of the Rev. L. L. Langs- troth, we have a sincere pleasure in directing to it the attention, not only of those who have subscribed to the Fund, but also of those who have made the acquaintance of the reverend gentleman through his most fascinating and instructive book, The J lire ant! the Honey Bee. The photograph is a full- length, cabinet size, and gives a good idea of the general appearance and intelligent countenance of one who still retains so many admirers and friends in both hemispheres. It gives us much pleasure to note that, though long past the allotted threescore years and ten, and though for many years he has passed through much physical suffering, ho con- tinues to look so hearty and well, and it would appear as if many years were still iu prospect before ' the grand old man ' is called away from our midst. The name of the Rev. L. L. Langstroth has for so many years been ' a household word ' with bee- keepers, that we feel assured that many will feel inclined to indulge in the enjoyment of being able to look into that calm, intelligent, and benevolent face which is now presented to them. We feel a spirit of gratitude pervading our hearts that we have been permitted to look, as it were, upon his living presence. Our memory passes back to that sentence which well-nigh thirty years ago he penned: 'Debarred to a great extent by ill-health from the appropriate duties of my pro- fession, and compelled to seek an employment calling me as much as possible into the open air, I cherish the hope that my labours in an im- portant department of Rural Economy may prove serviceable to the community.' Truly, whatever loss there may have been to his fellow-men in his inability to follow his high and holy calling, there has been a clear, and a great, and an abiding gain to the bee-keeping world ; and we are ready to subscribe to that which his friend, the Rev. Dr. Robert Baird, said of him : ' He well deserves the name of Benefactor ; — infinitely more so than many who in all countries and in all ages have received that honourable title.' And how feel- ingly Mr. Langstroth directs the attention of those of his own profession to the study of the economy of the honey bee : ' The attention of Ministers of the Gospel is particularly invited to this branch of Natural History. An intimate acquaintance with the Bee-Hive, while beneficial to them in many ways, might lead them in their preaching to imitate more closely the example of Him who illustrated His teachmgs by " the birds of the air, and the lilies of the field," as well as the common walks of life and the busy pursuits of men.' The 'old man eloquent ' is still with us, and his voice is ever and anon heard in the exercise of his sacred calling. It was but a very short time since — only a few months ago — that this good man visited Mr. James Heddon, of Dowagiac, Mich. Mr. Heddon says : ' Nearing eighty years of age, and not iu the enjoymeut of very robust physical health, I was astonished to find his mental powers as young and vigorous as those of a man of middle age.' On this occasion he preached in the Congre- gational Church, and Mr. Heddon proceeds to say : ' I think I may safely say that many years have passed away since our city has been honoured with such beneficent and well-delivered sermons. His voice is round, full, and melodious, fully equal to four times the capacity of any church iu the city.' We can only breathe a hope that one whom bee- keepers have learned to love and reverence may long lie spared to us. Our advertisement columns will inform our readers how they may become possessors of the photograph of this friend of bee-keepers. Half of the cost of the photograph will go to increase the Langstroth Fund — a fund which we trust will be found sufficient to assist in providing for the neces- sities of the declining years of one whom all bee- keepers will long continue to hold in loving memory, not only as an apicultural inventor, or the author of the Hive and the Honey Bee, but also as one who has furnished us with a living and pleasant link with our American brethren. 460 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 20, 1888. VISIT OF MR. T. B. BLOW TO AMERICA. Mr. T. B. Blow, of Welwyn, Herts, has long since de- sired to visit the bee-men of America. He lias taken passage in the S. S. ' City of Rome,' which left Liverpool on the 19th. He will proceed direct through to Watertown, Wisconsin, where he has some business to transact with Messrs. Lewis & Co. Afterwards he proposes visiting Mr. D. A. Jones at Toronto, Canada, and as many of the principal bee-men of the United States as express a desire to be visited by him. His knowledge of the bees of Europe and the East, gained by personal visits to the habitats of these races, should make a visit from him desirable by most of our enter- prising friends of America. USEFUL HINT. Robbing. — With the greatest possible emphasis we say, Beware of robbing. Filling up feeders should be done in the evening, and the feeders should be carefully covered. Sacks, or any old material, will do. Where large feeders and rapid feeding are used, it is most necessary to prevent the scent of the food escaping, and in this time of starvation bees are especially prone to robbing. Wasps also are getting very troublesome, and worry the bees. Entrances must be contracted, and great care must be taken that not a drop of syrup is spilled about the hives, and let there be no leakage from th>' feeders. If we get a month's fine, bright weather (as we all hope we may) robbing during rapid feeding will be a source of great danger. A HINT FROM RUSSIA. A new departure in girls' schools is being tried in Russia, countenanced and aided by the State. A lady has opened in a village near Kief a school where girls of the lower classes will be instructed in such branches of petite culture as women can profitably attend to, from market-gardening to bee-keeping. The school is to re- ceive a yearly grant in aid of 1500 roubles. ' Rural School Boards in England,' says the St. James's Gazette, ' might perhaps take tho idea into serious consideration. The wives and mothers of a future generation of British husbandmen would probably find a practical knowledge of dairy-farming and poultry-keeping even more useful than the arts and sciences they are now encouraged, if not required, to study.' — The Schoolmaster, August Wth. [To this we would add bee-keeping. — Ed.] X BOKHARA CLOVER. My friend and neighbour, Mr. Hatherley Wood, as called my attention to a bee plant, which has not been noticed, I believe, in the columns of the Bee Journal for many years — I mean, Bokhara Clover. The seeds of this particular kind of clover were given him by a friend who brought them from America — he thinks they came from the United States. The plant is, in his opinion, particularly valuable as a cover (or covert ?) for game of all kinds if care is taken not to sow the seeds too closely. It provides good covert in winter with its dry stalks as well as in summer, for it is well known that some kind of game are very partial to dry stalks when seeking concealment. Sown in March or April, the plant rises the first year to the height of five or six feet, but does not bloom to any extent until the second year, when it grows, in good ground, to ten feet and upwards. The bloom this year did not appear until August, but July is the usual month, and the bloom is said to last for several weeks. The flowers of the clover grown by my friend are white, but, curiously enough, there is one plant at some dis- tance from the others which has spikes of yellow 'flowers. The seeds, Mr. Wood tells me, have ripened from below rather than from above. One very valu- able feature about this clover is that rabbits will not attack it. Mr. William Carr gives an interesting account of this plant in the Bee Journal of May 1st, 1877. He calls it the yellow and white Bokhara clover (Melilotus Leucan- tha and M. albus a/tisonus) ; but in Miller's Dictio?iarg of English Names of Plants (Murray, 1884) we have as follows : ' Melilotus alba, Bokhara clover, Cabul clover, while Melilot ; Melilotus leucantlia, Bokhara clover.' Mr. Carr adds the following details : ' Bees collect honey from this plant of a beautiful light colour and fine flavour. The tap roots of this plant go to a great depth in the earth, so it is well adapted for barren hills, steep hill-sides, and broken ground generally, as they can well withstand a drought. The plant, after flowering, seeds and dies. There are about 1800 seeds in one ounce.' Mr. Cowan informs me that the seed could easily be obtained from Denmark, but, no doubt there is a good supply already in England. I may add that, to my mind, it hardly seems worth while to plant Bokhara (or Cabul) clover, where the space is limited; but when there is ample room, and cover for game is an object, as well as food of the finest quality for bees, then this very handsome plant shoutd not be forgotten. — E. Baiitrum, D.D., IVakes Coble Mectorg, Essex: A REPORT OF SOME EXPERIMENTS IN APICULTURE. To the Commission Ens of Agriculture. By N. W. M'Lain. The study of some forms of disease to which bees are subject, including an inquiry into the cause* of disease and the discovery and application of suitable remedies, has occupied much time, and the results from this line of investigation have been, in a good degree, successful and satisfactory. The excellent classification and complete history which have been given of the micro-parasitical forms which affect the life and health of bees simplify diagnosis and facilitate the discovery and application of preventives and cures. Modern science has shown that it is often necessary to unlearn much of what was supposed to have passed beyond the region of doubt. The subject in hand furnishes no exception. It is not strange that there should be confusion and errror in dealing with the origin and habits of these micro-organisms which baffle the skill of the investigator. We are now collecting and tabulating data, and testing theories in the crucible of experience ; and while our investigations are incom- plete, and many seemingly determined facts lack full confirmation, and while significant manifestations await interpretation, we must be slow in reaching conclusions. We may indeed be in the region of the knowledge we seek after, but we must hold the evidence under survey until many-sided experience fully determines its value. Bacillus Altei (Cheshire). This disease, commonly, but inappropriately, called foul brood, is indigenous in all parts of the United States, and is infectious and virulent to the last degree. Concerning the origin of Bacillus and other allied or- September 20, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 461 ganisms, but little is certainly known, but that the orgauism classified as Bacillus alvei is the active agent in the destruction of both bees and brood is certain, for this agent is always present, and although its action in the living organism is exceeding complicated it is also well defined. The symptoms of this disease may be more clearly described by contrasting the appearance of bees, brood, and combs in a healthy colony with the diagnostic symptoms attending Bacillus alvei. The bees act as if discontented and discouraged ; the combs commonly present a dingy, neglected, and untidy appearance, and a characteristic odour is present, sometimes not notice- able until the hive-cover is removed, at other times offensive at some distance from the hive. This odour is very like that emitted from glue which has been pre- pared for use, then put aside and allowed to ferment. Instead of the plump, white, smooth appearance common to healthy uncapped larvoe, the membranes, more or less wrinkled and shrunken, are streaked with yellow, which, with the succeeding stages of the disease, changes into a dingy, grey brown; then, as putrefaction follows, the colour becomes a dirty red brown. As evaporation progresses the mass Bettlea to the lower side of the cell, and if the head of a pin be drawn through the mass, that which adheres appears quite stringy and elastic, the trachea} and tougher tissues resisting decay adhering to the cell. Later, nothing remains but a black, Hat scale on the lower side near the bottom of the cell, if the disease does not assume the acute form before the pupa stage the brood is capped over, but the cell cap, c m- monly of a darker colour than that covering a healthy brood, settles, leaving the cover concave instead of flat or convex ; and shortly small holes appear, as if inquiry had been instituted to learn the condition of the occu- pant, or to liberate the gases and odour and facilitate evaporation. Torn and ragged cell-caps are frequent, and some cells may be empty and cleansed; and in the midst of ragged and sunken caps a live bee may occasionally emerge. The means by which these deadly agents are com- monly introduced into the hive and into tin' bodies of their victims has not bet n certainly determined. Prof. Frank R. Cheshire, F.L.S., F.R.M.S., to whom we are indebted for the classification of this species of Bacillus, and also for much that is valuable concerning its life, history, and pathogenic character, speaking of the means of propagating this disease, says (see Bees and Bee-keep- ing, vol. ii. pp. \?>7 , lfi8. London, 1888): — ' My strong opinion is, that, commonly, neither honey nor pollen carry the disease, but that the feet and antennae of the bees usually do. It is also extremely likely that spores are carried in the air and taken in by the indraft set up by the fanners. There will be no difficulty in this supposition when it is remembered that the organisms are so minute that a cubic inch of material would form a quadruple line of them from London to New York.' My own experience and observation is in agreement with this last proposition, as witness the following para- graph from my report of last year (see Report of U. S. Entomologist, 1886, p. 587) : — ' That the contagion may sometimes be borne from hive to hive by the wind appears to be true, as it was observed in one of the apiaries which I treated for this disease during the past summer, that of a large number of diseased colonies in the apiary, with the exception of two colonies, all were located to the north-east of the colony in which the disease first appeared. The pre- vailing wind had been from the south-west.' Mr. Cheshire says further (page as above):— 'The bee- keeper is, unfortunately, almost compelled to become himself a probable cause of infection. His hands, made adhesive by propolis, carry the spores of bacilli, and so may transfer them even hours later, to healthy hives. The clothes should be kept, a9 far as practicable, from contact with suffering colonies, and the hands, after manipulating them, should be disinfected by washing with a weak solution of mercuric chloride (corrosive sub- limate), one-eighth of an ounce hi one gallon of water being quite strong enough.' The concluding paragraph under this heading in my report for 1886 is as follows : — ' That the disease germs may be carried upon the clothing and hands appears probable, from the fact that in one neighbourhood this disease appeared in only two apiaries, the owners of which had spent some time working' among diseased colonies at some distance from home ; while other apiarists in that locality, who had kept away from the contagion, had no trouble from foul brood.' It has been the common belief that honey is the medium through which the disease is most frequently introduced, from both near at hand and remote sources of infection. That undue importance has been attached to honey as the common source of infection appears certain, for I have proved by repeated trials that if frames containing combs of capped honey, and having no cells containing pollen, be removed from infected hives and thoroughly sprayed or immersed, using' an acid and alkaline solution of suitable strength to destroy the germs exposed to its action, the honey in such combs did not communicate disease when placed in healthy colonies and consumed by the bees as food for both summer and winter uses. I have, found it altogether practicable to feed honey which had been extracted from the infested combe without boiling, always adding, however, as a precaution, a disinfectant suitable to destroy any infection possibly lurking in such food. In speaking of honey as a means of carrying this contagion, Mr. Cheshire says: — 'I have searched most carefully in honey in contiguity with cells holding dead larva1; have examined samples from stocks dying out with rottenness; inspected extiaeted honey from ter- ribly diseased colonies; and yet in no instance have I found an active bacillus, and never have been able to be are of discovering one in the spore condition, although it must be admitted that the problem has its microscopic difficulties, because the stains u»ed to make the bacilli apparent attach themselves very strongly to all pollen grains and parts thereof, and somewhat interfere with examination. I have now discovered that it is impos- sible for bacilli to multiply in honey, because they cannot grow in any fluid having an acid reaction.' As to pollen being the medium by which this con- tagion is commonly introduced into the hive, not wishing to appear as speaking ex cathedra, I venture to say that further experiments in the line indicated in my report of last year leave little room to doubt the accuracy of the opinion then formed, namely, that pollen is the medium by which this contagion is most commonly introduced, and most rapidly spread and persistently perpetuated. Continued observation showed that in those colonies where the largest quantity of pollen was being gathered the disease quickly assumed the malignant form, even when the quantity of brood was not greater than that being reared in other colonies where but little pollen was being gathered, and in which the disease was far less virulent ; and in this latter kind, when little pollen was being gathered, the contagion yielded most readily to treatment. But what seemed more ready to the point was, that from those, colonies from which the combs containing pollen were removed, and a suitable substitute furnished in the hive, thus avoiding the necessity for bringing supplies from the fields, the disorder was cured, and the colony speedily regained their normal condition. The fact that queen larva? seldom die from this con- tagion, taken in connexion with what we know to be true concerning the character of their food, is significant namely, that it is wholly composed of digested material 462 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 20, 1888. pollen grains being rarely found therein, and then as if present by accident and not by design, .seems to justify the conclusion that the absence of pollen accounts for the absence of bacilli ; while, on the contrary, the food of worker larvse, secreted in excessive quantity and deposited in haste, occasional grains of pollen being dropped, and no reason for their removal existing, the bacilli, finding congenial cultures, multiply apace ; and if, perchance, the larvae escape infection, as is commonly the case until near the time of weaning, then live pollen being supplied, speedy andcomplete ruin results. Moreover, few, if any bacilli, are to be found in the chyle stomach of an adult queen at the head of a stricken colony, subsisted as she must be, almost entirely upon secreted food pro- duced by the worker bees ; while in the chyle stomach of the worker, which partakes freely of pollen, they are present in quantity, and, in fact, line the whole intes- tinal tract. The evidence presented in support of this pollen theory of the means of introducing and spreading this contagion is circumstantial, still it is component ; and if it fails to reveal the true source of infection, the fact that the consumption of such live pollen as is obtained from the fields during the prevalence of this disease, or such old pollen as is stored in cells in which it may have moulded or rotted, and become a possible source of infection, aggravates the disease and makes it more persistent ; and the fact that if the old pollen be re- moved from the hive, and artificial pollen be substituted, the malignant and persistent characteristics disappear, and that the contagion then readily yields to suitable treatment, is settled beyond question. While it is true that queen-bees have less to fear from infection in the larval stage, it is also true that queens reared in infested colonies are commonly worthless. Of twenty-five queens so reared in one apiary, and success- fully established at the head of as many colonies, not one survived the period of hibernation. In case the contagion does not assume the acute form in the larvae, it may localise and become chronic, and so, the bacillus of disease being as unnatural as disease itself, both worker and queen may live on for weeks and months, and the queen, with both life and death within her, transmitting the possibilities of both. Mr. Cheshire has counted as many as nine bacilli in a single egg, a dis- covery full of significance when striving to account for the spread of the disease. It is but natural that this contagion, being a disease of the blood, should find con- genial and luxuriant feeding-ground among the most delicate and highly-organized glands and tubes of the ovaries. We reason thus : — The bee-pap furnished to the queen larvie, the protoplastic egg-food, copiously furnished to the queen during the breeding season, is continuous, and passes from cell to cell. The germ cell of bacillus con- tributed to the organisms of the queen in larval or in egg-food, borne along through the digestive and circula- tory system, passes within the ovarian tubes, and from thence into the nascent egg-cell; and once within the yolk is ready to contend for supremacy against the epermatozoid soon to be introduced. But the strife is unequal, and instead of the differentiating principle determining the form, function, and instinct of a new creature appointed to long life and service, the bacillus, finding the environment suited to multiplication, steri- lises the blood and riddles the tissues and viscera. The remedy which I have found to be a specific — by the. use of which I have cured hundreds of cases, many of which seemed hopelessly incurable, without failure, and without a return of the contagion, except in the case of two colonies of black bees, where the disease reappeared in a form so mild that each colony was speedily cured, each one casting a swarm, and storing a fair amount of surplus honey — is prepared aud applied substantially as directed in iny last annual report. In three pints of warm soft water dissolve one pint o dairy salt. Add one pint of water, boiling hot, in which have been dissolved four tablespoonfuls of bi-carbonate of soda. Dissolve quarter of an ounce of pure salicylic acid (the crystal) in one ounce of alcohol. Add this to the salt and soda mixture, theu raise the temperature near to the boiling point, and stir thoroughly while adding honey or syrup sufficient to make the mixture quite sweet, but not enough to perceptibly thicken, and leave standing for two or three hours, when it is ready for use. An earthen vessel is best. I have tried other acids and alkalies in other forms, but the remedy pre- pared as directed and applied warmth is that which I prefer. Treatment of Bacillus Alvbi. Upon removing the cover from the hive, thoroughly dampen the tops of the frames, and as many bees as are exposed by blowing a copious spray of the mixture from a large atomiser. Beginning with the outside, lift a frame from the hive and throw a copious spray over the adhering bees on both sides of the comb, shake off part of the bees into the hive, and spray those remaining ; then shake and brush these into the hive ; then blow a copious spray of the warm mixture over and into the cells on both sides of the combs sufficient to perceptibly dampen both comb and frame. In like manner treat all the frames, seriatim, returning them to the hive in order. From combs containing very much pollen, the honey should be extracted and the combs melted into wax. This extracted honey may be fed with safety, two and a half ounces of the remedy being added aud well stirred into each quart of water. All the colonies in the apiary should be given a thorough spraying the first time the treatment is applied, but combs containing pollen need not be removed from healthy colonies. After the first thorough treatment the comb and bees should be thoroughly sprayed with the remedy at intervals of two or three days until cured. Three treatments after the first thorough application are com- monly sufficient ; first one frame being lifted from the hive and sprayed, and the others simply set apart, so that the spray may be well directed over and copiously applied to both bees and combs. An essential feature in my method of treatment, which I failed to make duly significant and prominent in my last annual report, is that medicated honey or sugar syrup should be con- tinuously fed to all infected colonies while they _ are convalescing, for not only must the contagion be driven from the organism of tho adult bee, and suitable food and tonic given to aid in repairing the ravages of disease, but a constant and even supply of the remedy serves as a preventive and cure for the diseased larvaj. The honey or syrup should be fed warm, and two ounces of the remedy should be well mixed in each quart of food, which may be given in feeders, or by pouring over and into empty combs, and placing these in the hive. To prevent the bees from going abroad for supplies, make a thin paste of rye flour aud bone flour, three parts of the former to one of the latter, adding the medicated honey or syrup. Spread this over a small area of old comb and 'honey in the hive, or feed in shallow pans or wooden butter dishes in the top of the hive or outside in the apiary, under shelter from rain. I prepare the bone flour by buriniug dry bones to a white ash. The softest and whitest pieces I grind to dust in a mortar, and sift through a very fine sieve made of fine wire-strainer cloth. The coarser pieces of burned bone I put in open vessels with lumps of rock salt, which 1 keep half covered with sweetened water, and sheltered from the rain, at all times accessible to the bees. The rapidity with which depleted colonies recuperate and become populous is surprising. I have tried supplying the saline, alkaline, aud phosphate elements in bee-food by using boracic acid, phosphoric acid, &c, but I find that September 20, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 463 the bees take kindly to the supplies prepared as I have directed, and the amount consumed shows their apprecia- tion and need. Such supplies of food and drink should he kept at all times in the apiary, easy of access. I have not found disinfecting of the hives necessary further than to simply dampen the inside with a copious spray of the remedy, and sometimes no care wag taken to do even this. — American Bee Journal. ASSOCIATIONS. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Meeting- of Committee held at 105 Jermyn Street on Thursday, the 13th inst. Present, T. \Y. Cowan (in the chair), Rev. G. Raynor, Rev. Dr. Bartrnm, Captain Campbell, Captain Bush, Rev. R. Errington, Rev. .). L. Seager, and the Secretary. Letters were read from the Rev. F. T. Scott, the Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh, and the Rev. F. S. Sclater, regretting their inability to be present. The minutes of the last committee meeting were read and confirmed. The report of the Finance Committee having been considered, the Chairman reported thai a meeting of the Exhibitions Sub-coi ittee had been held that day. The accounts relating i" the Nottingham Exhibition had been approved and passed, and the prize list for the exhibition to be held at Windsor next \ lar had been considered but not completed. Resolved "That the sub-committee be requested to further consider the Windsor schedule in time for consideration at the next llleet ill u .' The Secretary reported that after conferring with the Chairman he had communicated with the Royal Agri- cultural Society, soliciting their CO-opeiation in the proposal to extend the bee department al Windsor next .year, to which the R. A. S. had replied to the effect that they would be glad to consider the proposals of the British Bee-keepers' Association at their Council Meeting in November next . A letter was read requesting that the Association now being formed for South Gloucestershire and North Somerset might be taken into affiliation with the Central Association. After some discussion it was resolved that the County Associations Sub-committee be requested to ci insider and report upon the whole question of athliution of local societies. SURREY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. This Association held its tenth annual show on the 5th and 0th of September, in conjunction with the Frimley, York Town, and Carnberley Horticultural Society's Show, in the grounds of the Governor of the Royal Military College. The weather was most fortu- nately fine and pleasant, and a good attendance made the show a success, though the exhibition of honey was necessarily very small on account of the unfavourable season ; but as the Committee took this into considera- tion, and invited small exhibits with a view to encourage cottagers to compete for the prizes, there were some fair- samples of extracted honey, as well as a few really excellent 1-lb. sections, which were much admired and found a ready sale. Mr. Webster of Binfield had a well-selected exhibit in the large tent of hives and appliances, including his improved new 'swarm-catching cage,' which attracted much notice. In this class a novel hive was exhibited by Mr. George Smith, of Bexley Heath, Kent, being a modification of the 'Eastern Cylinder Hive,' with cir- cular frames and provision for supering above, and in which, the inventor stated, the bees worked well for the last three years. This hive excited much curiosity, but did not appear to be regarded as an improvement on the standard bar-frame hive, and did not obtain favourable notice by the judge (the Rev. F. S. Sclater, of Dropmore Vicarage, Maidenhead ). The exhibition tent was thronged by the public, es- pecially on the second day of the show, as also was the bee tent of the Association, in which lectures were fre- quently given during the afternoons by the Honorary Secretary (Captain Campbell), and also by Mr. Webster, the former gentleman acting as expert. A good exhibit of stocks of bees in bar-frame and other hives, including an observatory hive well stocked with bees and line white comb, which attracted much attention. The public thronged round the bee tent till the last moment of closing and showed the greatest interest in the manipulations and descriptions of mode of extracting honey and natural history of the honey bee, illustrated by the Association diagrams. An examination fur third-grade experts was also held bj the Rev. F. S. Sclater during the show. The following is a list of the prize takers: — Class A. — For best observatory hive with stock of bees : S. W. Goodall, 1/. Class 11. — Best stock of bees in bar-frame hive: 1, A. H. Miller, ISs. [cottager); '_', S. W. Goodall (cottager). Class C. — Lest stock of bees in skep : 1, A. Osborne (cottager) ; 2, H. Wilt (cottager). Class H. — Best honey in comb, 1-lb. sections: 1, Levi Inwood, silver medal ; 2, M. V. H. Lemare, 10s. G. 6(2. and Cowan's Bee-keepers' Guide; 3, S. T. Denver, S. B. K. certificate and smoker. Class V. — Best honey in sections (cottagers only, not members) : 1, H. Wilt, 7s. 6d.j 2, F. K. Spalding, 5s. Class G. — Lest run or extracted honey (cottagers only) : 1, T. Chater, 7s. 6d.; 2, A. Miller, 5s. ; 3, C. Rose, Surrey li. K. A. certificate. Class H. — Lest honey in glass bottles (cottagers, not members) : 1, 1°. .Spalding, 5s. Class I. — Lest honey in 1-lb. bottles (not cottagers) ; 1, W. Woodley, 12s. C,d. ; 2, Levi Inwood, 7s. 6d. Class K.— Lest show of appliances : Mr. W. E. Webster, 1/. ; 2, (not awarded). IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. A huge number of sections and bottles of honey are now exhibited by the above Association at the Irish Exhibition in London. Prizes were awarded on the 12th inst. for the best contributions to this exhibit as follows: — < 'lass I. For the best 12 1-lb. sections, 1st and 2nd prizes, 15s. and 10*., Miss M. Daly. Special prize, 10*., Miss E. E. Rutherfoord. Highly commended, Mr. ( Iswald 1 lardy. Class II. For the best 12 1-lb. bottles, 1st and 2nd prizes, los. and 10s-., Miss M. Daly. 3rd prize, 7s. Gd., Miss F. W. Currey. Highly commended (for each of two entries), Mr. Thomas Elderkin. Mr. Cowan, Chairman of the British Bee-keepers' Association, and Mr. W. Raitt, of Blairgowrie, kindly gave their services as judges. An unfortunate accident prevented the honey of Mr. George Turner, Revlin House, Donegal, from being placed before the judges. NORTH-EAST OF IRELAND BEE-KEEPERS' SHOW. As no report of the N. E. I. Bee-keepers' Show at which I was asked to judge in Belfast on the 17th August, has appeared in the B. B. J., I think it may interest some of your readers if I send you a short account of it, though it may be considered scarcely within my province to do so. Of necessity the amount of honey staged was not 464 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 20, 1888. large, but I may sav that the quality of nearly all that I appeared was excellent. There was more than one exhibit of sections which would have merited a prize at the Royal, while in the classes for extracted honey there were many samples which it would be difficult to sur- pass either in delicacy of flavour or aroma or in the condition and manner in which they were prepared for exhibition. Amongst the hives, there were many good ones, but none to my mind first-rate. In those shown by Mr. Abbott it appeared that utility had been somewhat sacrificed to cheapness — a fault due rather to the demand for cheap hives than to any fault on the part of the maker. Those, shown by the local makers were excel- lent of their kind, but somewhat behind the standard of the best English manufacturers, from whom I think our Irish friends might with advantage take some hints. Unfortunately as I was not asked to judge in this department, I did not feel myself at liberty to make any criticisms, or, as I should much have liked to have done, point out to the makers what I considered their defects. There were some excellent collections of appliances (for which no prize was offered) in which I observed the visitors to the Show took the keenest interest, asking about the merits and uses of each article in a manner which showed the value of such exhibitions, in gaining the attention of the general public, as well as the instruc- tion of bee-keepers. There were some very strong stocks of bees exhibited in observatory hives of various patterns, but none of them of any foreign breed. The arrangements of the Show were in every way very good and reflected the greatest credit upon Mr. Paul Mcllenry, the Hon. Sec, Mr. Sam Cunningham, the Hon. Treasurer, and other gentlemen, who threw themselves most heartily into the work. The cordial reception and friendly hospitality shown me by the bee- keepers and their friends in Ireland, is to me but one more proof how 'one touch of nature makes the whole world kin,' and raises a hope that even bee-keeping, in its humble way, may do something towards removing the misunderstandings that exist, and strengthening the sympathy that ought to exist, between the good prop].' of the Emerald Isle and those of our own country.— J. Linuen Seager. The judges were as follows: — Hives and appliances — Rev. J. Balfour Robertson, Leswalt, Stranraer ; Archi- bald Morris, Rosetta Avenue, Ballynafeigh. Bees and honey — Rev. J. L. Seager, The Grange, Stevenage. The following is the prize list: — For the best stock or specimen of any variety of bees, with their queen — 1, Rev. James Hunt; 2, William Lons- dale ; 3, J. Gdlilaml, juu. For the best super of comb honey, not being sectional, the super to be of wood, straw, or of wood in combination with glass or straw — 1, J. M'Cabe; 2, William Lonsdale. For the best twelve 1-lb. sections of comb honey, confined to tbe members of the Association — 1, J. J. M'Cabe; 2, E. W. Lockhart; 3, George Porter. For the best twelve 1-lb. or six 2 lb. glass jars of uncon- gealed or liquid extracted or run honey — 1, E. W. Lockhart; 2, Alex. Turkington ; 3, S. Kevan. For the best twelve lib. or six 2-lb. glass jars of congealed, extracted, or run honey — 1, E. W. Lockhart. For the best twelve 1-lb. or six 2-lb. glass jars for extracted or run honey — I, E. W. Lockhart ; 2, W. Morrow ; 3, E. Morgan. For the best ornamental design in comb honey — 1, W. Lonsdale. For the best exhi- bit of beeswax, being produce of exhibitor's own bees (con- fined to members of the Association) — 1, E. W. Lockhart ; 2, W. Lonsdale. For tbe best bar-frame hive, with facili- ties for harvesting honey and wintering bees, complete with cover and stand — 1, W. Lonsdale ; 2, W. Henry. For the best and most complete bar-frame hive, with facilities for harvesting honey and wintering bees, price not to exceed 10s.— 1, W. Henry; 2, E. Morgan; 3, Abbott Bros. For the best and cheapest straw hive, with most simple and efficient adaptation for crate of sections complete, with floor and cover — 1, W. Lonsdale ; 2, A. Cross Bryce & Co. For the best two crates of sections capable of being tiered, complete, with foundation, separators, &c, price not to exceed 3s. 6d. each — 1 and 2, Abbott Bros. ; 3, W. Morrow. For the best six 2-lb. glass jars of extracted or run honey, with honey labels affixed with name of apiary — George Turner. HORTICULTURAL SHOW AT YARNTON. August 28th. One of the chief features of this show was the bee department. Mr. H. Cobb, of Dorchester, gave lectures on the modern system of bee-keeping in connexion with the Oxfordshire Bee-keepers' Association. Mr. Cobb (who judged tbe honey) gave his audience some useful and valuable information in regard to the management of skeps, and also showed some specimens of the modern bar-frame hives. The present season is a very bad one, and rather discouraging for beginners in the keeping of bees, although the honey, considering the season, has been rather good. Messrs. Turner and Sons, of Wood- stock Road, had a small tent in the grounds, and showed a selection of improved bar-frame hives and other bee- keepers' appliances generally. Messrs. Gill and Co., ironmongers, of this city, also exhibited one or two appliances of a similar kind. The bee-driving competition was watched with much interest. The first prize was given by George Herbert Morrell, Esq., and the second by the Oxfordshire Bee- keepers' Association. There were three competitors, namely, Mr. Henry Edgington, of Cassington, Mr. Axtell, of Yarnton, and Lizzie Anstey, aged eleven years, of Oxford. The first prize was taken by Lizzie Anstey, who drove the bees out in twelve minutes and found the queen a minute later ; Edgington was second, driving the bees in thirteen minutes and detecting the queen three aud a half minutes later ; Axtell took fifteen minutes to drive the bees, and did not succeed in finding the queen. There was a bad light, and neither of the competitors succeeded in finding the queen whilst the bees were travelling from the skep, so that the bees had to be shaken on a table and the queen picked out as they were running in the hive. Mr. Henry Edgington received the prize, a bar-frame hive, offered by the Oxfordshire B. K. A., and Mrs. Pitt a super-crate for skep. A Young Man residing near Ettrick, Wis., while hunting early this month, saw a swarm of passing bees, and fired his gun at them. At once they settled on him, stinging him so badly that he died within an hour. Hunters should not attempt to interfere with a passing swarm of bees. If numbers count, especially when all are armed, it is an unequal contest, especially when the hunter was not posted as to the means of defending himself 1)3' creating a smoke. As hunters have no mercy on harmless aud inuocent birds and animals, they cannot complain when their merciless attacks meet with a vigorous response. — American Bee Journal. How to Destroy Wasps. — About four or five feet from the wasps' nest rear a brush pile by gathering up all the old brush lying around, which ought to be con- sumed by fire anyhow. Select a dark night. In the first place ignite your brush pile and let it get a good start before you excite the inmates. Interim, procure a brace of base-ball bats or clubs, and beat the terra firma where the nest is. This racket on the outside will soon bring up the. inquisitive little fellows, which, peering into the terrible darkness, will discern the light- giving fire, and without more ado into it will dart and be cremated — yes, stinger and all, for the whole includes ' the part. Keep on pounding until you trow they are nearly all out, when the nest should (if convenient) be dug up and twirled into the fire so as to avoid any ripe- capped, yellow-jacket brood from espying the glowing eye of day. — American Bee Journal. September 20, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 4C5 Carrespfttijeitcc. Tlte Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed ky his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not neces&a ril y for publication, but as a guarantee ofgoodfaith. Illustrations should, be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, Jtc, must be addressed only to *The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c(o Messrs. Sfraugeuiays and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C All business communications relating to -riduertisem.'it's, Ac, must be addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). %* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. WANTED: SOME ONE TO BEAR THE BLAME OF YELLOW BANDS IN CARNIOLA. [1802.] I had intended replying to the editorial remarks on the existence of yellow bands among Carni- olans, but having been very busy, the matter was post- poned. Meanwhile an extract from a private letter, written by me bearing somewhat on this point, was published in the American Bee Journal, and from that copied by the British Bee Journal. But as Mr. 'Amateur Expert ' could not let the matter rest there after in v plain statements regarding the existence of yellow-banded bees in Carniola, but must needs exhibit his ignorance of the whole subject in the Journal for September Oth, it may be well to tell him what he might long ago have easily learned had he taken the matter seriously in hand — what, had he known when penning his last ' Jottings,' he would probably not have had the effrontery to heap upon me the blame, if such it be, for the existence of yellow-banded ( 'arniolans. Upon the occasion of my first visit to Carniola, which occurred in 1880, yellow-banded 1 s were in existence here quite as plentiful, for aught I could see, as now. I had just come from America, and left all my yellow- bees (Italians) behind me in my native Stat". I had never then had Cyprians in my possession. In the spring of 1883 I made my second visit to Carniola. The yellow bees I brought from the Orient, then to Europe, were not brought into the Province of Carniola at all, but were left in Trieste to tly while I secured a quantity of Carniolan queens and stocks. The same yellow bauds were visible occasionally in both Upper and Lower Carniola. During this year £1883) I sold an imported Cyprian queen and an imported Syrian to Mr. M. Ambrozic, which I have been told he kept apart from his other bees, and this week he told me himself he did not keep these races any more. In 1882, while in Cyprus, I received from one F. J. Dokoupil, then living in Northern Austria, an order for a Cyprian queen. The latter was sent, but was reported dead upon arrival, and as I guaranteed safe arrival, no payment was made for this queen, and a second qu ■■> n was not sent. I have since received accurate and trust- worthy information to the effect that when, a year or two after the date last mentioned, Mr. Dokoupil" moved from Moravia to Carniola, he brought with him a hive of bees which he represented as the progeny of an im- ported Cyprian queen obtained from me. I am, there- fore, in doubt as to whether the honour (?), if Mr. 'Amateur Expert' would call it such, of having first, brought Cyprian bees to Carniola belongs to Mr. F. J. Dokoupil or Mr. M. Ambrozic. The latter, however, brought the first Syrians into the province. In 1885 I sent fifteen Cyprians and Syrians direct from the Orient to Mr. Dokoupil. Three of these were reported dead ; and the plan of reporting queens dead upon arrival worked so well that when 1886 came round, out of twenty-nine Eastern queens sent direct to this party in Carniola, some twenty-four were reported dead. But the report was sent monthsafter the queens were received, and trustworthy information obtained here this year placed the number of dead queens at but one or two ! The reader will kindly bear in mind that, up to the date mentioned, I had never resided in Carniola, nor had I brought any yellow bees to the Province ; but I had obtained Carniolan queens from all the dealers in bees here who were known as such. These dealers were widely separated, and except the two above mentioned none had introduced any yellow blood. Only in the spring of 1*37 did I locate here in Carniola, and in announcing this change from Munich to Laibach I made the following statement in the circulars then issued: — 'I have established an apiary at Laibach, near the centre of the Province of Carniola, for the production principally of choice Carni- olan queens. Only pure Carniolan bees exist in Laibach and the region about, and none but choice Carniolan drones will be allowed in my own apiary.' During this season and last season some foreign queens (yellow) have been brought here and introduced to rest up until they might be packed for journeys to distant countries, but the production of any drones but Carniolans has been closely prevented. None of these queens have been lost here by swarming out, or any similar mishap ; and when any of their daughters have been reared, it has been only to secure their fertilisation by Carniolan drones for purposes of experiment, or to fill special orders. Only a limited number of such queens have been handled, and the utmost pains have been taken to keep track of each and every one and her doings until she left Carniola ; and / positively assert, and with a clear conscience, too, that not one drop of yellow (Cyprian, Syrian, Palestine, or Italian) blood has gotten into any Carniolans bred here, or about here, from my apiary or through me, nor have I any knowledge of the introduction of foreign races by others about me. ' Hoom for bungling work,' perhaps • A . 10.' would say. This I would readily admit if certain of the so-called experts ('first-class,' too) that hold forth in England were at the helm down this way ! A- it is, I do not believe the old boat will luff up on me, nor do I fear that Mr. •Amateur Expert' will take the wind out of my sails. Hi' it then well understood that 3'ellow bauds existed among Carniolan bees in Carniola before I ever crossed the Atlantic; audit previous to my coming here Mr. 'Amateur Expert' never >a,w them, it is very likely because mere chance had not thrown such a stock among the tinker's half-dozen upon which 'Amateur Expert ' had made his extensive observations. And bearing this in mind, the reader will readily see that it is as absurd as unjust for 'Amateur Expert,' Mr. Kaitt, or any one else to heap upon me the opprobrium of the introduction of yellow bands into Carniola. There is in my mind no doiibt but that this peculiarity has existed for many decades, and I venture even to say for centuries. I have visited many apiaries here in Carniola, and talked with bee- raisers from all parts of the Province, and they agree that yellow bands exist, and have existed, here as far back as they can remember. Mr. Ambrozic told me personally but three days since that yellow-banded Carniolans exist in his portion of the Province, and but recently a bee-keeper said to me, ' his father, who died many years since, recommended yellow-banded bees as the best strain.' I did not come here to make over the Carniolan race, nor to improve it by crossing, nor have I ever even remotely hinted that such was my plan. On the other hand, 1 did distinctly state that it was my intention to rear pure Carniolans, and to this I have adhered strictly. I have never knowingly concealed or misrepresented the qualities or peculiarities of any race of bees about which I have written ; indeed, this very matter of yellow bands was mentioned by me more than a year before I came here to engage in queen-rearing, as can be seen by reference to the leaflet, Bees, for January 20th, 1886, where the following was printed : — ' In all parts 466 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 20, 1888. of Carniola some queens are found which produce bees having the first segment of the abdomen somewhat rusty-red in colour, and they are as often seen among' the linest, most prolific queens as among those of any other grade.' The article referred to was copied by many periodicals, including both the British Bee Journal and the Record, while the Canadian Bee Journal did nie the honour, I believe, of printing it twice! so that if 'Amateur Expert' has not read the above quotation before, he shows himself lamentably ignorant of what has been said on a subject concerning which he takes the liberty of criticising. The readers of the British Bee Journal can see by looking back a few numbers that when an editorial brought up this matter of yellow bands among Carni- lans, Mr. Thus. B. Blow immediately feels a loud upon his shoulders, and tries to dump it off at once by in- forming the Editor that he (Mr.Blow) 'has had a hundred stocks of bees from Carniola, none of which showed bees with yellow bands.' Now be it known that this same Mr. Blow, wdio condemns all Eastern bees roundly (never having learned how to manipulate them), and who expostulates in L886 with Dokoupil for introducing and keeping Cyprian, Syrian, and Italian races, has, according to trustworthy information in my possession, been pur- chasing largely Carniolans from Dokoupil himself, so that the hope recently expressed by the Editor of the B.B.J, that Dokoupil had not sent his queens to England is vain. The truth is Mr. Bokoupil has sent \>\\\ few queens to American, not. having been able to land there alive more than a very small percentage of those sent, lie has exported largely to England, and states in his printed circular (upon which I do not rely) for 1888 that he furnished Mr. Blow 100 Carniolan queens in the autumn of 1887, and Mr. Blow is claimed to have ex- pressed his satisfaction with these queens. Furthermore, I do know to a certainty that the said T. 13. Blow has introduced into England more second tjtia/iti/ Carniolans than any other English dealer. Another slash at ' Amateur Expert,' and I will wipe my — pen, and calmly lay it away. This gentleman be- comes absurd again wlnn he -ays, 'The Italians were not ruined in temper till Cyprians were taken to Italy to improve the colour of the gentlest bee then known.' Without troubling to look up the exact date when Carniolans became known, I can assure Mr. 'A. E.' that it was previous to 1878, so that ' Italians were not the gentlest bee then known.' It was, 1 believe, in 1878 that Sartori brought Cyprians (doubtful if pure) from Austria to Milan. In 1881 I supplied him with Syrian stock to use in breeding. Fiorini went to Cyprus and got eight stocks of bees in December 187!'. and since then I have twice filled orders from him for Cyprians. During repeated journeys in Italy I have failed to dis- cover, outside of these two apiaries, any traces of Cyprian blood. I do not think the sales of these two parties have been large; in fact, I don't believe their sales of bees have been anything at. home, and so it is safe to say that, unfortunate as it may be, Italian bees are practically the same as they were ten years ago throughout the peninsula, and Mr. 'Amateur Experts' Cvprian bugbear in Italy is chiefly in bis own imagina- tion.— Frank Benton, Laibach, Carniola, Austria, Septembt r \-)th. [Mr. Blow is by this time on his way to America. We doubt not that when he has the opportunity, he will be able to maintain the quality of the queens im- ported by him. — Ed.] MEMS BiT ' WOODLEIGII.' [1803.] The past season is, without, doubt, the most disastrous bee-keepers working on the modern frame- hive system have known, and those who have embarked in the ' cult ' largely will have to do a lot of feeding to carry their bees through the coming winter, entailing expense besides a great deal of extra labour from which no return can be looked for for the next nine months. Yet, even taking things in their worst, aspect, we have something to lie thankful for, and that is, the low price of feeding stuffs. I am buying a good, clean, light-coloured Demerara, crystallised and warranted pure cane sugar, at 20s. per cwt. delivered, and it makes an excellent syrup with half a pint of rain-water to the pound. I am also adding a little salicylic acid in homoeo- pathic proportions, but no vinegar. I have not used any vinegar in my syrups for several years, either for spring or autumn feeding, and have never had a case of re- crystallisation of food in the combs. In going through my rather extensive apiaiw, I found many of the hives honey less, while others (the minority) had a fair supply, and in a very few instances sufficient Stores to carry them through the winter, notably two stocks, one that has worked most sections for the season (twenty), and another that worked two small bell-glasses (supers) side by side, weighing seven and five pounds respectively. One is on the angular and the other the parallel system. Now, the colon}' that worked the section-, and has food enough for the winter, was some driven bees I had offered me late last season, and rather than they should be destroyed, I drove them the last week in October, or first week in November, I forget which. There were four lots, and I made two colonies of them, putting them in a makeshift hive on three frames each, with six sections of honey tied into another frame for each compartment, making four frames for each colony, dividing them with a thin division-board, so that each colony contributed to the mutual warmth and well-being of its neighbours on the other side of the thin septum. I gave them a dozen sections of honey (none of the best, of course) between them, so that they should not have to do syrup-storing so late in the season. Both came through the winter well, and as soon as practicable in the spring I transferred both lots into Mime new hives, giving extra combs as required, and both stocks now form Al colonies, and likely to give a good account of themselves in the good time coming. Price of Honey. — I hope soon to see quotations of the price current of honey in our weekly organ. If a supply of the ' new ' farthing post-cards are sent to the principal honey producers, salesmen, and honey merchants, asking them individually to fill up with their pricescurrent for the week up till Saturday — not necessarily for indi- vidual names or even initials to appear — but to give 'The Sage' a consensus of the general price, so that he may evolve a record of the price of our commodity in each issue. Then in a year or two's time we could get two or more columns giving the prices in the corresponding- seasons in 1889 or 1890. If the idea can be carried into effect, and I do not see any insuperable difficulties in the way, I feel sure it would be a great boon and help generally to bee-keepers to be able to refer to their Journal as an authority in the matter. Butting up Honey for Market. — It may seem a repetition to refer to this subject, but I feel that the manner in which honey is prepared for the market has a great influence on the purchaser, either wdiolesale or retail, and consequently an enhanced price is obtained for a saleable article by the producer, and that is the reason I refer to the subject again. Cleanliness is of the first importance in all edible productions, especially in honey. Thus, in the first place, carefully remove all propolis and little odd pieces of wax, with which bees are apt to till up all interstices. For this purpose I find a strong table-knife the handiest tool, supplemented with a pen-knife for the interior corners of the sections to be used, where the broad blade of the strong knife would damage the combs. < i lazing Sections. — After sections are nicely scraped they will require some protection before they reach the September 20, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 4G7 table of the consumer, and during' the past few years many devices (vide the advertising' pages of B. B. J.) have been brought out for protecting sections of comb honey. Some, I admit, are very neat and well adapted for the purpose. The only fault one can find in them has been the price, which ranges from \\il. to 2JA each, including railway carriage. Now this extra cost has to be borne either by the producer of honey, or else by the consumer of it, and anything that enhances th" price of a commodity must act as a deterrent to the sale of the same ; that is an axiom in trade which no one can gainsay, and, acting on that proposition, I have always endeavoured to go the cheapest way to work in placing my honey on the market, though at the same time 1 infer from the many encomiums I have received from large purchasers of section honey that my style of pre- paring it for the market is one of the best, if it is not the ne plus ultra, in the matter. Now, for the system that is at once cheap, neat, and effective. Get your squares of glass cut 4,:',.. x A,\,, and strips of white paper J inch wide, to attach the square each side of the section, using thin glue or size for the job. Why glue instead of paste ? Because the glue fills the pores in the paper and forms an impervious .sealing, in fact, if well done, the sections are for all practical purposes hermetically sealed. The paper should only cover the front edges of the sections about a quarter of an inch, and should be put on square, that is, showing th.' same width edge all round. Now if you go to the best market and buy your glass in large quantities, and I he ' gude wife,' as in my case, does the glazing, it will not cosl more than a halfpenny each section. I may add, my wife is an adept at the job, having glazed ten to twelve dozen in a day, when large orders have come in, — but not this season, I am sorry to say. — Woodleicih. [The price of honey is regulated by the law of supply and demand, and differs much in different localities. Up to the present time we have not found it possible to furnish reliable quotations. — Ed.] THE BATTLE OF THE 13EES. [1804.] Doubtless there are many thousands of your ordinary readers who would be keenly interested in watching the progress of a real bee-battle— an attack by some, or all, the bees of one hive on the occupants of another hive, with the wicked intention of pilfering the honey which the industry of the hive attacked has gathered. Such an attack actually took place yesterday in my garden, and for the space of quite an hour I had an opportunity of observing the savageness and deter- mination with which these intensely interesting creatures tight. The first intimation [ had of the disturbance was a very loud buzzing and humming in the neighbourhood of my smallest and weakest hive. On going near the hive 1 at once saw what was the real state of affairs. A detachment of bees from a neighbour's hive were storming my own with very great determination. Some were fighting in the air, and others were endeavouring 1 1 1 effect an entrance into the hive itself, but, so far as I could judge, were being gallantly repulsed, for many bees dropped dead at the entrance. Meanwhile I had thought of a plan to render the position of the defenders more secure. At the entrance to the hive I placed a piece of perforated zinc, with holes sufficiently large to admit of only one bee at a time to pass through. This doubtless relieved them, and those that had effected an entrance would have the warmest possible time of it. But rein- forcements were continually arriving for the attacking army, and the position of my bees outside the hive was becoming more and more desperate. Eventually they were^all killed or driven away; perhaps some regained the hive, but very many were dead and dying on the ground. Many of the enemy of course were amongst the number, and the remainder took to their wings and dis- appeared. On going to the hive this morning I counted twenty-four dead bees being carried out by the survivors. These were either my own bees who had died of their wounds, or, which is very probable, they were those of the enemy who had gamed an entrance. S >me time must elapse before they will settle down to work again, for they are greatly excited, and do n .1 leai e t lie immediate vicinity of the hive, Doubtless these splendid creatures are apprehensive of another attack on their storehouse, and act accordingly. Their wonderful sagacity in select- ing for attack the weakest hive, aul the unerring instinct which enables them to discriminate between friend and foe, place these insects amongst the most wonderful of t 1 id 9 creatures, whether we consider their industry, their forethought, or their oba irvance of the laws which regu- late and govern the working of each individual hive. — II. J., Carlton, Worksop, Notts., Sept. 13 (' Daily News'). LATE SWARMS. [1805.] To-day (Sept. loth) I hived o swarm weighing al> nit I ' lbs. that cum i from a skepoa the previous day, and hung on i he branch of a plum-tree high up in a thick hedge all night, and being a Eairly warm night they (the bees) did not. appear to suffer from the ex- posure. I'll.' man to whom they belonged is one of the old-fashioned skeppists; and as he thought they would be of no use to him, he came round to me just as I was having breakfast, and 1 went with him as soon as 1 had finished and had them ill th" skep by 7.45 a.m. They are the ordinary blacks, and were not in the best of skin through shaking the tree with the ladder. There was also a swarm from a skep. belonging to a farmer wil Inn about half a mil.' of th" above, on the 6th inst. ; and within three miles of lOdenbridge Station (S.E.K.) I think these two natural swarms are the' latest on record. Out of seventeen stocks in shops that 1 lifted round about here, only one had more than half a pound of honey, and that particular one had •'! lbs. bare, it looks verj hi I for next year, and feeding is out of the ques- tion with the 'ancients.' They Bay ii don't pay, and they cannot be convinced otherwise; but grumble and feed is the advice given by — Ihiot. | Could not our correspondent select a more appropriate nom de plume. ■! — En.] BEE FLOW liltS. 1806.] Perhaps 'Amateur Expert' would kindly gi\ e, through your columns where the seed of 'Echinops Globosa,' ' Canada Thistle,' or ' Chapman's Honey Plant,' may be had, also as to cultivation, time to sow, &c.P ' Nepeta Musseni ' has also been spoken of as a good honey- producing plant. Some readers of the B. II. J. will, perhaps, kindly say where it is to be had and how cultivated. I enclose a few spikes of flowers aud foliage from what was sold me as ' ISokhara Clover' when I asked for the 'Melilotus Leucantha ; ' it is a stalwart grower, eight to ten feet, prof use bloomer (but not till second year), and greatly beloved of the bees. Some seedling- plants of ' Milotus Alibi,' American clover, greatly resemble it in foliage ; but the inflorescence of the ' Bokhara ' is not like our ideas of a clover, as it is more in racemes or spikes. There would seem to be a yellow as well as a white variety, of both of which I send you a specimen. Though this has been a bard year on bee-keepers' generally, there have been exceptions. I have got from one hive, 'storified,' fifty-seven complete sections and no swarm ; but on May 25th, the bees were crowded on ten frames. A lady bee-keeper, a neighbour of mine, has had 160 complete sections from three hives ; but the forage here is good — sycamore, fruit blossom, lime, white clover, and blackbeiry. — Apis Hibernicus. 468 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 20, 1888. PERCENTAGES, SWARMS, AND WINTER PASSAGES. [1807.] I have had a long experience in bee-keeping. For the last three years I have had the management^ of thirteen hives (ten bar-frames, three skeps), and during that time I have not had a single swarm from any of the bar-frame hives. I gave them plenty of room and whole sheets of foundation in doubling boxes, but on no occasion did the bees ever seem inclined to swarm. Of course it would be possible for them to have swarmed unknown to me, but I had a man regularly at work in the garden near the hives all through the season, and he would certainly have noticed the swarming had it taken place. As to -winter passages, I think the bees do quite as well without as with them. I have four hives in which no winter passages were made, and these four hives have wintered quite safely during the last two years. In fact, I have but lost one frame-hive out of ten since 1885, and in that case the bees died from want of food, and not from the absence of winter passages. _ I have also come to the conclusion that if the bees have a sufficient store of food in single-walled hives of one-inch wood, they will winter quite as well as in hives with double walls and winter packing. — R. S., Tarn- worth Agricultural Cutteye. HOOKER'S WINTER MANAGEMENT (1784). [1808.] It is always more pleasant to answer any ques- tion from a person who gives his name in full than one bearing initials, as one is then better able to judge the object of the same. I have, however, endeavoured to do as asked. The quilts or coverings I use consist of a piece of unbleached calico, wasted free from dressing, then on this several thicknesses of house-flannel, pieces of old blankets, carpets, or felt. I do not use an impervious material in winter. A dry hive containing plenty of food is essential to successful wintering. To keep the hive dry it is desirable to raise the back of it for the purpose of letting out con- densation, if any, to allow any water from driving rain or melted snow to run out, and not in. ' A. B.' no doubt keeps his bees ' under a proper system of management,' and does not require any caution about keeping'his hive dry or bis floor-board and entrance clear of dead and stinking bees from me. My advice was in- tended for less experienced bee-keepers, and, I think if followed, will be found useful. To my mind the en- trance should be as wide open as possible, and the top of the hive covered up very warm with quilts and aerate of chaff, so that the ventilation through the top of the hive will be very gentle, and not likely to lower the tempera- ture, although not absolutely impervious, and if frames of comb are end on to the entrance we need not fear mouldy combs. — John M. Hooker. THREE WAYS OF WORKING FOR COMB HONEY. [1809.] The usual mode of working for comb honey is what is known as the ' tiering-up system,' and without doubt there are more who use this system than there arc of those who use all other systems combined ; yet this does not certainly make it true that this plan is the best one there is, by any means. It often happens that the majority are net in the right, and so, after I hail proven to my entire satisfaction that there was a better plan to work on in raising comb honey than the tiering- up system, I forsook the same and turned my attention to other plans. My chief objection to the tiejing-up plan was, that not so much honey could he obtained by using it, and, worse than all the rest, if the utmost care was not used, the result would be lots of unfinished sections iu the fall. These unfinished sections have been an 'eye-sore' to all the users of this plan, as the im- mediate past will testify, for many are so disgusted with them that they recommend that they be burnt up, while a whole issue of one of our bee-periodicals is used in telling how to save theiu by way of feeding back ex- tracted honey in order to get them filled. The next system most iu use is what is termed the 'side and top storing plan combined,' which I adopted upon leaving the tiering-up plan. By the use of this plan more honey can be obtained than by any other plan I know of, except by using the lateral plan, of which I shall soon speak. The trouble with the side and top storing plan was, that it required much work ; yet, as I go over the results of the past while using it, I am con- vinced that the extra amount of honey obtained by the use of it more than paid me for all the extra work the plan required over the tiering-up plan. An average yield of over 80 lbs. of comb honey per colony for a period of fifteen years is a record never attained by any of the advocates'of that plan. A few years ago D. A. Jones came out with a wholly side-storing plan, the young brood to be kept in the centre of the hive by means of perforated zinc, while the sections were to be placed between that and the older brood, which was to he kept on the outside. One trial of this proved, so far as I was concerned, that the plan was fallacious; and although he told us be would explain, some years ago, I have never seen a word from him on the subject since, hence I have not enumerated this in the above three plans at all. While working with the side and top sturing plan, I left a passage-way under the side-boxes, so that any bees which might be scattered around over the top and sides of the hive after any manipulation could get back to the cluster instead of dying there, as is the ease where no means of outlet is provided. This caused many to write me, asking if 1 meant to have this so ; ' for,' said they, ' the bees will go around under these side-boxes up into the cap over them, anil build comb there, which they fill with honey.' I told them that this was as I wanted it, giving the reasons for so lea\ ing it, and telling them if any colony so persisted in doing, to give more room by adding sections at the side. Well, I often g,,t caught in this same fix myself when I would he a little tardy in keeping up with the bees, so that 1 have often had from five to fifteen pounds of honey built in the cap of the hive, the bees having to travel from twenty-five to thirty inches entirely away from the brood to get there. This leaving the brood and storing honey in such amounts in the cap led me t lopt what I term the 'lateral plan' of obtaining section honey, which plan gives me fully as much honey as could be obtained by the side and top box plan, with as little work as is required when using the tiering-up plan. The larger part of my hives are of the kind known as the ' chaff hive,' tfhich gives plenty of room on top for all the room required by the largest colony without tiering up. Over the top of these hives 1 have placed a queen-excluding honey-board, the queen-excluding part going over only the brood-apartment to the hive, the rest being a thin board to cover up the chaff. When the honey season arrives, this is put on (quilts being used, together with sawdust cushions, up to this time), and from three to five wide frames, holding four l£-lb. sections each, are placed directly over the brood. As soon as these are well occupied with bees at work, I add one or two wide frames at each side ; and when these are occupied, I add enough more to cover the top of the hive if so much room is needed. In this way I accommodate the size of the colony with the needed room, neither giving too much nor too little, as must of necessity occur where the T super, and others of a set capacity, are used. As soon as the first that were put on are filled, they are taken off (handling by the wide frame only, so five pounds are handled instead of single September 20, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 4G9 boxes), when the partly filled sections at each side are slid along on the honey-board till they come together in the centre, when the empty ones are placed at the sides. As the honey season draws to a close, no more empty sections are put on, so that, when the season is over, I often have but one or two wide frames of sections on the hive, thus doing away with more partly filled sections than 1 really need for bait sections the following season. In the above, all will see that I have all the advan- tages of both the former plans combined, and that so as to work to the very best possible advantage. ,\ ell, just as I had this all wrought out, and have worked it to my entire satisfaction (often using the wbole comple- ment of wide frames over but five Gallup frames below), for the past two seasons, what should friends Root and Miller do but upset the whole thing ? Now, gentle- men, in all candour I ask, Did either one of you ever fully test the matter you are there talking about, or have you reasoned it out in theory, and told us that such and such would lie the facts? If you have fully tested the matter, please tell me how it came about that my bees will thus work to advantage, and would go even two feet or more entirely away from tin1 brood, and there work apparently as well as anywhere. — G. M. Doolittle, Borodino, N.Y. (Gleanings.) NOTES FROM CUMBERLAND. [1810.] Iu order to report myself to the many friends whom I recently met in the International Exhibition, Glasgow, I have much pleasure in stating that on the 5th of September I visited (he grounds of the Ennerdale Bee Farm, where 166 hives were located from different parts of Cumberland, and at a little further distance about 140 were also laid out amongst the beautiful patches of heather growing luxuriantly on the rugged cliffs and tall, towering hills which surround this beautiful lake. Around the district of Harrington there are only a few bee-keepers, and some of their hives are in fair keeping condition ; others I have advised to attend to feeding at once: as a rule surplus honey is not to be expected. I have never had the misfortune of seeing so many bees destroying themselves amongst the jam-pots and barrels at the back of our stores; it is evident some hives are being seriously injured, as no doubt other places will be also visited. Altogether, from what I have seen, both at Ennerdale and here, it is evident honey will be very scarce this season. And some of the hives will require the greatest attention, as there seems a tendency to leave the old skeps to fight it out for themselves ; the little favourable is far from sufficient to warrant one trusting too much this season to abundant keeping stores. I noticed several of the hives were for sale at Enner- dale. I hope this is not the result of anyone 1'sing heart. Bee-keeping has difficulties to contend with like other hobbies, and patience and care now will undoubt- edly be well repaid in the future. — Eisenezkr McNally, Co-operative Society, Harrington. A VOICE FROM KILLARNEY. [1811.] In this locality we have three seasons in which surplus honey is stored, viz., from the maples, from 7th to 20th May; from white clover (one great source of supply, generally speaking), from 10th to 25th July ; and from the limes, which commence about 20th July and end about 1st August. Last season I secured on an average about 15 lbs. of honey per colony from the maples on sections from the previous year partly filled out. This year the bees stored 6 lbs. per hive under similar conditions. On looking back, however, for a few years, I find the average from the same source to be 10 lbs. each hive, and this with stocks ou which stimulation had scarcely been begun. Now, 1 want to know whether it would not be more advantageous to begin to stimulate iu time to get a larger surplus from this first honey flow? and, especially, whether having got tlie queen to lay so early, she would be able to keep the colony sufficiently strong until the 1st August to meet the other two honey flows? I may add that I have got only 8 lbs. per hive this year, the lowest during my experience, and the greater part of the sections so badly filled that I could not offer them for sale, while a great many were only about half tilled, it is the weather, anil not the poor bees, that is at fault, as the following figures will show: — Mean t> mpera- Rain-fall No. of days Mouth. tare at 9 a.m. (inches). iu which ill rain fell. 1887. l--s. 1887. 1888. 1887. 1888. June 62-8 47-5 •601 316 7 16 July 64-6 56-6 ■01 5-13 3 23 August 571 57"9 4-100 310 24 20 ' Feeding Hack.' On 6th August I took off all the sections, and re- turned forty-two nearly sealed to two of my strongest hives, thinking the bees would finish them off. They did ' tini-h them off ' in the mo, t approved style, as in three days afterwards, when 1 examine,! them, they had taken down every drop of honey into the body of the hives. 1 had not done brooding over this freak when your B.B.J, came to hand in which you had copied an article from the American Bee Journal, giving directions a, to what should have been done under similar circum- stances— ' too lute.' WHAT BEES WILL (oR WILL NOT) DO. From the experiences of a friend I was not quite un- prepared for this trick played on me by the bees. In August. lss7, the gentleman 1 refer to left, for some reason not necessary to explain here, the sections on three of his hives until late in November, when he went to remove them he found that the bees had (as might be expected) taken down all the honey from the sections in two hives, but when he went to the third he found that they had brought every drop of honey from the body of the hive up into the sections ! What have you got to say to that Mr. Editor, and Mr. 'Amateur Expert,' and all other amateurs and experts in bee- knowledge ? There is a nut to crack for you. Have Bees a ' Memory ?' Iu the summer of 18S5 my bees selected a very con- venient watering-place — an eave-shoot in a 'lean-to,' about six feet from the ground. Up to that time I had a good deal of bother in trying to provide water for them, and was so glad to find them avail themselves of this ready-made trough that whenever I found it running dry I refilled it, first stopping the down-pipe. They continued to use it up to the time they ceased flying in November. I naturally expected that when they began to fly again the following spring they would return to their old 'tap;' but no! anil until within the last couple of months I have not seen a bee use the shoot to drink from, although I have frequently put pieces of comb, &c, about it to get them to do so. Could the bees that went into winter quarters, say, in the end of November, have forgotten all about this eave-shoot about the 1st March, when they began flying again? Last year I averaged sixty-seven saleable sections from each hive. — Mangerton, Killarneij, September, 1888. WINTER PASSAGES. [1812.] It being almost time to think of putting things in order for the coming winter, could you, as this subject 470 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 20, 1888. will be doubtless interesting to many, get Mr. Simmies to give his opinion on the above subject, as I fail to see anv reference to it in his new book ? And as he recom- mends tbe quilt to be carefully laid flat, he apparently does not use ' Hill's device.' Does he take it for granted winter passages are made ? I see in the Journal for March 1887, Mr. Boyes calls these passages 'all moon- shine.'— W. Williams. Mr. Simmins' reply : — ' My own opinion is the same as Mr. Boyes'. Have never found or seen the necessity of making them, and never shall all the time stores are properly arranged as late as September. — S. S.' SHALLOW FRAMES. [1813.] In answer to your correspondent ' Honeysuckle ' (No. 1791), I give the dimensions of the shallow frames I use, which he will find very handy for extracting. Top bars 1J inch wide, with j inch space between, maliing i inches from centre to centie. I tack \ inch pieces on to keep the distance, the same as wide-shouldered frames, f inch thick, lfli inches long; ends, 4xJAxj inches; bottom bar, 14x1 x^ inches. In a fair season the queen will not lay in them. I use no excluder. The honey is equal to section honey, and two can be extracted in the place of one frame. I slightly groove top bar for end pieces to lit in. If care is taken in cutting a 11-inch board the ends and sides of lift can be made from it. I use dummies for convenience in removing, but they will do without. I have used them with great success on a Combination hive of 1") frames, and 2 tiers deep of shallow frames, '.I inches each lift. I once extracted the whole 18 at one time, and had them refilled and sealed in less than a fortnight, the best frame containing 4 lbs. of In mey after extracted. 1 tut once, during a showery season, the queen laid eggs in the fifteen frames and in the centre of shallow frames through three tiers. I first made shallow frames to hold the old four-piece nailed section before the one-piece was invented, as I did not know how to make a section rack, but discarded them from that use as soon as I did know how as useless, on account of the tremble of getting the sections out, and used the hanging crate and frames for extracting purposes, and when the B. B. K. A. decided on a standard frame, I made others of the above dimensions, the first beinn- shorter.— Alpha. AN APOLOGY, &c. [1814.] I beg to apologise for having questioned the correctness of Mr. Sims' statement, respecting the amount uf honey in one of his hives. He has not, it is true, told us what, weight he has taken from this particular hive, but as he has not taken exception to my calculation (58 lbs.) as the probable weight in it, my calculation must have been near the mark. 1 congratulate him and his mentor, Mr. Gay, on the result. Mr. Sims doesn't offer any explanation as to where or when his bees got their honey, further than assuming that they got it, as suggested by Mr. Gibbins (17^7) from the blackberry blossoms. Our Editor's opinion of the section sent him bs Mr. Sims— 'the best we have tested this season' — doesn't argue in favour of the blackberry theory. Any- way, I have been under the impression that honey from the blackberry was somewhat inferior. I am open to enlightenment on the point. Nor can I agree with Mr. Gibbins in his contention that 'a. strong hive, in first- class order, having very little young brood, might gather .58 lbs. of homy in six days ' from the blackberry. Black- berries are so abundant throughout the county thai bee-keepers have plenty of opportunities of proving or disproving Mr. Gibbins' statement. Will those who have had a surplus from this source acquaint us with their good fortune? Mr. Gibbins has a delicious bit of logical reasoning in his letter. He says: ' Neither " East Glamorgan " nor Mr. Sims is known personally to me, but I would point out that Mr. Sims is a very well-known keeper of minor live stock, and as such is more likely to be correct, than " E. G.," who, by not giving his real name to his fellow bee-keepers, prevents them from forming a proper value' (forming a value!) 'of his writings.' One man is a poultry-fancier, therefore more likely to be correct in bee-keeping matters than another man who writes under an assumed name ! Mr. Sims also expresses the hope that ' E. G.1 ' will, in future, give his name. We shall then perhaps be aide to judge whether he knows any- thing about bee-keeping or not.' Wonderful! Mr. Editor, ' Useful Hints,' and 'Amateur Expert,' please sign future contributions with your proper names, ' we shall then be able to judge whether you know anything about bee- keeping or not.' In order to satisfy Mr. Sims' curiosity, allow me to state that I am a very clever man (my wife will attest the truth of this, if needed), that the number of my slocks exceeds the number of his, and that the manage- ment of the same is better than it lias been. I must tell him also that I did nut say that Navigation was a poor place for honey-getting. I said that it was unlikely that his bees secured a surplus from the fruit blossoms, meaning the blossoms of the apple, plum, gooseberry, &c. Mr. Gibbins expects that we shall find Mr. Sims a powerful competitor at the honey shows — the local ones, I presume. ' E. G.,' too, intends making a bid for some of the prizes, and it. will afford him great pleasure to pocket them, as he is confident he will ! and at the same time 'whip' Mr. Sims. Mr. Gibbins, I fear, is out of the running. — East Glamohgan, September 17th. SEASON NOW DEPARTING. (With many apologies to Edgar Allan Pof.) Once upon a summer dreary, while I wandered dull and weary Round my bee-farm in the gloaming, as I had often done before, Through my troubled brain there floated visions of high prices gloated I could make of sections noted, if my bees had such in store ; Yes, and also of extracted, if they had even that in store : But they've combs, and nothing more. Ah I distinctly I remember, it was only last September, Hives with sweet ambrosial nectar nearly all were gushing o'er ; Busy bees so swiftly hieing, hive against hive grandly vieing, Each and all were nobly trying to gather in the greatest store, And beat precedental totals that were marked up in the store : ' That's gone by for evermore.' Startled at the stillness broken by that sentence aptly spoken, Craven heart, I said, 'tis fancy ; cease thy doubting, I implore, Place thy trust in bees and honey, thou shalt have both stocks and money In abundance, such as thou hast never had before — Weighty supers, help requiring to place safely in the store : ' Croak no more.' But my memory kept returning to the question in it burning, While instinctively I entered, entered in the empty store, Where in other years I've mustered serried piles of sections clustered, With extracting greatly flustered, in the happy times of yore. Now the empty shelves seemed mocking afl around the empty store : ' They never were so bare before.' Tell us, greatest, best of ' Sages,' shall we ever in the ages That are coming know such seasons any more ? September 20, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 471 Promptly came his answer to it, ' See thy work, then go and do it, Or next June thou'll sadly rue it, when depleted stocks can't store Of the abundant flowing nectar, never known in days of yore, Cease thy croaking evermore ! ' Thou bad season now departing, let young eighty-nine upstarting Consigu thy many failures to Oblivion's silent shore ; Leave our hives with inmates teeming, while we of sunny seasons dreaming Feed with syrup erstwhile steaming, to eke out thy scanty store. May we never see thy equal, is a blessing we implore, Both for now and evermore. Woodleigh. A Novel Hive. — For several days past the church clock at Ilarpendeu, near Luton, has refused to work. On an inspection being made, it was found that a swarm of bees had taken up their abode among the works. Dkatii from the Sting of a Bee.— Mr. William Barron, of English Street, Carlisle, was working in his garden, when a bee stung him. Death ensued from shock and exhaustion. — The Echo, September 5. Failure up the Honey Cum'. — In consequence of the total failure of the honey crop in Herefordshire, the fair usually held at this time of year has been aban- doned.— The Dailji Telegraph, September 8. Solitary Wasps and Bees. — Of wild bees 4500 species were known, and of wasps 1100. The habits of almost every genus differed. An Oi.ii Queen Ant. — Sir John Lubbock mentioned with regret the death of a queen ant which had lived in one of his nests since 1874, and must therefore have b en fourteen years old. — The Slur, September 6. His Time wasn't Wasted, — 'Hello, Jones! Been having D lark with your bees? Taken a lot of honey, I suppose.' Jones (mournfully, his face sir, lien out of all shape). — ' No, I didn't get any honey, but (brightening up) 1 weeded out a lot of bad-tempered bees. — Reported by Honeysuckle. Uue of tin' most amusing hooks I have ever met with is the Book of Noodles, published by Elliot Stock, Pater- noster Row. Amongst the Gothamites and Pedants enumerated, is a 'cross-grained fellow who had some honey for sale, anil a man coming up to him and inquiring the price, he upset the jar and then replied, ' You may shed your heart's blood like that before 1 tell such as you.' — Contributed by A. E. Drones. — One morning, a year or more ago, my little friend Max came in to see me ; and as he walked across the room I noticed that he held both his hands behind him. As he approached my couch he explained, ' I've gjt something for you — just hear them sing ! ' and sud- denly, before 1 realised what he was going to do, he was holding his hands up by my ears. And, oh, such a buzz, b-u-z-z, h-u-z-z-i-n-g as 1 heard! 1 felt as though a whole swarm of bees had surrounded me. Glancing up al him I saw his eyes were twinkling, and he was shaking with suppressed laughter as he watched mv astonished countenance. 'O Max!' I said, 'are yonr hands full of bees, or what have you got in there ? It sounds like a swarm of bees.' 'Just rive bumble-bees,' he replied, ' but they can't hurt you, for they are nothing but drones.' ' But where did you get them, and how did you know they were "nothing but drones?"' I ques- tioned. ' Why, 'cause I found them on that old dead tree in the lane,' he replied. 'But, Max,' said J, 'how could that tell you they were drones ? ' ' IIo ! ' he said, 'don't you know how to tell a drone? Why, I'll tell you how you can tell them every time. The workers are too busy to lounge around and do nothing ; and when they alight it is always on something they can work on ; and when you see bees sitting around on dead wood, with nothing to do, you may he sure they are old lazy drones. Why, I have caught dozens of them, and they are always drones. I never caught a worker that wasn't at work, or else Looking out for a job.' 'Well, Max, that is a new idea to me,' I said; 'but if that is the case, the bees are very much like people; aren't they? For a man who spends his time sitting around on old store-boxes, and lounging about saloons, is generally a drone in the human hive. Our workers in the world haven't much time to waste, for they can always find plenty to do, and take pleasure in being useful. — Gleanings. (Lrcbcrcs from tbc *l)ibcs. Southampton, Sept. 10/7/. — My experience this year has been — no honey— I -oiue 10 lbs. from one lot of twelve). Full sheets foundation in sections worse, even, than starters, being nearly all eaten through like a network. During Srst boney-ttow, not an egg visible in the hives; bees evidently either destroying them or preventing queen depositing. Best nuclei 1 made by putting a small shovelful of a swarm on a frame of queen-cells. In many cases queen-cells contained useless grubs among their number. — II. S. School House, St rat ton, Swindon, September 17///, 1838. — The weather for a week past has been glorious. I transferred two sleeps for a cottager on Wednesday. One had not a grain of honey, the other about ten poinds from last season, being a very large skep. One 'skeppist' lo mv me has already lost nine stocks; scwral others one each. I could not prevail on them to feed. One of the knowing ones asked in • yesterday if I would take an order for some honey, I said no! but I could extract him some Byrup, which he declined with thanks. 1 hope to finish feeding in a few days, and to make all 'taut' for tho winter at the end of the work. May I in'.1 i all the importance of utilising this fine weather by feeding up rapidly t We have a great lot of black- berry blossom, but the bees do not seem doing any real work on it. I am now looking forward hopefully to se ison 1889, having made eighteen lots into fourteen all with young queens. — Coltkip 1. ■ purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The m devoted to Eetti rs, Queries, and replies, is meant for the general qood of bee-fceepers, and not for advertisements. We u>ish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it it necessary for us to go to press in advance of Hi, date oj issue, queries cannot always be repliid to in the issue immediately /ollowing the receipt Of their communication. All , ' to, and Uiose only of personal interest eered in this column. II. S. — Colon// in Chimney. — The colony in chimney can be removed a- follows: — Place some brown paper or cotton rag in the I i replace communicating with chimney, and light same; this will subjugate the bees, the combs must then be removed and tiie bees brushed off into an empty skep. Winn this is done place the skep over mouth of chimney, that the flying bees may all collect with those in slop. Towards evening they can be removed, and can be united to cast. The three colonies must then be fed up to a weight of 2o lbs. If the cottager is too poor to pay for feed, cannot he sell two of the three colonies, aud so provide funds for provisioning the third? E. J. B. and Beta. — The pieces of comb forwarded were infected with foul brood. J. T. T. — This is not a case of foul, but of chilled brood. A. B. Tyro. — Equalising.— 1. If you think that the bees you intend to transfer next spring have more honey than required for wintering — say above 20 lbs. — you may safely give the surplus to the colony now at the 472 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 20, 1888. heather. 2. When spring arrives, fine weather pre- vailing, about the middle of April, remove the outside comhs, one by one, at intervals of a week or so, and add frames of foundation next the brood-nest. Wilford Shepherd. — Feeding. — Get a rapid feeder, and feed on thick syrup — 10 lbs. sugar to 5 pints of water. Give the food warm, in the evening. A strong colony will store about fifteen quarts of this syrup — sufficient to carry it through the winter — in a couple of days. See the advice given on feeding in ' Useful Hints' of last issue (page 446). Dry sugar-feeding is merely supplementary. We do not advise it except on emergency. Syrup should be gently boiled about five minutes. Robert Welford. — American Enamel Goth. —You did not give sufficient ventilation during the winter. The entrances should be kept open at their full width. A space of from two to four inches should be provided beneath the frames, and the enamel cloth — glazed side downwards — should be covered with several pieces of felt, flannel, or soft woollen carpet. Cushions of chaff or cork dust may be placed on these. Winter only strong colonies, and you will find no dampness. L. W. R. — Condemned Bees. — 1. We always remove the supernumerary queens immediately before uniting.— 2. The best time for driving in this month is when most of the bees have ceased working — say about 4 p.m. — 3. Yes. Tie up the driven bees in skeps with coarse canvas, and unite on the evening of the day following. — 4. No. Three driven colonies are not too many to put together. We do not recollect the locality of the apiary to which you refer. C. W. — The granulated sugar forwarded will answer your purpose. You will find a difficulty in improving on it. G. S. C— You will find the sugar very suitable for syrup-making, but please adhere to the direct ions'given in Cowan's Guide Book. G. B. Clarke. — Bobber Bees. — The bees forwarded are affected with the disease to which has been given the name of Bacillus depilis, or Oaytora. They have been driven from their own hive, and seek food and lodgment wherever they can obtain them. J. R. L. — Sections. — Any with uncapped honey had better be used on the table. Sections should be stored in a dry place. Bobbing. — Have you tried putting a handful of damp hay loosely over the porch ? The bees inside can easily find their way out, and defend their stores better, while the robbers are nonplussed. Those bees now robbing will be dead by next spring ; what their descendants may do we cannot say. If your bees are not strong in numbers, unite two colonies into one. Strong colonies, as a rule, are not troubled with robbers. T. Parker. — Heat/ier. — The small pink 'flower is the plant for honey. Feeding. — You may reckon a standard frame well filled holds about 5 IIjs. of food. R. L. Richardson. — 1. Sugars. — These have not reached us, your letter not having been directed to the Editor according to instructions. 2. Dead Queen. — This arrived rather the worse of wear, but we are afraid it is your Carniolan queen. 3. Shiny Bees. — These are the old bees which, had the}' had to forage outside for food, would have perished ere this. We are not acquainted with Hawick. R. Attld. — 1. Draion-oui Sections. — Yes, if you can store them out carefully so that no wax-moth can get at them. The colour is a drawback, though. 2. Division Boards. — We like one on each side of brood nest. W. M. B. — 1. Skep, — Give a clean floor-board at once, and, if possible, brush ronnd the bottom of the skep, 2. Feeding. — Give about 6 lbs. more at once, this will carry them up to March next. J. H. West. — Packing Stocks. — We expect you will find no honey or brood in the lower storey, if so, re- move the lower frames and put the frames with brood, &c, in their place. Extracted honey may be thinned with a little warm water according to its present density. Inquirer. — Five S/iecimens of Comb. — These were not affected with foul brood. W. II. Adams. — This is not a case of foul brood. The brood appears not to have received sufficient attention for necessary development. It is possible that the prevalent wet season may have been the cause of it. ^©usiness ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. BtjRTT, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edet & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchinqs, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M-, Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C. , 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfleld, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 2G Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin, Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins' Bee Company, Limtd., Rottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. J ^fc IffFiSfi Communication! to the Editor to be addressed ' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 327. Vol. XVI.] SEPTEMBER 27, 1888. [Published Weekly.] PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY. Driving Bees. Owing- to the poor honey } ield this year there will be many more hives than usual marked by their owners for ' taking up,' and on account of their light -weight will be condemned to be burned. The intelligent bee-keeper, if he cannot persuade his more ignorant neighbour to feed his bees and thus save their lives, will, perhaps, be able to induce him to allow them to be taken for him. Some- times straw-skoppists are willing enough to do this, but if any demur we have generally found that the offer to take the bees and pay 6d. to Is. for each sleep, according to its strength, will usually be accepted. The bee- keeper will always find a use for any bees he may obtain late in the season, either for strengthening weak stocks or by uniting three or four lots and giving them frames of comb, a hive could be built out, by liberal feeding, so that it could pass the winter in safety. Small lots of bees are difficult, to keep through the winter, and even if the bee-keeper succeed in wintering them, they dwindle so rapidly in the spring that it is a questionable policy to winter any but strong stocks. Having agreed to take the bees, there are two methods by which we can do so without damaging combs or bees. These are driving and bumping. If the skeps are full of bees we prefer driving ; but if the combs are unfinished and there are few bees, bumping would be the quicker way. This season many hives will be found with uncompleted combs ; and a few days ago we examined six straw skeps, five of which contained from four to five unfinished combs and very few bees. Driving such hives would be useless, as the combs being this season's would be very brittle, and so few bees would with difficulty be induced to ascend. The requisites for driving are few, viz. : an empty skep, a skewer, a couple of wires about 8 inches long, bent thus — \ and sharpened at the points, a pail to stand the skep to be driven in, a quieter, cheese-cloth, and a pan for putting in the combs taken out of the skep. The operation of driving is simple, and when once seen can be easily undertaken and accomplished. Having marked the hives to be taken up, we select some after- noon when the bees have ceased flying so as to have as much time as possible at our disposal before it gets too dark for operations. On no account begin driving during the early part of the day, as at this time of the year there is nothing so likely tojinduce robbing ; and if this is once started in the apiary it may not end until much harm has been done, even if it does not result in the loss of all the remaining stocks. Between five and six o'clock in the afternoon is a good time to begin during the remainder of this month ; and we would here state that, although we prefer driving bees earlier in the month, they can safely be driven up to the middle of next month, more especially if we are careful to give the bees comb and not only foundation. In driving the object aimed at is to make the bees leave their skeps, containing combs and brood, and force them to enter and cluster in an empty skep. Any con- venient receptacle would do, but we prefer a skep when driving skeps as they are more easily adjusted. Blow a few puffs of smoke into the entrance of the skep to be driven, and after allowing the bees a couple of minutes to gorge themselves, give a little more smoke, and then carefully turn up the hive crown downwards. Be care- ful in turning over that it is done in the direction in which the combs run, because if done the other way, or across the combs, there is a chance of their breaking down from the weight of bees upon them. As the skep is being turned over drive the bees down with more smoke, and then place the skep into an empty pail, or if flat-topped it may rest on a table. Then take the empty skep and put it over the other bringing the edges together^ at the point towards which the combs run. Push a skewer through its edge into the loose hive so as to form a sort of hinge, and support the front part of the upper hive by means of the two bent wires. The illustration on the fol- lowing page, taken from our Guide Book, gives a very good idea of how the hives should be placed. The combs should run from point to back so that the ends of the combs are towards the hinge, as then the bees run up much more quickly. Then stand in front of opening with your back to the strongest light, and commence rapping on the sides of the hive with open hands. The blows must be of sufficient force to jar the combs, but not hard enough to risk breaking them from their attachments. They must also be regular and continuous, for if they cease the bees will run down amongst the combs. After a few raps the bees will begin to ascend into the empty hive and will appear in great commotion. 474 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 27, 1888. A few will run over the sides, and these can be driven back with smoke, carefully tapping the hive with the tips of the fingers to avoid crushing' them. In a minute •or two a loud buzz will give notice that a start in earnest is about to be made, and the crowd of bees make a rush up the side into the empty skep, apparently eager to escape from their trembling combs. Keep a sharp look- out for the queen, as she maygenerally be . seen ascending with the others, and she should be caught and placed in a cago or box until wanted. The rapping should not bs applied too near the rim, as this causes the bees to be shaken down again after they have taken the trouble to get to the top. Any clusters refusing to move can always be dispersed by a puff of smoke. In from ten to twenty min- utes, according to the weather and the strength of the popu- lation, all the bees may be driven out. AVe have alluded to smoke in driving, but carbolic acid can be used just as well for intimidating the bees. With a goose- quill introduce some of the solution at the entrance, and in lifting up the hive get the carbolic cloth over the hive. The bees can be driven away from any part of the hive by applying the quill to that part where they are clustered. In chilly weather, and when honey is scarce, bees are much more difficult to drive. This difficulty, however, is easily overcome if, after we lift up the hive, we pom- over the comb about a quarter of a pint of warm syrup, throw a cheese-cloth over the mouth of the hive, and give the bees ten to fifteen minutes for licking it up. The excitement consequent upon this proceeding raises the temperature and facilitates driving. When all the bees are driven out, the skep containing the driven bees should be placed on the stand the original hive occupied, so that it may collect all the straggling bees. The queen may then be returned to the bees by allowing her to run in at the entrance. If, however, we wish to join these bees to some of our own stocks in frame-hives, we keep the queen in -the cage for further use if we should re- quire her, as we should not need her with the bees in such a case. We then proceed to drive the bees from another skep, and when as many as we require have been driven, we make up our lots by uniting three or four to- gether. This is done by throwing down the lots on to a sheet on the ground arid letting them all run into the hive to- gether. The bees are all gorged witli honey and so mixed up, that there is no attempt at fight- ing. The best of the queens can be dropped down a- mongst the bees near the entrance and will run in with them. The bees can then be introduced into the moveable comb hive ready prepared for them. We have had bees d riven in September, and even in October; put intoempty hives, the only frames containing strips of comb-foundation, and by liberal feed- ing they have done very well, coming- out quite strong in spring ; but we think it the better plan to give built-out combs, and, if necessary, feed up with thin syrup (recipe No. 4 of Guide-book, p. 161) as rapidly as possible. If the combs in the skeps are very straight and clean, it may be ad- vantageous to trans- fer some of them, but we hardly think that, as a general rule, transferring answers. Comb-foundation of good quality is now so cheap, and the risk of introducing disease with the old combs so great, that we do not advocate transferring from skeps. Driving condemned bees is the most economical way of increasing an apiary, and at the same time we may, if we like, take advantage of the opportunity thus afforded to us to explain the process and its object, and get a convert to the more humane system of bee- keeping. USEFUL HINTS. We atheb.— Bright sunny days, with a night tempera- ture of 55° Fahr., are favourable to the gathering in of the harvest, and to feeding and preparing our bees for winter. The barometer continues ' steady,' having stood for many days at about 30-40, and the weather is de- cidedly more 'settled' than at any time during the present summer. We may also lo»k forward with hope to ' St. Luke's little summer,' which usually prevails from October 18th well into November. For feeding and getting bees into condition for wintering, if we our- selves had ' made the weather,' we could not have made it more suitable for our purpose than that we now enjoy. Ergo, those who lose their bees must blame themselves September 27, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 475 only. A paragraph in the Morning Pod states that 'the honey harvest in North Yorkshire is a failure, and it is feared that the bees will be nearly extinct in that part of the county next year.' The forecast, wo fear, applies to most other counties as well as to ' North Yorkshire.' Feeding, during the present unusually fine weather, has no doubt been carried on with unceasing vigour in well-managed apiaries. Allowing the poor bees to perish, when sugar, of the best quality for feeding, can be purchased at 21s. per cwt,, or 2\d. per lb., is wretched policy. We have already given 8 cwt. of this sugar to our bees, and before all are- well-provisioned for the approaching winter, 2 cwt. more will be required. In a copper we place 5b' pints of water, and bring it up to boiling-point. A cwt. of granulated white cane sugar is then added to the water, which checks the boiling for a few minutes. When it again boils, an addition is made of S| oz. tartaric acid ; 11 oz. salicylic acid solu- tion ; and G oz. of salt; and tho boiling is continued for about ten minutes. Our ' Raynor Extractor'' — minus its cage and gearing — stands beside the copper, and receives the syrup, which is covered by a close-fitting top. This boiling operation is performed in the morning, and by (i p.m. the syrup is cool enough for use. Syrup cans are then called into play, and from the tap of tho extractor a sufficient quantity is drawn to occupy every colony in the apiary in storing until the following evening, when the process of feeding is resumed, and the syrup is still found sufficiently warm for the purpose. ROBBING-, to which the fine weather and copious feeding are most conducive, must be prevented at all hazards. If once well established — and a few hours on a fine day, with sundry inducements, will suffice to establish it — the bees become thoroughly demoralised, and the utter ruin of the apiary follows. While feeding is going on the strictest watch must be kept over the hives — yea, as strict as in swarming time, and the slightest indication of an attack on any hive must at once be cheeked in the beginning. Our best remedy is spraying the robbers with carbolic solution thrown from a syringe with a very fine rose. The pilferers, covered with a fine carbolic-scented spray, retire discomfited, but will often renew the attack again and again. But per- severance invariably gains the victory. No element of disturbance — as the introduction of condemned bees, uniting, manipulation, and other operations — should be allowed in an apiary while copious feeding is being carried on. The only time allowable for manipulation is during a cool evening, when the bees are all inside their hives. In such a season as the present the starving colo- nics of neighbours often prove a great nuisance to the intelligent bee-keeper who feeds and cares for his bees. It behoves all such to be on the alert, and, if neighbours cannot be persuaded to feed their bees, to take most careful measures to prevent their depredations. Mr. Rusbridge, in liee-keepiny, Plain and Practical, tells us that ' Feeding, as a rule, should be over by the end of August, or early in September at tho latest, each stock having not less than 20 lbs. net of sealed stores,' and warns us, ' That it is extremely unwise to postpone it until late in the autumn, since by that time the bees will have decreased in number to about one third ; nor will this remnant be so active as in summer, and the chances are that cold nights will prevail, when much of the syrup will remain unsealed in the combs, particu- larly in the outer ones, in which condition it eventually becomes unwholesome.' With all this we fully agree, except, perhaps, as regards time. During the present season, for instance, August proved a cold, wet, cheerless month, and September remarkably fine, and far better adapted for feeding bees and enabling them to take down the food and to seal it over. We therefore adhere to our original rides, and W.P. (weather permitting) consider ourselves fortunate, especially in an exceptional season like the present, in getting our feeding over by the end of this month. Kay, we would not blame severely those who continue it up to the middle of next month if need be. Only, let there be no dilatoriness, an exhortation, we fear, which too many bee-keepers require. Winter Preparation must speedily follow autumn feeding. If colonies are not large enough to cover ten frames, contract tho hive to eight, placing a division- board on each side (angular system) or one at back (parallel plan), and let the interstices on tho sides lie filled with chaff-cushions or other material. A colony which cannot cover eight standard frames ought not to be wintered except as a nucleus. Enamel cloth, glazed tide downwards, should cover the frames, with several felt or carpel qudts and cushions upon it. This is the great sepret for retaining heat below the enamel cloth, and with entrances at full width, and a space of from two to four inches beneath tho frames, bees winter perfectly, and luxes thus prepared show no signs of dampness. Winter passages cut through the combs we consider advantageous, and prefer them by far to any plan after 'Hills device,' that is, of providing bee- passages above the frames. Bees in nature hermetically seal with propolis the roof from which their combs are suspended. It is admitted by all that calico or woollen material placed next the frames is at once propoliscd, and is thus rendered impervious to air or moisture. Our argument is, that enamel cloth is not more impervious than this propolised material. Moreover, in our own experience, bees always winter well in domiciles thus prepared, and at spring the hives and combs are found dry and clean, without sign of dampness or mouldiness. Generally speaking, the bees provide themselves with passages at the upper corners of the combs, and some- times in other places also. In such combs there is no necessity for cutting passages, but in combs of sealed honey — solid slabs, as they are called — we always cut a circular hole, about one inch in diameter, centrally, and two or three inches below the top-bar. The Winter Aspect of hives should be south or south-east, and good shelter should be provided at the back. Shortly, to sum up our advice for wintering we name the following points: — Strong colonies, ample supply of sealed food, bees confined to as many combs as they can cover, impervious quilts (or porous, if you will, but in either case plenty of woollen material, chaff- cushions, &c, above the covering quill), clean floor- boards, sound weather-proof covers, firm storm-proof stands, plenty of bottom ventilation, and no disturbance of colonies after the middle of October. Skeps also must be well protected, and if rendered double-walled by rolling hay-bands around them so much the better. Section Oases and Spare Combs should be care- fully preserved for use another season. The former, we fear, in most cases, have been removed from the hives free from honey storage. The propolis should be scraped off the lower parts, and the whole case wrapped in a sheet of paper, when it may be stowed away in a dry place until wanted. It is unnecessary to separate the sections, even when filled with foundation. As the case was re- moved from the hive, so let it be returned in the good season coming. This will save a large amount of labour and time, of which we all know the value when supering is required. Spare combs should be kept dry and free from dust. Queens up to the end of this month may still be in- troduced, with as little disturbance as possible, and at evening time. We still recommend the cage as causing the least trouble and disturbance with certainty of suc- cess. Some of the new methods of introduction — like the new discovery in the appearance' of queens — are any- thing but trustworthy. When we are seriously informed 476 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 27, 1888. 'That some queens cannot be distinguished in outside size and appearance from ordinary worker bees' by a professed expert, and teacher of Queen Introduction, we confess ourselves utterly unequal to assimilating with previous knowledge gained by experience all the modern and scientific discoveries promulgated with regard to our favourites, the bees, in this inventive age. Races of Bees. — Mr. Benton's letter (1802, p. 465) in our last issue is very suggestive. Can it really be a fact that queens raised in an apiary of Cyprian, Syrian, Italian, and Carniolan bees, are sown broadcast over our English apiaries, as queens of pure race ? We trust not, and most sincerely hope that the explanation may prove satisfactory. Judging from the complaints of amateurs, who have introduced imported, so called, pure Italian queens,*respecting the vile temper of theirprogeny, we have long been suspicious of the purity of these Italians. If the Carniolan race, already introduced to so many English apiaries with the character of the gentlest of bees, has been similarly produced, we may at once conclude that the ' gentleness ' will soon disappear. Absit omen. MIDDLESEX AND WORCESTERSHIRE B.K.A. We have much pleasure in giving circulation to the following timely counsels which have been forwarded to the members of the Middlesex and Worcestershire Bee- keepers' Associations respectively : — ' I am deputed by our Committee to send a word of timely warning to our members. This cold and wet summer has not only deprived us of our harvest of honey, but has left our stocks most probably without sufficient food for the winter. The only way to avoid the entire loss of your stocks in such cases is to feed them up at once, and rapidly, with thick syrup, until they have sufficient stored to enable them to get through the winter. Feed in the evening when the bees are at home, and take care not to leave syrup about, so as to attract robbers.' — Henry Bliqh, General Secretary. ' As the funds of the Association will not permit of an autumn visit from the expert, and taking into consider- ation the fact that the past season has been the worst that has been experienced for the last 25 years — very little honey having been collected by the bees, which are thus left without a sufficiency of stores for the winter — I venture to urge upon you, and upon all bee-keepers, the extreme importance of feeding all stocks with syrup without any fur/her delay. This should be done as rapidly as possible, and each stock to insure its living through the winter should have from 15 to 20 lbs. of syrup given to it. — A. II. Martin, Hon. Sec., Worcester- shire B.K.A. ' Directions for Making Syrup. — White lump sugar, 10 lbs. ; water, 5 pints ; vinegar, 1 oz. ; salt, i oz.' A REPORT OF SOME EXPERIMENTS IN APICULTURE. To the Commissioners of Agriculture. By N. W. M'Lain. (Continued from page 403.) Starved Brood. A disorder which has been quite common in several States during the past season is resultant, from conditions prevalent during severe and protracted droughts and long periods of extremely high temperature, such as has existed over large areas. The disorder is significant and important, not so much on account, of the actual numerical loss entailed upon colonies affected — which in my own case, and in many cases reported to me, have been severe — as in furnishing proof of failure on the part of those food elements indis- pensable during the breeding season to meet the large demand for larval food, and essential in maintaining the health and vigour of the bees while the digestive and secretory organs are being taxed to the limit of their capacity. This failure of natural resources results in low vitality, susceptibility and predisposition to disease, and inability to successfully perform the function of hibernation. With some exceptions, due to local ad- vantages, throughout the States stricken by the drought of the past summer the bees have entered upon the period of hibernation under conditions more or les3 un- favourable in proportion as they have suffered in greater or less degree from the effects of the all-consuming drought and heat. The symptoms of starved brood are distinctively cha- racteristic. Upon opening the hive a slightly offensive odour may be noticed if the colony has been suffering for some time. If the comb-frame be lifted from the hive, and the bees shaken off, few, if any, eggs can be found. Of such brood as is sealed, the cappings appear to be thin and flat, and slightly sunken, and commonly of darker colour than is usual in prosperous colonies. Upon opening the cells they are found to contain dead pupre in various stages of development, always inferior in size, and the food supply exhausted. In the midst of sealed brood patches of uncapped larvee appear, and sometimes a patch of five or six inches square, and sometimes there seems to have been no effort made towards sealing half the grown larvre in the hive, although the time for such sealing may be far overdue. The membranes of such larvae do not present the plump, pearly-white appearance common to well-fed larva;. On the contrary, the membranes are more or less shrunken and wrinkled, and not unfrequently, when the larvfe have reached the advanced pupa stage, the com- pound eyes begin to colour, and the cells are partially capped and then abandoned, and the appearance is that commonly designated by the term ' bald-headed bees.' Sometimes a few of these bees, dwarfed in size, emerge from the cells and engage in the labours of the hive with what vigour and for such term as their limited develop- ment will permit. In a number of tests made during the past season the progeny of the same queen, reared under directly oppo- site conditions of larval growth, so varied in size as not to be recognisable as offspring of the same progenitors. The reason for this variation was not far to seek. The changed conditions of the colony during the time when the different generations were being reared determined the] modification in development. The remedy I used and prescribed for others was a preventive rather than a curative. Starved brood means starved bees. If the cause be removed the effect speedily disappears. All that needs to be done is to supply them with a sub- stitute for those resources essential to their own health and vigour, and indispensable in brood-rearing, in search of which they are rapidly and vainly wearing out their vitality. The recipe for preparing the remedy is as follows : — To 10 lbs. of sugar add half a pint of dairy salt, two tablespoonfuls of bicarbonate of soda, two tablespoonfuls of rye flour, two tablespoonfuls of very finely powdered bone-ash, and one tablespoonful of cream-of-tartar. Mix thoroughly, then add two quarts of hot water, and stir until thoroughly dissolved, then boil for two or three minutes only. To one half-pint of fresh milk add three fresh eggs thoroughly beaten, and when the syrup is cool enough to feed add the eggs and milk, and when thoroughly stirred, feed warm. Feed in the hive as one would feed honey or syrup. I used this same food for preventing spring dwindling and for building up colonies to full strength and efficiency, so that all colonies may be ready for work at the very beginning of the seasun, when surplus honey may naturally be expected. This food fed in the hive keeps all the bees at home to aid in performing the September 27, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 477 functions of brood-rearing, and in keeping up the tem- perature of the hive, instead of spending their little remaining strength in battling against the cold, damp winds while searching for the food elements needed to repair the waste and drain upon their vitality while hibernating, and indispensable in brood-rearing. This food is not intended for use until after the bees have had a good flight in the spring, and almost any grade of honey or sugar may be used. This special food is a potent stimulant and tonic to the adult bees, giving tone and vigour to the organism, and furnishes the elements essential in brood-rearing in the place and in the manner suited to the convenience and tastes of the bees. No greater quantity should be fed than is required for the current needs of the colony. — American Bee Journal. WROCKWARDINE BEE CLUB. The third annual exhibition in connexion with this useful and flourishing club, the president of which is the Hon. Mrs. Robert Herbert, took place on Wednesday, in the Boys' Schoolroom, Wrockwardine. The Asso- ciation has for its object the encouragement, improvement, and advancement of bee-keeping, with a view to helping cottagers to add to their incomes and the preventing of cruelty to bees ; and thanks to the untiring energy of Miss M. E. Eyton, of Leaton, who since its formation has worked most indefatigably and praiseworthily in the capacity of honorary secretary to ensure success, the Association is rapidly increasing both in numbers and usefulness. Mr. J. Palmer has also contributed materially to the prosperity of the club by the aid he has rendered Miss Eyton as assistant hon. sec. Mr. W. G. Preece, juu., of Shrewsbury, a gentleman well known as a suc- cessful exhibitor, officiated as judge, and his decisions gave general satisfaction. Owing to the past unfavour- able season, the quantity of honey shown this year was not so large as formerly, but taking into consideration the adverse circumstances with which those connected with the apiary have this year had to contend, the ex- hibits, both in quality and quantity, must be regarded as very satisfactory. In addition to the exhibits for which prizes was given, the club appliances, including ingenious contrivances for the better and more economical ex- traction of honey, and the various other requisites con- nected with bee-keeping, attracted considerable attention ; while the exhibition of live bees in hives, the property of Miss Eyton, formed one of the principal features of the exhibition. Bronze and silver medals, which had been won by Miss Eyton and Mr. J. Palmer, were also on view, and as an attestation of the usefulness of the society and the skill of its members, there were also shown certificates of competency as experts in modem bee-keeping, which had been granted by the British Bee-keepers' Association to Miss Eyton, and Messrs. J. Palmer, H. Brooks, and J. Shuker. There was, too, a valuable collection of bee literature, including fifteen volumes of the British Bee Journal, kindly lent by Mr. Ding, in addition to other similar works contributed by various members of the club. Mr. Brooks (bee-expert to Miss Eyton) and Mr. Palmer kindly and intelligently ex- plained to the visitors the utility of the many objects of interest in the room. Among those present at the earlier stage of the proceedings were the Hon. Mrs. Herbert and Miss Herbert (Orleton), Lady Mary Herbert and the Misses Herbert (The Styche), Mrs. Jenkins (Charlton Hill), the Rev. A. P., Mrs. and Miss Salusbury (Wrock- wardine), Mrs. Clayton, the Rev. Mr. ■ Pennell, &c. Following is a list of awards : — Open to Club Members. — Best 12 1-lb. bottles — Mr. John Palmer (Wrockwardine), 1 ; Mr. Fryer (Overley), 2. Best and most complete hive for general use — Mr. John Palmer, 1. Open to Cottager Members only.— Best 6 1-lb. bottles— Mr. C. Clarke (Overley), 1 ; Mr. John Shuker (Allscott), 2. Open to All Comers and Members. — Best 12 1-lb. bottles — Mr. J. Palmer, 1. Best made hard candy for feeding bees — Mr. C. Clarke, 1 ; Mr. Fryer, 2. Best cake bees-wax, not under 1-lb. — Mr. J. Shuker, 1 ; Mr. J. Palmer, 2. Best honey drink, not intoxicating — Mr. J. Palmer, 1. Best vinegar made from hone)- — Mr. J. Palmer, 1 ; Mr. John Shuker, 2. Open to Cottagers Only. — Best 2-lb. cake made with honey — Mrs. Charles Mainwaring (Charlton), 1; Mr. John Shuker, 2. Best 1-lb. pot of preserve made with honey instead of sugar — Mrs. C. Clarke (Overley), 1 ; Mrs. J. Shuker, 2. Best bunch of bee flowers — Mr. C. Clarke, 1; Mr. H. Shuker (Allscott), 2; Mr. YV. Mainwaring (Charlton), special prize. Open to School Children under Fifteen. — Best bunch of wild bee flowers — Kate Fryer, 1 ; J. Palmer and Sydney Bremmell, 2 (equal) ; Bertie King, 3 ; Harry Price, 4. The Crop and Honey Market. — Reports from all over the State are to the effect that the honey crop is so short that it is no exaggeration to say that it is a total failure. There is hardly an apiary in any of the hitherto most prominent bee-keeping counties of the State which has this year produced surplus honey enough to pay interest on the capital invested therein. The same reports come from the East, and never since the care of bees attained the proportions of a regular industry has the honey yield of the United States been so limited as in the season now closing. In conjunction with the limited output, however, has come a marked rise in prices, but these comparatively high figures are after all of little value to the bee-keeper, for of what use would it be to him were honey to be quoted at even a dollar a pound if his bees produced no surplus for sale p The experience of the present season is, after all, only a repe- tition, on a more extended scale, of what has been the uniform history of the industry ever since the first colo- nies of bees were brought around by the isthmus and sold here for 200 dollars apiece. First there ha-s come a succession of good seasons ; the stuck of bees has largely increased ; the price of honey has gradually lowered ; and finally many have gone out of the business in disgust. Then a bad season has come, or a succession of them ; there have been no wild flowers, or the natural bloom has not contained the usual amount of nectar; the honey crop has been short; prices have risen, and a few, who were located in exceptionally favourable regions, have made large profits. This has stimulated others to go into the business, and the result has beeu another period of heavy production, low prices and small profit. For those who have been able to secure anything like a fair crop, the present season will be a bonanza. And those who have been sufficiently far-sighted to provide their bees with an abundance of forage, without placing any dependence upon the natural bloom, will this season reap a good reward for their enterprise. Those who have taken this precaution are few enough by the side of the many who are accustomed to 'trust to luck ;' but this lends emphasis to the general proposition that the bee-keeper who treats his colonies precisely as he would any other kind of animals upon which he placed depend- ence for an income, and sees that provision is made for a bad season, will come out ahead in the long run, while the one who trusts to nature will run behind. — Han Francisco Chronicle. Seasonable Hints. — It is of vital importance that every colony of bees should have a thorough inspection at the end of the honey season. It would be very ex- ceptional if some colonies were not found queenless, and robbing is sure to follow. Parent colonies that have cast swarms are generally the ones found wanting in this respect, and if attention is not given at the close of the honey-flow, the bees will get the start. When the flow ceases, the bees with their powerful force of idlers 478 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 27, 1888. hunt up and rob such defective colonies. It matters little whether such queenless colonies are weak or strong, they will not defend their stores. The mischief does not stop here ; when robbing bees become aroused they will overpower and destroy colonies that may be in proper condition. It is of the utmost importance to see that every colony has a good fertile queen at this season. The reason why colonies having cast swarms are often found queerdess is, that at the time of maturing they have but the one young queen ; they have no brood to fall back upon, if the young queen becomes lost, when she issues alone into the open world to receive fertilisa- tion, surrounded by myriads of enemies. In returning she sometimes enters the wrong colony. September is the proper month to feed all colonies that may lack in food, for winter bees cannot be fed successfully during freezing weather, and if fed early, they seal the honey over. Unsealed honey in the combs near the bees during cold weather becomes diluted with the moisture from them, and is unhealthfnl. Caring for, handling and disposing of the honey crop also demand our attention during the latter part of the season. It has been too common to ship honey to distant markets at a low figure. No one can as successfully build up a demand for honey as the apiarist himself, and the business is far safer in his hands than in any other. The place to com- mence operations is at home, where we have the entire care and control of the matter. Several thousands of pounds of honey may be disposed of in almost any locality with much greater profits than by shipping. Build up a home market, and never drive business away that can be transacted at home. — American Agriculturist. Save the Mark. — Well, Pat, how is the hive of bees I gave you getting on P Pat. Shure, your honnor, it was yeself that tould mo they would be after marking the spot the nixt morning, and whin I stooped down to see thim make the mark, a little divil fetched a moighty big lump over my eye that niver a bit could I see at all at all for a wake. — Honey- suckle. Killed by a Wasp. — On Saturday, September 2:2nd, a farmer named F. M. Turnell, of Iirixworth Lodge, near Northampton, was stung by a wasp, and he died a few minutes afterwards, He was walking in his garden, when he felt the sting of a wasp near the left temple. As the puncture caused great pain, and a swelling followed, a doctor was sent for, but before his arrival, not a quarter of an hour later, death ensued, the deceased having suffered most acutely. Cflrrcspoubciuc. The Editor doesnot hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by ftis correspondents. No attention trill be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to v.'iite on one tide of the paper only, and aire their full names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should he drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Hooks for Jtevieir, t. 22nd. WINTER PASSAGES— FEEDING BEES. y [1817.] I being a keeper of bees now for ten years, although but a cottager, I go in for the frame-hive, as I think if it pays to keep bees at all it is by keeping them in the frame-hive; but of course we know it is the first outlay that cottagers cannot afford as a rule, neither could I afford to buy hives. I have ten frame-hives which I make ny-self, which I think any one may do if they have the mind for it now, as we all know to our experience this has been as bad a year for bees as I should think any one could remember. -Much has been said in the Journal about feeding, which must be done or lose the bees. Many September 27, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 479 cottagers cannot even afford to buy sugar, let alone feeders ; but still if sugar can be got, any common -wide- mouthed bottle will answer for feeding, as I have now fed up fourteen hives with nothing but a common bottle costing simply nothing, which 1 think answers every purpose, as well as feeders costing Is. to 6s. Gd., as I see in the journal. I bought one feeder for Is. 6rf., but I prefer an ordinary bottle to that. I see a little has been said lately about winter passages through the combs, but I, like others, think it is useless work cutting winter passages. Being a bee-keeper for the time I have, I think I may form an opinion. Now, I never make any passages, nor lay pieces of wood under the quilt, as I see recommended by some, and I have never lost a single colony during the winter ; that is my experience. I always leave every stock well stored in the autumn sufli- cient to last till May. Keep them warm and dry. With plenty of stores and bottom ventilation I think passages through the combs are not required, but still we all have different opinions on that as well as other things. — F. Goldsmith, Bolnctj, Hayward's Heath, Sussex, Sept. 22. JOTTINGS FROM SUSSEX. [1818.] Deeply I sympathise, Mr. Editor, with our fellow bee-keepers at this discouraging season; and all the more as its results bad been generally unexpected. I never knew my bees stronger or in better condition for work than they were last spring, and they gave me some beautiful sections from the early fruit-blossoms ; but my whole honey harvest from nine hives has only been about fifty pounds ; perhaps I ought to be thankful for that. May we not, however, learn a lesson from our tees ? How often have we robbed them of the chief part of their stores, and left them for a time comparatively destitute; but instead of giving way to despair and ceasing to work, have we not observed that they worked away sis hard or harder than ever, apparently determined by all means to repair their loss:' Sugar, fortunately, is very cheap, and the expenditure and trouble which now are necessary to bring our little labourers through the winter, may be abundantly repaid by them next year. I found Simmins's dry sugar feeders of great service during the spring and summer, giving little trouble, and preventing any anxiety as to the bees running short of food, even during my absence from home. At the end of last month I examined j[my hives thoroughly, and found that although full of brood they were very short of stores ; I consequently commenced giving them daily a supply of syrup, using Blow's 'Perfection' feeder (an admirable feeder!) at its fidl capacity, and on examining them again to-day (Sept. 17th) 1 find that they have, with only one exception, a capital supply of sealed stores, sufficient to last them well into next spring. I am very glad that 'A Bee-keeper of West Kent' can report a complete cure of foul brood and hope that he will not be troubled with it again. I am thankful to be able to state that there has not been any recur- rence of it in my apiary, a fact which proves, I think, that this annoying disease may be cured by the plan which I adopted without any destruction of bees, hives, or accessories. The carbolic acid cloth has again proved to be of essential service, but I have not thrown away my smoker as some of your correspondents appear to have done, for I have fotmd it very useful in cases where bees have become unusually irritated, also for driving them from section crates, &c. And your suggestion of having rolls of brown paper with straw, in the_centre, and the ends dipped in saltpetre, has proved most convenient. Many of the suggestions in the Journal I have found to be of great value, but I venture to doubt the value of one, viz., that the hive entrances should be left open at full width all the winter. I may be wrong, but my experience leads me to believe that this is a mistake. I have kept bees for many years and have never lost a single stock, even in the severest winter, but I have always closed the entrances in winter time so that only about two bees can pass each other. I think that this is desirable to economise warmth, and to prevent the bees from feeling, as with fully opened entrances they must do, the various vicissitudes of the weather. I find that when covered up very warmly, and the entrances thus contracted, hardly any dead are to be found on the floor-boards, the bees seemed to be as numerous when examined in the spring as they were when shut up at the beginning of the winter, and there has been a very small consumption of stores. I use bay above and around the brood-nest as far as possible, having in most hives an inner and an outer case. Occasionally during the winter months on fine days I open the entrances wider, but close them again before nightfall. I substitute flannel for the American cloth quilts, for the latter decidedly produces damp. — A Sussex Kecioh. [When using American quilts wider enhances are necessary than when stocks are covered with porous quilts. See 'Useful Hints' on Winter Preparation. — Ed.] only; a suggestion. [1819.1 Yes, Mr. Editor, I own up at once it is only a suggestion. But let us note here that all advances in bee-keeping were made through either accident or ex- periment ; and what is experiment but, theoretical sug- gestions put into practice!- So applying the principle of division of labour, I will make the suggestion, and the readers of the Journal can put it into practice, if they like. It is a plan for making fast or slow feeders in which sugar and water can be used without boiling, and (here's the difference) inverted over feed-hole, its ad- vantages will be (a leetle too early to mention them, perhaps) existing feeders can be used with slight modifi- cation, and large live to thirty pound rapid feeders could be made cheaper and better than the well-known ones of Mr. Simmins. Now what prevents us from putting our pound of sugar and half pint of water, more or less, into the ordinary bottle feeder and inverting it at once ? The result would be that the sugar would settle at the bottom, and, by clogging up the holes, prevent the air from rising, and no air-bubbles rising means no syrup dropping into the throats of the tiny workers. Clearly we have to provide something to allow the air-bubbles to rise freely, and also for the thickest parts of the syrup to fall to the bottom ready for use. This can be done by affixing a piece of perforated tin or zinc in the form of a cone inside the perforated cap of the ordinary bottle feeder, taking care that the base covers all the perforations in the cap and the apex, or point reaches about two thirds the inside height of the buttle. n r Section of Bottle. Usual Cap. Improved Cap. (Dotted lines represent perforated zinc.) To use : Put in sugar and water to match, place the cap in position and invert, and the thing is done — no boiling, no syrup spilled, and the index can be set to the number of holes required. By making a large bottle- shape part of tin, feeders to hold ten or thirty pounds could be produced to sell at Is. iid., and for rapid feeding with unboiled syrup wotdd be superior to others, inas- much as the food is brought directly over the cluster. — Honeysuckle. 480 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 27, 1888. FAST FEEDER. [1820.] Many thanks are due to you for the plain direc- tions (page 445, Sept. 13) for making a Fast Feeder. I set to work lief ore breakfast the next day, and made one. It beats all I have used. Having a 'plough,' I groove the bottoms in, leaving the bee-space. Many, like myself, in out-of-the-way country places, will find some difficulty in getting ^-in. stuff' for divisions, but most likely have plenty of broken or soiled sections. These answer well, either 1-lb. or 2-lb., by increasing the superficial dimensions, and decreasing the depth, and putting in a f-in. division, grooved and. slotted at the bottom thus: — - Entrance slot. Entrance slot. I stop my joints with 'patent knotting' instead of wax, and also dress the wood floats of some old-fashioned round tin feeders with the same, on both sides, which prevents their getting saturated with syrup. — W. E. BuilKITT. EXPERIENCE IN SOMERSET. [1821.] I have been very much interested and in- structed in reading the experience of some of your correspondents which have appeared in the Journal from time to time, and finding you have not many correspon- dents in Somerset, I thought it may prove interesting, if not instructive, to some of your readers if I gave my experience. Four years since a friend presented me with a swarm of bees, which induced me to become an apiarian ; and though I have not found it a very profitable business, I have gained experience which hitherto had been my object, and which, I believe, will enable me to make it profitable in the future. I commenced this year to get an apiary with as little cost as possible. In May I got my first swarm from an oak-tree in the little village of Compton. A friend, Robert Syms, and myself, arrived about eleven o'clock. After cut- ting the entrance about ten inches square with hammer and chisel, and after giving them plenty of smoke, and getting plenty of stings in return, I was enabled to take out the combs after cutting them in the centre. I found it impos- sible to take them out whole. There were six in number, some of which were two feet long, the shape of a shield, which was the shape of the tree inside. I fastened the best of the combs into a straw hive, then put the hive near the entrance, and commenced to smoke the bees out of the tree. They came out, but refused to enter the hive, but clung to the trunk of the tree. After waiting some time, my friend called my attention to a small cluster of bees on a spray about four yards from the tree, which turned out to contain the queen. I placed her against the hive ; she walked in and all the bees followed suit. In about half-an-hour I was on my way home with a very strong colony, which I put into a bar-frame hive on foundation. In this village there are many bee-keepers of the old school, who have committed hundreds of colo- nies to the brimstone pit. So in the spring of this year I went round to a few of them and induced them to allow me to drive a colony, for which I paid Is. per colony. I commenced the first three colonies in August following on a very cold day. I went without my smoker, and my villagers won't very soon forget it. They were close against the highway ; they were so vicious that they stung all who came in contact with them. A family of tramps came by, seven in number, every one of whom was badly stung. My friend had to go after them and take the sting out of the lady's hair. An old man came by with his donkey and cart, and the bees stung the donkey on the nose. The donkey ran backwards into the ditch, and there he stopped, rubbing his nose on the ground, until he was lifted, out. Even the cat had to run for her very life. However, I succeeded in bringing away three good colonies. The following week I went to a farmer and drove five lots out of fifteen ; these I drove the proper way, profiting by my experience the previous week. I had very little trouble, as we drove the five in little more than an hour. The farmer had very little knowledge of bee-keeping, his bees are allowed to rob and fight as they please : dead bees were to be seen in every quarter. I went the fol- lowing week and drove the remainder, and had them all placed in bar-frame hives. I have driven bees three years, but I have never seen such a scarcity of honey as this year. I don't think they average more than two pounds each ; hence, Mr. Editor, as you have told us, [ hundreds of colonies belonging to cottagers must die this winter, for feeding is a practice country bee-keepers have very little knowledge of. My friend lives in this village, and I have instructed him, to the best of my ability, to keep bees in bar-frame hives ; he has two very good colonies for the coming year, so I hope there will not be many more committed to the pit in this village. If not troubling you, I should like to say a few words to those who, like myself, wish to make bee-keeping profitable without purchasing expensive boxes. I may sav my boxes are made in the following manner : — I get emptv boxes from the grocers, not larger than two feet each way. I make them water-tight by tinning the corners and well painting all over. I then have a make- shift, of my own making, without top or bottom, that will hold ten of Abbott's patent frames and dummy- board. This I place in the bottom of the box close against the entrance, so that I have two or three inches between the makeshift and sides of box to fill up to keep them warm in winter if necessary. In the spring I can lift out the makeshift, so called, and clean out the box with very little trouble. The bottom of the box must be very plain. Then, with a good quilt, it is impossible for the bees to get out of the inner box. These can be worked on almost any principle. With the outlay of a few pounds I shall be able to establish a small apiary containing ten or twelve colonies for the coming year. To allow foundation to hang clear of the bottom bar, so that the bees can build a little drone-comb, I had to cut a strip of emery cloth. What reason can be assigned for not making it the exact size, not to have any waste ? — John Browning, Street, Somerset. AN AMATEUR'S EXPERIENCE WITH A NEW FEEDER. [1822.] Having to give my seven strong stocks of bees 20 lbs. of sugar each, I decided to 'go in for 'a rapid feeder. Accordingly I found as I thought just what I required advertised in the Bee Journal, price Is. Gd. From the drawing or illustration of it, it appeared to me to be almost or quite large enough to cover the tops of the frames. To my surprise when it arrived I found that it only held three pints of liquid, and this ran out again almost as fast as 1 had poured it in. So I then ' ran ' some melted glue all round the bottom and corners inside, and, as I thought, made it waterproof. Great was my horror, however, when, after placing the feeder on a hive, and pouring in some warm syrup, to find that it all ran through, drowning the bees September 27, 1888.]] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 481 and half spoiling the colony. I have now poured melted pitch round the inside, and it ' holds ' at las some . pitcn rouna me msiue, auu u - noius ai last. I was obliged, moreover, to make a fresh lid, with a hole in the centre, covered with perforated zinc, through which to pour fresh supplies, as the glass sliding lid let every bee out directly on being opened. I have now made a feeder of my own invention. It is 17 x 15 x 5j inches deep, and holds 20 lbs. of sugar. I rind 10 pints of water and -'0 lbs. of sugar when boiled up only measure 20 pints. I use a little salt, but «o vinegar, and my syrup never candies, provided that it is not boiled for more than three or five minutes. The bees will take down the 20 pints (it weighs 30 lbs.) in forty-eight hours. I find the best thing in which to boil 10 lbs. of sugar and 5 pints of water is an ordinary large tea-kettle. It boils quicker than in a saucepan. The cottagers' bees in this district are dead or dying. I fear there will be few straw skeppists around here next season. — Apiarist, Fairspeir Hume, Ascott-sub- Wych- wood, Oxford, September 22nd. ANOTHER MINOROAN QUEEN.' [1823.] On Monday last, the 10th inst., I received a letter from Mr. F. 0. Andreu, Minorca, accompanied by a small boz, or cage, containing a Minorcan queen. On opening the cage I found all its inmates as black as Mr. Abbott has already described them, and as lively as crickets. I soon had a stock of Carniolans ready for her, and placed her majesty therein. To-day I opened hive and found she had begun to lay in two combs. I noticed she was exceedingly lively, and, by what she has done already, should say she is very prolific. As I have Carniolan drones still Hying, I have inserted one of the frames containing Minorcan eggs in the bive where the drones are, and trust I shall (if weather is favourable) get some young queens mated to Carniolan drones. I have just got some bees hatched, the progeny of a Carniolan queen mated to a Ligurian drone, and like them very much for activity. Have any of your readers any experience of this cross ? if so, will they say how they like them ? — C. Howes, Cot tiny/tarn, Sept. 13. SUGGESTION FOR SCHEDULES. [1824.] I see by your last issue that the schedules for next year are under consideration. On looking over the prize lists of this season's shows, it has struck me whether the British Bee-keepers' Association would not give more encouragement than hitherto to the exhibition of articles in which the products of the apiary are used, not con- fiuing it to food, drinks, and medicines, but leaving it open to include all things, by offering medals and yood prizes (?), and allowing the names of the articles to appear on them p I take it for granted that steps will be taken to prevent for the future a person exhibiting a collection of goods in his own name articles made by others, which I am told was the case at one of the large shows during the past season. — W. E. Burkitt, Butter- mere Mectory, Hunyerford, September 2ith. WASPS, &c. [1825.] During the month of August a neighbour of mine told me that the wasps had taken possession of a bee skep in which was placed in 1887 a strong swarm of bees, and that the wasps were very strong in numbers ; and he wanted it taken, but was timid of them. So I went at dinner-time one day to take observations for destroying them the same night, and I then noticed what I considered very strange behaviour on the part of the wasps, namely, that there were three wasps fanning or ventilating the hive with their heads away from, and their tails to, the hive, which is just the opposite to the bees when fanning, as their head is to the hive. The wasps had cut two extra holes for entrance or exit, and the fanning was going on on the south-west side of the hive. 1 should like to know if any of your subscribers have noticed anything of the kind at any time. I stopped the two side entrances with wet mortar, and about eight o'clock that same night I had a piece of brown paper dipped in sulphur and brought it lighted quickly to the front hole, and I believe killed every wasp in the skep. I then lighted the skep and found "it full of wasp-comb, with brood in all stages. Many of the grubs not sealed over were not killed by the fumes of sulphur, which seems very extraordinary considering all the matured wasps were; and what also seems so very strange (considering the delicate nature of the bee grub), these wasp grubs lived out-of-doors, ex- posed to the cold nights, unprotected for a fortnight, until they were drowned with the rain. Our secretary, Major Fair, can vouch for the correctness of my state- ment, as I took the skep up to show him the next night, after destroying the wasps, and gave him one comb, and he kept it until the rain destroyed the grubs. And another thing that seems singular was that you could have seen them continually opening their mouths for food for at least a fortnight after being exposed. I do not know how other districts fare for a secretary, but I am happy to say that Teddiugton has one in Major Fair second to none for a fraternity of spirit in everything pertaining to bee-keeping. If I notice anything about bees that I do not understand, I have the privilege to go to him at any time, and I always receive a warm welcome and every benefit he can give me.— W, D. Marlow, Teddinyton. [Both wasps and hornets 'fan' at the entrance to their nests during very hot weather. We have frequently seen them do this, tail to nest. Tenacity <>f life in wasp larvae. — As a boy we have frequently tried to destroy wasp larvas with sulphur and exposure, but only when we put them in the oven, in order to prepare them as fish-bait, were we successful in destroying their vitality and stopping their always gaping mouths. We are pleased to hear that you have so indefatigable a local secretary. — Ed.] €tym ixam % |3tbcs, Romford, Sept. 20th. — Echoes from the hives have grated roughly on the ear this season. But I am pleased to find exceptions. In June I cut out the crowns of two of.the old cone skeps and put on a super skep. Four weeks ago I looked for the honey. Two or three small pieces of comb quite empty. Fortunately I did not take them off as many others did. September 10th went to take off supers, and found one nearly full of delicious honey. All the skeps (four) had filled up well during the last three weeks, from whence I know not. — W. Loveday. Evesham, September 23rd. — This season has been the worst ever experienced in this county, and unless bees are fed liberally and at once there will be a great scarcity of stocks next spring, especially if that spring should be a cold and prolonged one. Nearly all the swarms about here that were not fed have perished, — A. II. Martin, Son, Sec. Worcestershire B.K.A. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS. R. de S. — 1. Introduciny Queen. — Under the circum- stances your proposed plan is the best. Keep her without food for thirty minutes before introduction. 2. Feeding. — You should give each stock at least 30 lbs. of syrup to store for winter use. We have no notes at hand to refer to as to the loss by evaporation of syrup during storing. ' 3. Winter Passayes. — We prefer them through all combs about the size of a shilling. 4. Diseased Bees. — These should be burnt at once. 482 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [September 27, 1888. R.W. — 1. Suspicious Comb. — Not foul brood. 2. Brood- less Hives. — We should think there is a queen, but, owing to the very little honey about, that she is not laying now. There ought certainly to be at least a small patch of brood. J. 0., Wultham. — 1. Inverted Combs. — The honey will be stored always at the top. The queen will breed as well, no matter which way up. The disadvantage of rever- sible frames is that there is a deal of trouble involved with no return for same. 2. Distance of Bee-space between Combs. — In early spring the colony increases more rapidly by contracting the bee-space. In hot weather the natural spacing is the best. 3. Size of Brood Chamber for Tiering Hives, — 14j- inch by 18 inch. 4. Number of Backs to use in one Hive. — In your district two would be ample. 5. Distance be- tween Hives! — Six feet. 0. Remedy for Stings. — • Wear a veil, and get used to the stings on your hands. The more you receive the less will the effects be felt, until at last you will scarcely notice a single sting. II.Marrs. — Drones Flying.— Youhaveanunimpregnated queen in the hive. You must supersede her or unite the colony to another, destroying the virgin queen. II. A. Edmondson. — Condemned Bees. — They are bees driven from straw skeps or boxes from which the combs and honey are taken. These, if not for the intervention of the modern bee-keeper, would be ' con- demned ' to die — by sulphur. G. S. — Queen Cells. — The bees are not preparing for swarming. We should judge that the queen has been killed ; this frequently takes place in autumn if the bees are disturbed too much by over-manipulation. A too free use of the smoker will cause the queen to be ' balled.' All manipulations in autumn should be conducted as quietly as possible, and always of an evening. Strange bees entering a hive during manipu- lation is a frequent cause of ' balling ' the queen. Apis Mellifica. — For Leeds consult Mr. Grimshaw, Ilorsforth, near Leeds ; for York, Mr. C. A. Atkinson, Tockwith, near York. A. W. F. — Ichneumon Rupee. — You are quite right in supposing that this is an instance of the destruction of some coleopterous larva by those of a species of ichneumon. Identification of the particular species is, however, scarcely possible under existing conditions. Of the larva which has been eaten out, nothing re- mains but portions of the desiccated skin; and so far as can be made out from examination of the mandibles, legs, and spiracles, it would appear to have been that of a cockchafer (Melolontha vulgaris). ,The young ichneumons are in the pupa condition, but approach- ing maturity — most of them being still alive; but until they emerge from the membranous cases in which each one is separately enclosed, the species cannot be determined with any certainty. Inquirer. — There are no signs of foul brood in the piece of comb, but the number of pellicles in each cell are so numerous that there was not sufficient room for the development of the bees. D. C. — A Barren Queen. — A dissection of this queen shows that the ovaries are in perfect condition, and that the tubes are, in all cases, full of ova, so that you are no doubt correct in supposing that no eggs were laid. The spermatheca was tilled with spermatozoa, all in perfect condition, rendering it a matter of certainty that fertilisation had taken place. It is therefore somewhat a subject of conjecture as to why this queen failed to lay eggs, seeing that all the conditions as revealed by microscopic examinations are favour- able. Probably it might have been injured slightly by pressure from incautious handling. Holder. — 1. She of Queen. — Insects are of their full natural size when hatched out from the Chrysalis, and do not grow like animals, but there is an exception as regards the mother insects, they become more rotund and distended in the abdomen. You will find a fertile queen is shorter and thinner when no breeding is going on than at other times. 2. Food for Queen. — Your plan is novel, and certainly a good one. You would find a paste of sugar and honey do very well. J. H. P. — Phenolated Syrup. — Try filling an empty comb with your syrup. You can drive it into the cells with a syringe, then put this comb right in the centre of the brood-nest. The bees will store it, and in about two days repeat the operation, and so on till you have at least five or six frames filled and sealed. W. Ord. — 1. Condemned Bees, — The small proportion of unsealed syrup will not hurt. They will require some immediate food, and will use what remains un- capped. 2. Packing — This should be done as early as feeding can be dispensed with. Glad to learn you are successfully advising your neighbours. F. Goldsmith. — It would take about 18A pounds of sugar to make 25 pounds of syrup. Correction. — No. 1313, p. 470, lino 17, for 9 inches each lift, read 9 in each lift. ^Business ^©irectory. *-*-* HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leioester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B„ Binfield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Boad, Beading. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin, Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Edev & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough, Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Simmins' Bee Company, Limtd., Bottingdean, near Brighton. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stbangewats' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 328. Vol. XVI.] OCTOBER 4, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (^tutorial, Uotircs, #c. BEE-KEEPING AS A HOBBY. As a people, we have been characterised as a nation of shop-keepers, and there is much truth in the taunt, for very few among us take up anything without being fully satisfied, in our own mind, that we have carefully calculated the cost and the profit, and thus become fully assured that it will pay. Who among us has not heard, and perhaps assisted with, calculations as to the profits of poultry- keeping, rabbit-rearing, dogs, canaries, et hoc genus omne ? Although we each and all consider we are keeping these various kinds of live-stock on purely business terms, and for profit only, we are sadly mistaken. There is some hidden mystery about this desire to have and keep things which are all one's own. No sooner is a child able to talk than it appropriates a kitten, for which the child will almost sacrifice itself if need be, and then, as years roll by, the desire expands till nearly every possible living thiug has been kept and petted. Never mind if the eggs cost a shilling each to produce, or the rabbits about four times as much as they could have been purchased for, a certain satisfaction has been the result of our trouble, and we rest satisfied. Bees are, in our opinion, one of the best of subjects for ' hobbists,' and we claim to have kept nearly everything that can be kept. First, as to the £ s. d. question. If judiciously managed, and we can only have sense enough to avoid fads, they will, taking the cost and produce of, say, ten years, show a good balance on the right side of the account, and this to a greater extent than the majority of hobbies. Secondly, as to trouble. No stock can be cared for with as little trouble during a year as our bees. In most summers we should require to do very little to them, and from October to March nothing except watch that the doorway does not get blocked with snow. As to the interesting problems of bee-life, there is nothing so fascinating and instructive, whether considered only as an evidence of the peculiar manner in which an insect can obtain its living, or, if more deeply studied, as an exemplification of a wise and far- seeing Providence, guiding and directing our bees that they shall, while in search of their necessary sustenance, be the means of increasing our food at the same time by fertilisation of the fruit-blooms of our gardens and orchards. This fact of the in- creased crops of fruit, which really does arise from the labours of the bees, should be considered as an item of profit arising from their care and protection. In our opinioD, no garden in country districts should be without at least one stock of bees. So far as the supply is concerned, there is nothing to prevent honey of the finest quality being as plentiful as the typical 'blackberries' if we will only keep bees everywhere so that the delicious nectar may be gathered and stored instead of being wasted as at present. Bad seasons like the present must of necessity be encountered, but the good seasons must be borne in mind, when every blossom is a small honey factory, and only our little friends are necessary in order to obtain this sweetness for ourselves. Hobbies inculcate patience, forbearance, and forethought. Let either of these three qualities be wanting in the ' hobbist,' and he cannot be successful. This fact alone should go far to soften parents' hearts to deal kindly with the peculiar tastes of their olive-branches. We would especially urge that bees are especially fitted to bring out the three qualities named to perhaps a greater degree than any other pets we know. We can picture to ourselves the sorry figure an impatient bee-keeper would cut after opening his hive and exhibiting his temper to his bees ; they would teach him more in five minutes than he would have credited if a fricud had lectured him for an hour on his foiling. And we venture to think that ere long they would cause his impatience to be a thing of the past. For teaching forbearance, bees are pre-eminent. Nothing we have ever seen so soon resents a rebuff, while at the same time docility is their dominant characteristic when properly treated. Forethought must be exercised with bees, for unless the proper action is taken quite by the proper time, disaster will surely follow. We are firmly convinced in our own mind that as a nation we should be more respected among the nations of the world if we could make these three qualities the guiding rule of our fellow- countrymen generally. For this reason we urge upon all, and especially upon our clergymen and schoolmasters, to deeply consider the national good 48 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [October 4, 1888. they can secure by so directing the inherent taste for hobbies that even the poorest and most ignorant in the laud that they shall, while gratifying their personal pleasure, be imbibing such moral principles as shall make them individually better husbands, neighbours, and citizens. A REPORT OF SOME EXPERIMENTS IN APICULTURE. To the Commissioners of Agiucdi/ture. By N. W. M'Lain. {Continued from page 4/7.) The Control of Reproduction. In order that the laws of heredity and the active principles of selection may be practically and persistently applied in the breeding of bees, I have, in obedience to your instructions, continued my experiments, striving to discover a simple and practical method for securing control of the natural process of reproduction. I devised and constructed a fixture, which I call a fertilising cage, 22 feet square and 26 feet high. Select- ing a level plot of ground, I set four rows of posts, four posts in each row, forming a quadrangle. These posts are 4 inches square and 30 feet in length, set into the ground 4 feet, and exactly 7 feet apart. Four rows of girders, 2 by 4 inches by 22 feet by 4 inches, are halved in two and bolted to the inside of these posts, the first row 5 feet from the ground, then three rows at intervals of 7 feet until the top is reached. The upper three lines of girders are continued from each side of each inside post, forming a brace on each side of each post at in- tervals of 7 feet, and forming the bearings for the wire- covered frames which cover the top of the cage. The space from the ground to the first girder— 5 feet— is covered with matched lumber nailed "to the outside of the posts, leaving a smooth surface on both sides. The upper 21 feet on the sides and the top of the cage are enclosed by wire-covered frames 7 feet square, bolted to the girders on the sides, and securely fastened with screws to the framework at- the top. The height of the cage is thus adjustable at 26 feet, 19 feet, or 12 feet from the ground by simply lowering the screen-frames forming the top and the upper row (or two upper rows, as the case may be) forming the sides of the enclosure, the purpose being not only to deter- mine whether queens or drones would mate in this cage at full size, but also bow small an enclosure would be sufficiently large to give suitable freedom and range of flight. These wire-covered frames are framed like a two-light window sash, with a mullion in the centre, on which the two breadths of wire-cloth meet. Strips of wood secure the edges of the cloth, and cover all joints at the sides of the frames. With the lower board of the siding settled into the ground, and earth filled against the in- side, and the door tight-fitting, the cage is bee-tight. I used drab-coloured wire-cloth, which obstructs the light but very slightly. A shelf is fitted against the four sides of the cage on the inside 1 foot from the ground, and alighting-boards directly opposite on the outside. Upon this shelf the hives are placed. Each hive has an exit cut in either end, and an exit is cut through the wall of the cage registering with the outer exit of each hive, over which, on the outside of the wall, a piece of queen-excluding zinc is nailed. These hives are painted strikingly distinguishing colours, as red, white, blue, green, yellow, and black, and a space opposite each on the alighting-boards, and a corresponding space on the outside of the wall of the cage, are painted in corresponding colours. The colours are repeated in the order named, which separates the hives of the same colour a sufficient distance to prevent confusion, and the bees and queens readily distinguish their own hive by means of colour as readily as by location. If the inner exit be left closed for a day or two after a colony is placed in a cage, the worker-bees readily learn to enter their own hive upon returning from the fields. I found that the queens had no difficulty on re- turning to their own hives after taking flight in the cage. To test that fact I frequently opened a number of hives in succession, and, placing the queens upon the palm of my hand, tossed them high in the air, when they would take wing and fly away. Upon reopening the hives a few minutes later, they would be found upon the combs. The queens and drones appeared to fly and disport themselves with as much freedom and regularity in the cage as they did in the apiary outside. The virgin queens were introduced from the nursery by various methods. Some were hatched in colonies in the cage from cells matured in strong queenless colonies, and some from cells built under the swarming impulse, which this season could be produced by artificial means only. Mature drones were selected from the hives in the apiary, and also from those returning from their excursions and liberated in the cage, and sealed drone-brood was removed from the hives in the apiary and hatched in strong colonies built up in large hives in the cage, and these drones all flew with freedom and regularity. A few times I observed a queen embrace a drone and fly all about the cage with entire freedom, and then, the embrace being broken, each flew away in different direc- tions, the queens returning to their hives, and the drones at once rejoined their fellows in the upper part of the cage. It is needless to add that in such cases no accouple- ment had taken place. The results realised from this line of experimental work have been so meagre, and the circumstances at- tending the experiments so unexceptionally unfavourable, that it is not easy to form an estimate of their value, or determine their significance. Of the many scores of trials made but six were successful, but six queens were fecundated in the fertilising cage. However, as the im- provement of the bee to the highest attainable excellence outranks all other considerations in practical importance and scientific interest, the methods and results of any intelligently conducted experiments having this end in view are well worth placing on record. Besides, future trials may receive direction from a multitude of failures, and the trying experience of the past season is not with- out compensating features, for even the little grains we make in positive knowledge, although apparently trifling in themselves have often significant meaning and broad bearing on questions of great value and importance. My experience and observation lead me to believe that the main reason why this experiment, was not satisfac- torily successful was because of the protracted drouth and high temperature which lasted through the entire breed- ing season, the like of which has not before been known in this region. From May 1885 until December 1887 drouth prevailed, broken only at long intervals by light showers. The succession of two summers of excessive heat and unbroken drouth ensured disaster to the present season, cumulative in kind and intensified in degree. Continuous feeding has been required to keep up breeding and to prevent starvation. Whenever feeding was suspended for two or three days, throughout nearly the entire season, oviposition would cease, and the bees ate their eggs, and it has re- quired persistent trials and careful management to rear drones and keep them alive. It has been difficult to get three or four queen-cells matured in colonies such as in ordinary seasons would rear from twenty-five to forty, and of those permitted to remain outside in the apiary and seek a mate at will, two of every three failed of fecundation. During the entire season a large majority of the larval October 4, 1888.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL 485 queens being insufficiently fed, died in the cell, and when for days and weeks together the temperature ranged from 110° to 120° Fahr., in the suu during several hours each day the pap-food would ferment and turn a dark amber colour and dry up to the consistency of thick glue at the bottom of the cells with the dead pupae. When the temperature ranged from 100° to 110" Fahr., is the sun, the average temperature in the hive was from 5° to 2° higher until 112° was reached. Then, when the range in the sun was from 110° to 125° the temperature did not go above 112" in the hive. The fanners were able to prevent the temperature rising above 112° in the hives standing in the suu with a shade-board above the hive cover. The worker larvae seem to be able to endure a higher temperature than queen larvae. This season, as a rule, the drones were much smaller than drones from the same ancestors in the summers of 1885 and 18SG, and there was a great inequality in the size of the drones and queens of the same parentage, and reared at the same time in the same hive, and a very un- usual proportion of the queens were deformed and unable to fly. Continued observation and experiment furnish corro- borative evidence of the correctness of the theory ad- vanced in my last annual report, namely, that drone bees differ in degrees of procreativeness, properly classi- fied as the impotent, the conditionally potent, and the potent ; and that it is the prerogative of the worker-bees to determine the degree of development, and dominate the function of the drones as they determine the kind and degree of development of instinct and organism, and dominate the functions of the queen. The volition of the queen determines the sex of every one of her descendants ; but the life of every individual, as well as the modifications in organism and instinct, depends upon and receives its direction from the worker bees, whose unerring prescience forbids the rearing or maintaining of individuals for whose services there exists no present or prospective demand. It is only when this keen apprehension of the present and prospec- tive conditions of environment indicates a necessity for rearing and maturing potent or potentially potent in- dividuals that such are reared, and matured, and fur- nished, for the functions they are to perform. Under circumstances unfavourable in the extreme, a condition of seeming prosperity may be artificially pro- duced, and drones numerically plentiful may be reared and preserved alive. It has taxed my skill and patience to the last degree during the past season to do this. I resorted to every stratagem I could devise to secure a supply of mature drones, but in most cases the workers were either unable or unwilling to supply the drone larva; with food suitable in kind and quantity, for a large proportion of the drones were dwarfed. Dissection showed the sex organs of this sort to be inferior in size, dry, and empty. Not one drone in one hundred of those which were fully developed, when held by the legs or wings, or when pressed upon the thorax, were able to perform the expulsion act, and the sex organs of such, with rare ex- ception, contained notliing but a little clear, thin mucus. I have, during the past season, at various times, examined the contents of the sex organs from scores of drones well developed and structurally perfect of the class which I believe to be potentially potent, in which I have not been able to discover active sperma- tozoa, nor was the mucous secretion present of that colour and consistency which I believe to be the product of special feeding, and indispensable to sexual desire, and for liberating and floating the spermatozoa into the spermatheca. Without wishing to appear dogmatic, after another season exceptionally favourable for such observation and experience as has furnished more complete data and corroborative evidence, I venture to reassert my belief as set forth substantially in my last annual report, that the preparation for and exercise of the reproductive faculty in drone bees, as well as in queens, depends upon and is determined by the workers. As with the queen, so with the drone, desire and capacity wait upon the will and resources of the workers. As the queen must be bountifully supplied with egg- food before the egg-cells begin to germinate and mature in the ovaries, so I believe the drone must be well supplied with that special food suited and intended to produce the desire and capacity for performing the act of copulation, the giving and withholding of which is instinctively determined by the worker bees, as the present and prospective condition demands. Throughout the past season of extreme heat and pro- tracted drouth there was almost a total failure of all natural resources, and all th ; influences of nature to which bees are subject, warned them that there was no actual necessity for feeding and maturing drones, and that the abundance and prosperity with which I had supplied thrin were artificial and deceptive. In the impoteney of the drones, almost universally prevalent, I find the reason for the almost total failure of this experiment. The fact that both drones and queens flew with freedom and regularity in the cage, and the fact that in a few cases queens were successfully mated in the cage when but few were successfully mated outside, leads me to believe that under favourable con- ditions satisfactory success may be expected. Experi- ments in breeding bees during the prevalence of such climatic conditions as those of the past season, are at- . tended with hindrances which I have not been able to overcome. My experience and observation have suggested some changes in the size, shape, and manner of constructing the cage which I believe would be an improvement. If, under favourable circumstances, the control of the process of reproduction can be secured by the use of a device permanent in kind, and of moderate cost, then every queen-breeder and progressive bee- keeper may apply the laws of heredity, and the prin- ciples of selection to the breeding of bees with assurance of realising residts alike in kind and degree to those which have by the persistent application of the same laws and principles been realised in breeding all kinds of domestic animals. I have, by establishing mating stations in localities remote from other bees, secured the mating of queens and drones selected on account of their excellent paternity and perfect development. I controlled the flight of the different varieties by the use of queen-excluding zinc. By crossing selected individuals of different varieties, and by mating selected bees of the same variety avoided in breeding, I have laid the foundation for some ancestral stock of superior excellence. This kind of work requires much patience and persistence during such a season as that just ended. I have begun many other experiments, many of which failed, and others, lacking in completion, require no mention here. — American Bee Journal. ALBUKY HEATH. A Phose Poem. A rising stretch of lilac-tinted heather touching the near sky — in shape, a shallow oblong basin dipping towards the east— and up the northern slope, and up the southern slope, lilac and green, bracken and heather mixed. And from my feet up to the western brow (touched by the near sky), lilac and green, bracken and heather mixed. I turn a half-turn to the right and see the tops of trees breaking the sky-line ; then to the left-about, and there a chimney-stack pierces the blue. And that is all. Again I face the west, and down this shallow basin 486 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [October 4, 1888. streams the sunlight, smiting me fervently abreast, and pouring fast on either side its soundless waves. And then my spirit yearns. But what beyond — the sea ? Methiuks I hear its roar ! Patience, my soul : no sea is there. A forest ? I hear the sough of pines ! Patience, my soul, come up with me and see ; walk up this tilted hollow to the brow The sky has fled ; and high, aloof from human com- pany, gathers a sullen frown far in the south. Bat, oh, the view, the view, the view ! How it has spread and beautified itself. The trees (seen from below) have ranged themselves stately and tall beside the Queen's highway; girt at their feet by a ring-fence of oak ; and they in turn girding a park wherein are statelier trees : old rough- limbed chestnuts, tempest-broken ; oaks of another cen- tury ; rounded beeches ; pyramidal firs ; and a dense coppice of the silver birch. And what a landscape ! Hillock and hollow, copse and spreading downs ; yonder a range of common land capped by a windmill ; and there the fir-clad hills of Holmbury and Leith ; and nearer, verdant meadows; cornfields thickly sheaved — a diaper of green and gold, 1 pasture and cereal. Down where the heath slopes suddenly away, a house of ruddy brick peers o'er its rim ; and roofs of cottages, low-lying, humbly in the vale ; thin-scattered, near and far, houses of finer calibre rise midst umbrageous trees ; and as I gaze, a headlong train drives madly through the scene. Close at my hand a group of meek-eyed cows munch dreamily — dappled and red and milky-white, en;ouched upon the lilac-tinted heather. The fitful buzz of honey-sucking bee, and the strong fragrance of the bruised fern, delight the senses ; and as my eye roams o'er the sombre woods and lights upon 'St. Martha's' on the distant hill, and »jes the o'er- hanging sun shedding his gold, ray soul says, quietly, — ' Half -wilderness, but Paradise.' — W. Hollier, Dorking. Jforciigir. GERMANY. The bee-papers of America tell us of a cold and back- ward spring in America, and I must confess it was no better in Germany. In spite of this we had, however, in some sections of our country, some swarms in the month of May. This was the case where the bilberry abounded in our forests, and rape bloomed in the spring. My bees had only a few days of fine weather to frequent this honey source, but I do not need to do any spring feeding. The old saying of bee-keepers here is true : ' One drop of fresh honey that the bees carry into their entrance is of greater benefit to them than three times as much as one feeds them.' Kape is always the best honey source in early spring I know of. The only draw- back with it is that the weather is seldom favourable when it is in full bloom. But only a few days of good flight, and all is well. Where the weather has been favourable when the rape was in bloom, I have ex- tracted at this time, in April or May, from one of the best colonies, some ten or more pounds of honey. That is necessary, as otherwise the queen will not have, in such colonies, enough cells to deposit her eggs, and the swarms will be very small, or there will be no swarms at all. As the rape will thrive only on good loamy soil, lt cannot be cultivated everywhere. But as the benefit of rape honey is so great, some bee-keepers of Germany take care to bring their bees near a rape-field. At least, I do it. Thus I wandered with my colonies this spring eight miles from here to the south ; and as the rape bloom was over, I brought my bees eight miles from Wilsnack to the north, where white clover, locust, and linden abound. At the end of July, or in the beginning of August, I bring my bees to the heath. You see, dear friends, I am a wanderer; but I should not have had any honey-yield, as so many bee-keepers of Germany have had who do not wander. I have some colonies here in Wilsnack, but they have no honey to extract, while they live only from hand to mouth. It is curious, that in sjme sections of German}' there was a great hone3'-flow, and in some others the bees got nothing. Sometimes we have had some very fine days for the bees to work ; but we have had rain, wind, cold weather, and the moun- tains decked with snaw. If the weather should be favourable in the months of August and September, I hope we shall have a good crop from buckwheat and heather. The latter is to-day as brilliant as it can be ; but it is a pity that the heather honey cannot be extracted. For comb honey we have no market; at least, it does not pay to sell to such as we have. Extracted honey, by tlie way, we have a very good demand for. We call it 'slung honey ' (Schleuder Honiy). It sells from 18 to 25 cents, and comb honey from the heather will sell in good years from 12 to 16 cents. You see how favour- able it is for the German bje-keepers to sell extracted honey. One year I thought I ould sell comb-honey in sections. I got .500 nicely filled sections, and my heart was proud when I saw my riches. The year before I had made a trip to England, and saw at Kensington the beautiful comb-honey exhibited. No doubt, I thought, it will pay to sell such beautiful ' delicatesses.' Well, I sent samples of my honey to all the dealers I know ; but they would pay only 12 to 15 cents for a pound of the finest locust and linden honey, while I got 25 cents for slung honey. ' Please, Mr. Gravenhorst,' said a customer, one day, ' would you not be so good as to take the honey out of that frame ? I like it better without it.' What could I do but cut the honeycomb out of the frames ? I sold nearly 200 sections ; the others (300) I have extracted, and since this time I have run my apiary for slung honey. You will, of course, have observed that the bees build their combs, when let alone, so that one angle of their cells is at the top and one at the bottom. I was ever of opinion that this position would give the comb greater solidity than when the cells have a broadside at top and on the bottom. The most of our foundation manufac- turers work their foundation in such a way that it can be fastened in the frames with one side of a cell at the top. What do you say to this ? — C. J. H. Graven- houst, Wilsnack, July 2-ilh (American Gleanings). AMERICA. Professor A. J. Cook. The well-known initials, ' A. J. C.,' stand for Albert J. Cook. He is a native of the State in which he resides, having been born at Owosso, Mich., August 30th, 1842. That makes him 46, but he hardly looks it. His parer.ts were Christians to the core ; and the daily reading of the Scripture to which young Albert listened, with com- ments by his father, was reinforced by a daily example which tallied well with the teachings he had heard, lie was by no means rugged in health as a child, and his poor health caused him one of the sharpest disappoint- ments of his life, when he was obliged to lay his studies aside for a year during his college course. Entering Michigan Agricultural College at 15, he graduated at October 4, 1888. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 487 20, and, on account of his health, went at once to California, where for three years he was a very successful teacher. Returning, he spent a portion of two years at Harvard University and Harvard Medical College, with Agassiz, Hazen, and Dr. O. W. Holmes, as teachers. In 1800 he was appointed instructor in Michigan Agricul- tural College, and Professor of Entomology and Zoology in 18GS. He teaches the seniors and juniors, his classes ranging from thirty to forty. Each student who gradu- ates not only studies all about the structure of the bee as an entomologist, but is drilled as a practical bee- keeper, going through the various operations of the season, finding queens, putting together sections, putting in foundation, putting them on and taking them off the hives, extracting, &e. I do not know of any other in- stitution in the world where classes of students are taught in this way. The personal influence of such a man as Professor Cook is no mean factor in the education of a young man; and a special feature in Professor Cook's work is his Bible- class of students in the Sabbath school. To this work, which has been carried on for a number of years, he has given much time and labour, and the good resulting therefrom no one can correctly compute. It is much to be regretted that the Professor's health is such that lately Ins physician has peremptorily commanded him to lay aside, at least temporarily, this important work. In this connexion I want to say that I wish every young man in the laud could have the teaching of Professor Cook's example in one respect. He is singularly pure and chaste in speech, and I do not believe he ever indulges in any word in any circle of which he would be asham.-d in the presence of the most refined ladies. Professor Cook was one of the originators of the Michigan State Bee-keepers' Association, as also of the Michigan Horticultural Society. He was on the board of the latter Society for some years, and was Secretary of the former for several years during its earlier history, and afterward President for some years. His personal influence has doubtless had much "to do with placing Michigan in the foreground in apicultural matters. To the readers of bee-journals it is not necessary to speak of Professor Cook's character as a writer. Few have written so much or so well. Besides his contri- butions to the bee-journals, he writes for the New York Tribune, Philadelphia Press, Rural New Yorker, Country Gentleman, New England Homestead, Science, American Naturalist, Sen. His Manual of the Apiary has reached a sale of 14,000 copies, Injurious Insects of Michigan .'1000, and oOOO copies have been published of his latest work, Maple Sugar and the Sugar-bush. His labours in the warfare waged against insect foes have been important. Kemedies first advised by him are now common. If I am not mistaken, we are indebted to him for the very important knowledge of Paris green as a safe and efficacious remedy for the codlin moth. As a lecturer he holds the closest attention of his audience. As a controversialist he is fair, and never forgets to be the Christian gentleman. In conversation he is a charming talker. He takes great pride in his home, and is easily forgiven for thinking that no other man has quite so nice a wife, son, and daughter, as he. Drafts are constantly being made on 1'rofessor Cook's stock of entomological knowledge in the way of giving information about enemies or suspected enemies of bees, and no mere entomologist could be of the same use to the bee-keeping fraternity as one who is also himself an enthusiastic bee-keeper. Known the world over as an entomologist and au- thority on matters scientific and practical in bee-culture, those who know him intimately will always like best to think of him as the warm-hearted, unselfish friend whose charity for all reaches almost to a fault, and whose whole life seems to be a life of Christian love. — C. C. Miller, Marengo, III. (American Gleanings). THE AFFAIRS OF A NORTH MUSKHAM MANUFACTURER. A first meeting of the creditors in the case of William Burton Baker, of North Muskham, Notts., manufacturer of apiarian appliances, under a receiving order dated August 22nd, was recently held at the offics of the Official Receiver, No. 1 High Pavement, Nottingham. In the absence of Mr. Thorpe the Deputy Official Receiver (Mr. J. YV. Jeffries) presided. — Mr. Orosvenor Hodgkin- son, of Newark, appeared for the debtor, and produced a medical certificate showing that Mr. Baker was unable to attend in consequence of illness. Creditors were represent ;d by Mr. MetCdlfe, of Southwell, and Mr. Robert White, of Newark.— Proofs having been admitted, the Deputy Official Receiver said that the debtor's state- ment of affairs was not lodged until that morning, and had not yet been sworn to. Mr. Hodgkinson had pro- duced a certificate as to the debtor's illness, which ho presumed was the cause of the delay. — Mr. Hodgkinson said that was so. He had prepared the statement from papers supplied to him by the debtor. — The Deputy Official Receiver s:iid that the gross liabilities, according to the statement, were 52H6l.Ss.1id.; the amount to rank for dividend being o047/. 8*. 2rf. That did not inelndo a claim for a large sum mule by the trustees under the marriage settlement — a claim which would require in- vestigation before being admitted for dividend. The assets as estimated by the debtor were I.o8o7. 7s. 10rf., from which would have to be deducted 04/. for prefer- eutial claims, leaving a balance of P">21/. 7*. 10rf., or a deficiency of :lo20/. 0*. id. The debtor accounted for thi' deficiency in this way. He said that his excess of liabilities on August 27th, 1887, was 24)1/. 0s. id. ; his net lo3s in carrying on bu-iness for the past year had been 600/. ; bad debts amounted to o0/., and household expenses for the year SOW. In addition to that he had paid as surety for a brother 22")/., making a total alto- gether of •'!")26/. 0«. id. There had been nothing realised from the estate at present. Th > debtor having no offer to make to his creditors had been adjudicated bankrupt, and the case being a non-summary one the estate would have to be administered by a trustee -Replying to a question, Mr. Hodgkinson said that he hoped to get the statement of affairs sworn to shortly. — Mr. Robert White was chosen as trustee, with a committee of inspection consisting of three creditors. (CaiTcsponucnrc. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions erpres&id bj his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to wiite on one side oj the paper only, and give then- real nanus and addresses, not necessanly for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Lllustrations should ■ be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, tc, must be addressed only to 'The Kditor of the "British Bee Journal," cjo Messrs. St range -eaiis and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.G.* All business communications relating to Adoertisements, Ac, must be addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts {see 2nd page of Advertisements). V In order to facilitate reference. Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. WINTER MANAGEMENT.— HIVES, &c. [1820.] I generally trouble you with a yearly letter on the above subjects, as I do not always agree with the advice of the B. B. J., which, I think, is calculated at times to rather frighten the cottager class from at- tempting bee-keeping. I get a great deal of useful information from the Journal at different times, so I am sure you will not think I am ' wise in my own conceit.' It is eleven years since I started bee-keeping,]and from owning some thirty double-walled hives 1 have not one now double-walled about the place. Why should hives for 488 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [October 4, 1888. cottagers with fixed combs be advertised in the B. B. J. on account of their cheapness, when an ordinary box of half-inch wood will winter bees without any loss whatever ? The great secret is to keep bees to not more than seven frames, and with a dummy at each side you at all events have a hive with two double walls. I only use a quilt of one thickness of ticking over frames, and three of house-flannel above that. 1 use no other packing, and have never cut a winter passage, and have never had a stock die from cold. Is not this conclusive that winter passages are unnecessary ? I believe in a small entrance, not more than 1| in. wide by fths in. high. I have only had two cases of dysentery in eleven years. One the first spring I kept bees, when I left them all the combs and packed the roof with sweet old hay, which Prevented the circulation of air over the quilt, which ay was mouldy in the spring ; and the other, two years since, from a leaky roof. They were both double-walled hives. Except in these cases I have never had a mouldy comb. I can't help thinking that the present recom- mendations of the B. B. J. read very much like the Irishman's blanket. In the first place you recommend the enamel quilt, which, you admit, causes dampness. To obviate this, you recommend the entrance to be left full width and a three-inch space under frames, and then, because, what with the damp and the draught the bees would be starved to death, you must have cushions and packing of all sorts and winter-passages. If bees are confined to a small space with no draught, they will keep the place warm and dry, but you must have a good roof, and I find none better than Simmins's. They keep any rain off the hive-sides, and shade quite two- thirds of the hive-front in summer time; they also make it unnecessary to use any special joint in storifying, and are very handy when examining supers, as they can be just tilted forward, like putting your hat over j'our eyes when you look through windows, &c. I do not also consider that a propolised quilt is non-porous. Pro- polis is a kind of gum, and certainly gum absorbs moisture. Indeed I think in this case that Nature is right, and that a propolised roof, be it of straw or any other material, causes exactly the proper amount of evaporation. I have been much delighted lately with the use of the carbolised cloth. My bees are particularly cross-grained, and it is never a special pleasure to have to manipulate them, and they show their utter contempt for Grim- shaw's Apifuge, but with the carbolised cloth they are like blue-bottle flies to handle. Another proof how useful the Journal is in disseminating valuable informa- tion, which makes one doubly regret at not being able to always agree with it. But I have yarned to the full extent of your space, Mr. Editor, even if I do only write once a-year. — Arthur J. II. Wood, Bellwood, Bipon, Sept. 27th. RAPID FEEDER. [1827.] To those who are making rapid feeders ac- cording to instructions given in B. B. J., the following few suggestions may be useful. The thin wood for the partitions, which cannot easily be procured everywhere, may be obtained by asking a grocer for small sweet boxes or candle-boxes, &c. ; these are generally about 11 or 12 inches long; the long sides will each form a partition of 8J inches in depth, and the tops and bottoms, if whole, will make to partitions. The wood is not first-class, but, if carefully used, answers the purpose, and will generally be found to measure under ^-inch in thickness. Those wishing to close up defective joints will find that glue, made by substituting hot linseed oil for the water will, if run into the joints, make them quite tight: this glue, when dry, is quite loaterproof. Another good plan is to dissolve a little bi-carbonate of potash in melted gelatine, run into the joints, and exposed to strong daylight ; this, when set, is quite insoluble even in hot wa'ter.— L. W. R. MY YEAR'S REPORT. [1828.] I admit I have not anything very grand to place before your readers, but I thought I would tell them a little of my experience in this bad year as well as in a good one. My start in the spring was with seven- teen stock*, and they all did wonderfully well through the fruit-blooming season : but when they should have been doing still much better from clover, sainfoin, borage, Nepeta Mussini, &c, the weather was so bad that the bees could not fly but very little, and when they could get out there was but very little thin and watery stuff to be got from abundance of bloom. The bees increased so fast in numbers that it was quite a job to keep pace with them. In two hives I was obliged to add frame after frame until I had increased the number up to forty, and then they were so crowded that one lot cast a very large swarm. The remainder of the stocks were either doubled or supered up to the number of from sixty-three to seventy-two 1-lb. sections, some of which were very nicely finished when I removed them on the last Saturday in August. Why I left them on so long was because I continued to hope the weather would change for the better, when I knew that the bees would do some grand work from borage, Nepeta Mussini, Chapman honey plant, &c. 1 am pleased to tell you that I got altogether 105 lbs. of extracted and 30 1-lb. sections well finished. After extracting was completed I returned empty combs, both of frames and sections, for the bees to clear out ; and when this last spell of fine weather came on Saturday, the 22nd of September, I thought I would remove the empty frames and sections from the hives, fumigate them, and store them away for the winter, when, to my surprise, I found instead* of them being cleared out, many of them had got quite a lot of fresh honey stored in them ; so of course they are still on the hives. In addition to the amount of honey I got about 28 or 29 lbs. of comb-foundation drawn out, in wired frames which I very much admire. I make all my own frames, and don't now make any with metal ends, but leave wood shoulders to the top bar, which I much prefer. About a month ago a friend of mine asked me to go and see his bees, as he wanted some honey; he had but three frame-hives and eighteen oval-top skeps. He got about twelve very fair 1-lb. sections from one frame-hive and nothing from the other two. I drove (bumped) eleven lots, which gave him about 20 lbs. of honey ; one lot was thin and starved; he has six left, but with scarcely any honey. I volunteered to feed them for him, as he knew not what to do, and I hardly knew myself, as he had nothing in the shape of feeders, and he did not like to have his hives cut. So I bought some tins, 8 inches over and 3 inches deep — I mean such as are used for baking cakes in, then got some 0 by J inch board 18 inches long, and cut a circular hole in the centre just large enough for the tin to fit into. I then got some pieces of wood 18 by 3 by J inches, and used them edgeways as ledges across the two — 18-inch pieces of board with the hole in the centre and two shorter pieces between, so as to form a box all round the tin. This was well packed with chaff so as to keep the syrup warm ; a circular piece of wood was cut and pierced with many f-inch holes, which fitted loosely to the inside of the tin: the skeps were shifted off their old stand for the moment, the new stand with the tin stood on in the place, the tin filled with syrup and the float laid on the top, then the skep was placed over the tin and float. I was very greatly surprised to find how well it answered, as the next day, when I examined them, all were empty, when they were refilled, again and again, until I considered they had quite October 4, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 489 sufficient to carry them well up to next April. This is certainly the best way that I have seen for feeding up skeps. Since then I have done the same for another, and recommend others to do so also. Just a word or two on the Chapman honey plant. This I find to be a very great favourite with the bees. I have counted as many as five bees all busily at work at one time on one bloom, and all the other blooms appeared to have one or more bees upon them at all times when the weather permitted the bees to fly ; but still its short duration is against it, as it does not last more than two weeks with me. It is a very rank grower with me ; some of the plants reach to the height of seven feet. Although I shall most likely continue to grow some, but I cannot give place to that in preference to the borage and Nepeta Mussini, as they last so long in full bloom. I see in B.B.J. for September 20th, page" 407, No. 180G, 4 Apis Hibernicus' is making inquiry as to where he can get a supply of Nepeta Mussini, and for his and others' information I have inserted in this number a last adver- tisement, as it appears that most people who required them have taken advantage of previous advertisements ; and I should like it to be understood that the reduction in price is just to clear out the stock now on hand, and I shall not be striking any more cuttings until inquiry for them. Wasps are very scarce round here ; I have not seen but a solitary one since the spring, and that one was in a church five miles from my apiary. — 0. H. W., Burham Works, Ai/les/ord, near Maidstone, Kent. THE A.15.C. Eaiily Instruction for Beginners. — Things "Worth Knowing. [182D.] ' What a beautiful piece of honey ! I wonder if it is artificial, or genuine comb-honey made by the bees.' Such remarks as this may often tie heard from those who have read a statement which has been going the rounds of the papers, that comb - honey is made by machinery entirely independent of the labour of the honey-bees. AN hen you examine the wonderful workmanship in a piece of tomb-honey and observe its great regularity, it seems that there must be some master-builder among the many thousands, whose province it is to direct the acts of the others that the work ma}' go on as one har- monious whole. But if you watch the bees at work you will see nothing of the kind. True, there is a bee called a queen, but the bees do their work without any control on her part. Bach bee seems to be working according to its own sweet will, one putting on a bit of wax, another giving it a push here, another there, aud the only wonder is, that where so little order or system ap- pears, such wondrously regular workmanship is done. It is interesting to watch a young worker gnaw its way out of its cell, and become a member of the common- wealth. No mother, nurse, or tutor, is at hand to instruct it as to what its duties are to be, and yet that mysterious something, that we call instinct, which is born with the bee, seems to tell it exactly what to do, so that the same perfection of workmanship is found in the hive now as thousands of years ago, no improvement from practice. The bee does not seem to learn to do its work, it knows without learning. The first sixteen days of the young worker's life are spent indoors doing housework and tending baby, and during the rest of its life it is a field-worker, bringing in nectar and pollen from the flowers, also water and pro- polis. During the busy gathering season, the life of a worker is not more than six weeks, and it seems to wear itself out with work, for the old bees are distinguished by their ragged wings. The name queen is misleading. The queen is not a ruler, she is simply an egg-layer, and is said sometimes to lay her own weight of eggs in twenty-four hours, that is, about three thousand eggs. She does this, however, only when all conditions are most favourable, surrounded by a populous colony, with a copious harvest, for at such times she is bountifully fed by the workers, that can be seen every few minutes offering food te her. Under ordinary circumstances a queen is doing pretty good work to lay one or two thousand eggs a-day, or rather in a day and night, for work in the hive goes on day and night. The workers, rather than the queen, seem to control the rate at which eggs are laid, for at some seasons of the year, particularly in autumn and winter, the queen is left to forage for herself, and few or no eggs are laid. The cells in honey-comb are six-sided and of two sizes, one size, worker, measuring five to the inch, and the other, drone, four. If an egg is laid in a small cell it produces a worker, if in a large cell a drone. At certain times a third kind of cell is built, a queen-cell. When a colony becomes very populous and contemplates swarm- ing, a number of queen-cells are built, looking not unlike so many peanuts, each queen-cell taking as much wax in its construction as would make a great many drone or worker-cells. A queen-cell is not six-sided but round, and the young queen, while in it, has several times as much room as the other young bees. About ten days before tin- young queens are old enough to emerge from their cells, the swarm issues. The old queen goes off with the swarm, aud when the first young queen hatches, a second swarm is likely to issue, to be sometimes followed in two or three days by a third, and not rarely by a fourth, and even a fifth. The young queens seem to have a mortal antipathy to each other, and as soon as one such queen hatches her first business is to proceed, if allowed, to destroy her un- hatched royal sisters. This she does by digging a hole in the side of a queen-cell, and stinging the inmate in its cradle. If further swarming is contemplated by the workers, they defend the unhatched queens from the attack of the one at liberty, which goes off with the swarm. Previous to going off, however, this young queen may be heard, especially in the still of the evening, uttering a shrill cry, ' Pe-e-p, peep, peep,' re- plied to by the young queens in their cells, 'Quahk, quahk.' When no further swarming is intended all the young queens who are sufficiently matured are allowed to emerge from their cells, and when two of these meet a deadly combat ensues. One of them stings the other to death, and strangely enough, the victor is never injured in the struggle, for neither one stings till she gets in a position to deal a death-thrust without danger to herself. In this way the conflict continues till all the queens but one are killed, and those remaining unhatched are des- patched in their cradles. These queen-cells, of which I have been speaking, aw usually found on the edges of the comb, and sometimes even on the wood that surrounds the comb. If a hole happens to be in any part of a comb the bees are likely to make use of the space for a queen-cell. If the queen is at any time lost, when no previous preparation has been made for rearing a young queen, a different course is pursued. The bees select a young larva in a worker-cell, which, under ordinary circumstances, would have produced a worker, enlarge its cell greatly, destroying, if necessary, the adjacent cells for that purpose, feed it lavishly, so that the little grub is literally swimming in a sea of food, and in due time it emerges a perfect queen. If it should happen that nothing but drone eggs are in the hive, the poor bees will try their best to rear a queen from one of these, but it never grows into anything but a drone, and, I think, always dies in the cell. The fact is, there are only two kinds of eggs, drone aud worker, 490 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [October 4, 1888. or queen, for any and every worker egg with the right kind of food and treatment will produce a queen. The young worker has its rations very accurately dealt out, just enough, and not a particle is left over ; but there is no stint in feeding the young queen, and when she hatches out of her cell there is usually enough food (or royal jelly, as it is called) left to make one think another queen might have been reared ou it. The time required for hatching out the perfect bee from the laying of the egg is, for the drone twenty-four days, for the worker twenty- one, and for the queen sixteen. Curiously enough, the one that matures the soonest lives the longest, for the queen attains the age of two, three, and sometimes five years. The life of the worker seems to depend on the amount of work it does, in the honey harvest living only about six weeks ; but those which are hatched late in summer live over till the next spring. It is hard to tell just how long the drone would live if let alone, for when forage in the fields becomes scarce he is mercilessly driveufrom the hive to perish. The drone is the male, and is a lazy scamp, for he not only does nothing toward laying up stores in the hive, but does not even visit the flowers for his own food. He helps himself to the stores gathered by the workers, then flies about for exercise, and comes back with a good appetite for more. There seems to be a popular impression that a queen is surrounded by a body-guard or a number of courtiers always accompanying her, and ready to attend to her every want; while some have the notion that the queen- cell is a kind of throne, where the queen holds court and may be found at all times. So fur is this from being true, the queen-cell is torn down shortly after the young queen hatches out, and be- fore she is two weeks old, she commences laying, and mav be found in any part of the hive. No bee accompanies her, but if at any time she stops at any point the workers near her form a circle about her, all facing the queen as if to do her honour. Pre- sently the queen moves on, and the retinue is broken up, to be formed again when she next makes a halt, but the retinue is formed by a fresh lot of workers each time. Within the past fifty years great progress has been made in bee-culture. Some men take as much pride in their stock of bees as others do in their stock of cattle, and fresh importations are constantly made from other lands, Egypt, Palestine, the Isle of Cjprus, but chiefly from Italy. The Italian bee is distinguished from the common black bee by having three yellow bands upon its abdomen, being more beautiful in appearance and more industrious in character. I have only touched upon a few points of interest re- lating to the honey-bee. That the subject is a large one may be judged from the fact that there are published in the English language three weekly periodicals devoted entirely to bee-culture, besides a number published monthly and semi-monthly. — Dr. C. C. Miller, Maienyo, III. {Youths' Companion.') NOTES ON BEE-HIVES. Sections. [1830.] As I have had several inquiries from readers of the British Bee Journal respecting some of the glass sections which I described some months ago in the B.B.J., will you kindly allow me to say the top and bottom slips may be cut four inches long, or ju>t sufficiently long to be held in position by their own length within the 1-lb. wood sections, then the sides should be cut sufficiently long to be slightly pressed within — this will vary ac- cording to thickness of glass used. By so arranging the slips, starters, or whole sheets of foundation, may be used. The accompanying drawing represents half a glass section, so arranged, — the wood case and the comb not being delineated in the fiigure. Of course the side slips may be arranged so that the top and bottom slips act as wedges, but the top slip would evidently be likely to fall unless whole sheets of foundation were used. s.s. t.s. top slip. s.s. side slip. b.s. bottom slip. When whole sheets of foundation are used, molten wax should be painted all round the four edges of the foundation. I have always obtained the best glass sectional honey by using the four-piece pin-dovetailed sections, and I prefer wide frames to hold such. The wood-corners of the usual sample of sections used in this country are a great hindrance to obtaining perfect sec- tional honey, nevertheless, the wood cases may be. re- moved any time, as I have already intimated, providing full sheets of foundation are fixed, as I described, by means of molten wax, but, of course, the honey cannot be seen shining through the glass unless the section is worked or completed next the glass by the bees. Can one-piece wood sections be obtained anywhere minus these objectionable wood corners? I cannot cut suffi- cient out with my pen-knife without much labour or spoiling the beauty of the section. The glass sections I have had on exhibition (i.e., some of them) have had to be labelled 'Not for site' — they sold so quickly. But directions were posted beside them to 'inquire within,' where, of course, a supply might be purchased. I have had some glass sections completely filled by using a narrow strip of foundation right across the top, but the bees had 'not to gather honey all the day' — I hope my friends will allow this, as I was only experi- menting, and I won't tell how it was done unless urgently asked. It is a grand sight to see a lot of pearly-white sections worked on starters (narrow strips one quarter of an inch wide), which have been made during a clover honey-flow, having no suspicion of machinery. When glass sections have been on my table, often great wonder has been expressed how it was possible for the glass slips to be held together until the honey-comb was completed; many guesses have been made, and much admiration (I am sure there was no flattery) expressed about the beautiful appearance of them. I believe it would be understood from my previous descriptions that the honey-comb held the slips in place after the comb work was completed by the bees, so that the enveloping wood section could be removed to expose them for sale as I stated, or even to pack them for transit. I might say I find the divided cell pattern glass section, which I lately made some remarks about in the B. B. J., admirable, as the foundation may be fixed momentarily. The depth of each cell is eleven-six- teenths of an inch ; they will probably be advertised in the spring by one of our leading bee-keepers' appliance- manufacturers. I would recommend the wood sections to go with each sort of glass sections as, undoubtedly, they afford some protection, protecting the glass from October 4, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 491 finger-marks, breakage, &c, besides enabling you to .surprise your friends when you remove the wood cover at the table. — T. Bonner-Chambers, F.L.S., Loud., 7'ref Eylwys, Caersws, Montgomeryshire, Sept. 27th. l'.S. — If the plain glass rims are east or made deep enough they may be used singly. [We have received from our correspondent one of his glass sections. We can easily understand the ad- miration they excite ; they are very sweet, cleanly, and attractive. We understand that a patent is about to be taken out for making glass sections : this we think is to be deprecated in an article which very probably may be much in request in the future ; the more so as generally the words of a patent embrace much of the ingenuity of those that have preceded the patentee. — Ed.] EXPERIENCES OF A YOUNG BEGINNER. [ 18-11.] In reading the B.B.J, every week, I notice your columns are open to the young beginner as well as to the experienced hand, and, with your permission, from time to time I intend to send you my experience of bee-keeping. In the middle of April a friend gave me a B.B.J., and having some spare time I thought I would start bee- keeping. I bought a swarm of bees on the loth of May. When I got home with them it was too dark to hive them, so I got up early next morning, put a sheet on the ground and hive on it (as advised in Modem Bee- keeping), threw them down on to the sheet, and they soon began to rush in with a joyful hum; in about htilf-an- hour I placed the hive on stand. I put them on five frames of comb given me by a friend, and fed them for the first five days, and every three days I gave them a frame of foundation, bringing them up to nine frames the second week in June. I putou a case of sections, but could not get the bees in this till I took one frame away. On the first Monday in August I took the sections off, thinking from what I had read in the B.B.J., and what I could see of the front of sections, there was no honey there ; but when I opened them I found eight sections sealed over and four three parts full, so I suppose I must think I am well off in the year 1888. I sold six sections for 7s. Gd. In the middle of August a farmer sent for me, and asked me if I would drive his bees. From what I had read in Modern Bee-keeping, and my own confidence (I had never seen such a thing), I said I would. I drove two hives the next night, and united each of them to a swarm of this year. 1 told him how to feed them. He paid me for my trouble, and thanked me very much. One hive had about three pounds of honey, and the other about twenty to thirty pounds and very few bees. Every comb was full of sealed honey except two, which had a little brood at the bottom ; the only way I could account for same was, that it was mostly last year's honey. He told another farmer how well I drove his bees ; he sent for me, and told me if I drove two of his skeps I could have his bees, which I did on the first Tuesday in Sep- tember. I united them, and put them on two frames of comb and three frames with half sheets of foundation, and fed them with twenty-five lbs. of syrup. I opened hive fourteen days after and found the foundation all drawn out, and largely added to, the combs full of syrup and nearly all sealed over. I fed the other hive with twenty pounds of syrup, and as the weather has been so fine inSeptemberlfeel Ishall go into the winter pretty safely. 1 have to thank Modern Bee-keeping for being so success- ful with my bees, and Mr. Ralfe of Cheshunt for some good advice. I may say I have never used gloves, and I have only been stung two or three times. — Amateur, Bar-Frame. First Steps in Bee-keeping. — 'Bo-ooo a-boo-hoo-o.' 'Why! what are you crying about, Bobby?' 'I c-caught a fly, Mamma, and the naughty fly had a p-pin in its tail.' — Communicated by Honeysuckle. (!Erljcres frani tht |jibcs. St. Goran's, St. Austell, September 2~>th. — For the first time for three years I must feed mv bees if they are to live.— C. R. S. Dorking, September 27th. — As for honey from tlie heather, or any other source, I have seen none, except a few nice sections taken from my own bees in June. — W. Hollier. Sheffield, September 27th. — I have not an ounce of honey from one of my apiaries (twenty hives). — W. T. Garnett. Jiorsforth. — As I write (noon, Oct. 1st) snow is falling heavily, the glass registering frost during the preceding night, barometer falling. Everything points to a bad ending, for the bees are at home (thank goodness!), but, alas! with insufficient stores; we shall have to feed, the store may not get sealed, dysentery perhaps follow- ing. These feather-like flakes will be the ' the last straw' — to use an Ilibernicism — to many a disheartened bee-keeper. — X-Trac tor. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS * INQUIRERS- J.S.F. — 1. Lost Queen. — No ;do not introduce a C'amiolan\ queen until you are certain the other is lost. There being no brood at this time of the year is no sure reason for saying there is no queen, as where bees have not been fed and stimulated the queens have ceased to lav. The bees not carrying pollen is also no sign that there is no queen. You must search well before you venture to introduce another queen. As you have the Bee-keeper's Guide-book you will find all your questions answered there very fully. 2. Spreading Brood — No ; October is too late to spreal brood. Y'ou should not interfere with any brood you may now find in the hives. Feed up and make the hives comfortable for winter without delay. W. T. Lofting. — Fesding Straw Skeps. — Cut a hole in the crown ; this can eisily be done with a sharp table- knife, fir^t stopping up the entrance. When a circular cut has been made in centre of crown, the plug so formed can be pulled out, a puff or two given to drive the bees back ; while so doing use a bottle-feeder, well covered up, to prevent other bees visiting it and so starting robbing. Horace. — Partially Finished Sections. — Y'ou must un- cap that portion of sections sealed over, and place them at the back of the division-board, raising the same a quarter of an inch from floor-board, the bees will then clean them out ; when they have done so, wrap them up in paper and put them in a warm, dry place. They are best preserved from the attacks of mice by enclosing them in a box. It will not do to use them next year ; having soma of this year's honey in them, their appearance as finished sections would be entirely spoiled thereby. T. Colton. — Removing Super. — As the super is well filled it will be no detriment to the bees to allow it to remain on, but we should first i-euiove it and ascertain the condition of the stock hive. L. W. R. — 1. Wintering. — We have successfully win- tering stocks which on Oct. 1st did not cover more than four to five frames. Under the circumstances detailed by you, you may succeed very well. 2. Enamel Quilts. — Yes. 3. Absence of Brood. — We should have preferred to see some brood, but your experience is not singular this season. 4. Super- seding Queen. — The weather having turned much colder we should hesitate to change the queen now. 5. White-headed Bees. — These are undeveloped bees. 6. Bottom Space. — If your hive body is separate from the floor-board, you can put a rim between, otherwise you cannot adopt this device. 492 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [October 4, 1888. East Kent. — 1. QueenUss Stock. — As these have been queenless some time, we would recommend you to unite in preference to introducing a queen now. 2. Syrup. — We prefer boiling the syrup for a few minutes, because, in our opinion, it saves the bees considerable trouble in ripening it for storage. 3. H. B. K. A.— The Secretary of the Herts B. K. A. is the Rev. L. Seager, The Grange, Stevenage. M, H. — 1. Feeding. — The quantity you name is about half enough of each. 2. Rusty Feeders. — This is a drawback to feeders made of cheap tin. There is no way that we know of to prevent it. Bees do not seem to relish it, but we cannot say if it actually injures them. 3. Sugar. — Brown brewing sugar is not suit- able for syrup, and in some seasons bees would not take it down at all. 4. Proportion of Sugar in Syrup. — We could not tell this except we made the syrup or knew to which formula it was made. J, Mighall. — Bee Parasites. — The parasites forwarded are of a species called Braula cceca, or blind louse. It principally infests queens, especially foreign ones. It is difficult to catch, being so active in its movements. According to Dr. Hess, the eggs hatch inside the insect, and the young larvae are nourished by the secretion of a gland ; but when they arrive at matu- rity they are deposited on the floor-board of the hive, when they take the chrysalis form, from which they emerge at the end of fifteen days. The young lice remain on the brood until they have the opportunity of climbing on to a passing bee. Strong fumigations of tobacco dislodge them, and cleaning the floor- boards several times with a mixture of water and carbolised acid is important. They are prevalent in the southern portions of Europe, but generally in this climate they die off. We append an illustration, greatly magnified, of the insect in its developed and unde- veloped states. W. King. — 1. Locality for Bee-keeping — You would find the place mentioned suitable for bee-keeping. 2. Properties of the Locality. — It would be good at other times than when the heather is in bloom. It is a pastoral country, but without much fruit. 3. Selling Honey. — You would find no difficulty in obtaining a sale for large quantities of honey. 4. Disposal of Money. — The best way of disposing honey would be to get co-operative stores or wholesale grocers to take it. 5. Obtaining Land. — There is no doubt that you would be able to rent the land in the manner you propose. The approximate rent would be according to the value of the surrounding land — from 50/. to 100/. per annum. 0. Best time of the year to begin Bee-keeping. — The spring. 7. How to set about it. — A personal visit to the district and a fortnight's search for a suitable place. 8. The Average Profit per Hive. — Thirty to forty shillings, according to season. 9. The Best Book on the Management of Bees. — British Bee-keepers Guide-book, by Thos. W. Cowan (Huokle, Kings Langley, Herts). For further information place yourself in correspondence with Mr. R. A. II. Grim- shaw, hon. sec. of the Yorkshire B. K. A., Horsforth, Leeds. W. D. — Prize-takers at Shows. — It is generally under- stood that the gainers of prizes at shows undertake to supply the general public with the articles exhibited, such as hives, feeders, &c, at the prices stated by them at the show. We are not aware that the Royal Show at Nottingham is an exception to this acknow- ledged rule. P. Carter. — Sugar. — The sample is a pure cane sugar, and we do not see that it would be injurious]to the bees. It has, however, a coarse, rough, treacly taste ; and we are not surprised that the bees did not take to it kindly. Refined granulated sugar is the most suit- able for syrup-making. N. Preston.- — Foul Brood. — There is no doubt that this is a case of foul brood. You should lose no time in endeavouring to get rid of it ; please refer to previous numbers, or to Cowan's Guide-book, page 148, as to the best methods of cure. Corrections. — Page 473, col. 2, line 11 from bottomt/or point read front ; page 474, col. 2, line 19 from end, /or thin read thick. ^Business directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Koad, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St. Bdbtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey ).— Class I., Ex- tracted Honey : 1, .Mr. Cherry, Buckby j 2, Chas. Cox, Brampton. Class II., Honey in Comb : 1 aud 2, Chas. Cox, Brampton. Bees-wax : 1, J. Adams, Buckby; 2, C. Cox, Brampton. Jfarcip. CALIFORNIA. The honey crop in El Dorado county this year was an average one, being about 50 lbs, per colony. The weather has been extremely warm the past month at Placerville, the mercury standing at 100° to 105° almost every day in August. This hot weather and no honey coming in caused the bees to dwindle down rapidly. At the Placerville apiary I lost forty colonies out of eighty-two. The Carniolau bees have done the best at Placerville. It is true that they dwindled down considerably, but nothing at all in comparison with the Italians, hybrids, and blacks. I have not lost a single colony of Carniolan bees. They are the best bees to defend their hivea against robber bees, of any that I have ever seen. Next season I shall keep nothing but Carniolan bees in the Placerville apiary, 496 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [October 11, 1888. I have two apiaries located fourteen miles above Placerville in the mountains. At these apiaries all kinds of bees do well. I do not see much difference in regard to the amount of honey stored by each race — black bees do as well as the Italians. Bees gather the spring crop from alders, willows, maples, dogwood, wild cherry and plum, California lilac, manzita, chaparall, folocio, pennyroyal, &c. The fall crop is the largest and best, being gathered mostly from the incense cedar, which is a wonderful yielder of honey. The spring crop averages about 30 lbs. per colony, and the fall crop sometimes averages 100 lbs. per colony. Bees do not begin to gather honey from the incense cedar until October, and it usually lasts about six weeks. The honey gathered from this source is the thickest that I have ever seen. The bees cap the cells with a snowy whiteness, which gives it a very beautiful appearance. The incense cedar is rich in both pollen and honey, a single tree furnishing enough pollen for the wants of a whole colony. — S. L. Watkins, Placerville, Calif., Sept. 10. — (American Bee Journal.) NOEWAY. It was a great disappointment to us Norwegian bee- keepers, that we did not have you with us this year as we had hoped, and I was still more sorry when I knew the reason we did not meet either in Copenhagen or Christiansand. In Norway, last winter was quite serious to us bee- keepers. I suppose that about three-fourths of all the stocks died of cold and hunger, and this summer has only very little bettered us, because the honey-harvest with us in Norway, as well as in England and America, has been scarce nearly everywhere. However, we will not therefore lose heart, but hope for better luck next year. — Ivan S. Young, Christiania, September '28th. SWITZERLAND. Having read in your Conduite* of the use of dis- infectants in cases of foid brood, and as this concerns somewhat my profession of veterinary surgeon, I should like to say a few words on the subject in the hope of being useful in the attempt to contend with this disease. 1. Salicylic scid is anti-fermentative, antifebrile, and antiseptic; it may even disinfect the stomach, but as soon as it reaches the blood, it unites with the alkaloids of carbonates and phosphates, and loses its disinfectant properties ; it then remains only antifebrile. It destroys more surely than phenol micrococci and bacteria coming in direct contact, but not through the blood. 2. Phenol is not antifebrile, but anti-fermentative and antiseptic ; in the blood it loses nearly all of these qualities. Its disagreeable smell does not recommend it for bees' use. Large animals always refuse to drink any water containing it. 3. Thymol has more powerful properties than either phenol or salicylic acid, for preventing putrefaction and fermentation, and has also an agreeable odoiir ; it is not injurious if taken inwardly, whereas phenol in certain quantity becomes poison. 4. Camphor is an excellent tonic, but in too large doses causes paralysis ; it is antifebrile. It is a good antiseptic, but not quite as strong as phenol. It must be a splendid prophylactic, that is to say, as a preventa- tive of the disease gaining a footing in the apiary. Conclusions. — Camphor ought to come in the first place to cure the bees of their feeble condition and fever. It may even suffice to disinfect the apiary if the disease is not yet too far advanced. Thymol will come in the first rank as a disinfectant of the apiary by evaporation, being the most powerful disinfectant of all the four. Conduite rfw liuchcr, by E. Bertrand. — Ed, Salicylic acid will be excellent for fumigation and to wash the hives; internally in food it is useless as a preservative. It can lower fever in the bee, but wants the tonic of camphor. Phenol applied internally, has deceived the expecta- tions and is useless for contagious diseases. Externally and coming in direct contact, its disinfectant qualities are admitted. — Albert Abebegg, Veterinary Suryeon, Nors, Berne (Revue International I' Apiculture). JOTTINGS BY AMATEUR EXPERT. Mel sapit omnia. The Cabniolan Bees. — Mb. Benton. — Queen- baisebs' Tricks, and seveeal otheb Mattebs. A friend from Scotland that knows my private address writes to know ' if I have not yet recovered from the ef- fects of Mr. Benton's last " slash " at me.' The fact is, not only have my hands been full of other matters, but I thought I might well leave Mr. Benton's letter in the hands of the bee-keeping public, who have so long been the dupes of queen-raisers. Wonder who told Mr. Benton I only know a ' tinker's half-dozen ' of Carniolans ? I fear I know more than Mr. Benton would care for me to tell ; he has said pretty much about the bad ways of queen-raisers, but he has not told all the truth yet. They have a rule in American bee-papers which I wish it were possible to copy in this country. It is to boldly name people that do tricks that are ' fishy,' so that honest men may have a chance to live and trade fairly, and the public may not be cheated. Here is a piece of information that I should like to name the parties that practise such ways. It will make ' Useful Hints' open his eyes when he reads it, I guess. Large consignments of virgin queens are sent to England as fertile in late autumn, and are distributed, and the raisers who send them trust to the chances of their being killed in introduction, to hide the truth about them. The few that do survive the raiser replaces, with an apology for making an ' error,' but he has few to replace, as most of us are aware how extremely difficult it is to get a virgin queen accepted in late autumn ; and so the British public are gulled not only by getting nothing for their money, but their stocks ruined also by being rendered queenless, and their own tempers spoiled for being such unsuccessful queen-introducers. But I have been wandering away from Mr. Benton before I had quite done with him ; so I wish to ' hark back' to him for a short time. He says all Carniolans are 'banded.' If that is so, I wonder why it is other dealers can supply queens that will not breed ' banded' bees, and are as gentle as their other characteristics are true to the old style of queen. He still maintains the gentleness of his Cyprians. I suppose he will give us credit for possessing some know- ledge of handling bees ; and I know of no single disinter- ested bee-keeper but what gives them a bad name after they have been here a few weeks. The fact is you can never depend on them as being gentle two days in suc- cession. Api for October came to hand to-day. The Carniolans and Mr. Benton too, are 'cut up rather rough' in it. This is what Mr. L. Stachelhausen, an able German bee- keeper, now settled in Texas, U.S.A., says : — ' I have known Carniolan bees since 1868, and saw them in the apiaries of my friends, and have had a few colonies myself. The first Carniolan queen imported into Germany had no sign of yellow blood. . . . Since that time some strange races may bo imported into Carniola, and so the Carniolans are more or less mixed.' Later on Mr. Alley, commenting on this letter, says : ' Pure Carni- olans show no yellow bands. All the good points possessed by those bees sold as pure Carniolans by dealers are derived from the Italian blood by which it is October 11, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 497 evident they are crossed. I do not believe that there are more than two bee-keepers in this country who ever saw pure Carniolan bees, nor do I believe there is a pure queen of that race in the United States. I do not care whether Frank Benton sent them here, or whether they came from some other person. If people depend on Frank Benton for pure queens, they will get awfully deceived.' Bee Flowers. — If ' Apis Hibernicus ' will send a stamped addressed envelope to the Editor, I will fill it for him with this year's seeds of ' Chapman's honey- plant.' If he sows them in the spring, and when large enough to handle prick them out where he intends them to flower, they will bloom (D. V.) in the summer of 1889. They are perfectly hardy. ' Canada Thistle ' I do not know or cultivate, and my store of Echinops globosa is very limited. I will give him a few seeds of Echinops ritro, but I cannot always succeed in getting E. ritro to germinate, probably they will in the Emerald Isle. ' Apis H.' may ask me for a young plant of E. globosa next summer, and if I have one to spare he shall have it. Do not forget to jog my memory, it is like a sieve. ' Buzz ' wants me to say something about how to find queens, but as he must not try to find queens till next spring I must defer that as I have already overrun my space. — Amateur Expert. Cnraspmiociitt, The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions cipretscd by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents arc requested to wtite on one tide of the paper only, and give their full names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Association, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, Ac, must be addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W,C All business communications relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J. Hdckle, Kings Langley, Herts {see 2nd page of Advertisements.) %* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondeyits, when speaking oj any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. BEE-HIVES, LONG OH SHOUT? [1832.] I have given a fair trial to both of these, and find the former very decidedly more convenient for use and manipulation. By a long hive I mean what is often called a Combina- tion hive — an absurd name, as the principle of combining a summer and winter hive in one is now seldom practised — capable of holding eighteen frames on the same level ; by a short hive, one that will hold but ten, and whose capacity must be increased by adding one body above another, or what is commonly known as storifying. I will premise that, in order to get as much work out of the bees as possible, i.e. section honey, I keep two points steadily in view : — 1. To persuade the bees not to swarm by enlarging the brood-nest as often as may be necessary ; and, 2, to keep by feeding and packing up warmly, each stock as strong as possible for the summer campaign. The first of these I find very troublesome to carry out in a short hive, as a frame must always be removed, and as it were dug out, to make room for a new one ; and the second is more easily managed in a long hive, as the extra space behind, when the frames have been reduced to ten, gives ample room for syrup-feeding in saucers, pie-dishes, &c, without the need of any expensive feeder. Of course dry-sugar feeding can be managed with great facility in both. I find the materials for a long hive cost about 4s. , and I can make one in ten hours. I think any village car- penter ought to be able to make one, with a fair protit to himself, for 10*., or even less. The quantities are these :— matchboarding, 50 feet, 2s. Gd. ; 6 feet of 1-inch flooring, 4W. ; screws and nails, say 1*. \^d. — total 4s., legs are not included. The dry feeders I use are two ; one for use above the frames, an oblong box with sliding lid and large holes in the bottom, 15x6 x2£, holding about ;) lbs. of sugar — this they have at all times, except when the sections are on, to help themselves whenever they feel disposed. I do not think they abuse my liberality, as I seldom find many in the boxes except in bad weather. The other, screw a frame on to hall probably do so at the proper time, and in season for those who desire to test it another year. — Henry Alley, Wenham, Mass. {American Bee Journal.) SUCCESS IN BEE-FEEDING. [1834.] Bee-keepers ought to be thankful for the article lately written on sugars, and where the pure article may be purchased. 1 find, by reading the Bee Journal and inwardly digesting it, it has added to my home-comforts in more ways than one ; even this year, bad as it, I am on the right side of the ledger. I have had my share of failures, which have been chronicled in the B. J,, but I make every failure a stepping-stone to success. While writing this letter I feel very much in a confessional mood. When I commenced bee-keeping I thought the most expensive thiugs were sure to be the best, how all is changed ! I got a mouse-trap at the same time, cost 3s. Gd. — never caught a mouse yet, believe it never will ; then I went in for an expensive feeder, it now keeps the mouse-trap company. But now to my method of working. In the first place, I don't ' fad ' with my bees. Having put the quantity of frames well covered with bees, I put a calico cover on, having previously cut a three-inch hole iu centre. I then put on an Excelsior tin-feeder — manufactured by the Tin Plate Works Co., Masshouse Lane, Birmingham — keeping the nozzle in one corner at the back of hive, where the syrup is run in (I keep the feeder on until I see young bees in the spring). I next put on an empty section-crate, then I pack with wheat straw cut into three-quarter-inch lengths between feeder and crate to top of feeder; on Haiti's hives I put a shallow frame on, which is even better than a section-crate. I then place two or three felt covers on over all. For a season such as we have had, I fill reservoir with very warm syrup for about a week, giving it in the evening ; after filling I put Symington's prepared pea-Hour along the alighting- board, almost stopping up the entrance, in a few minutes the bees make their way through it and are as white as miller.?, and I am rewarded by their merry hum; I give pea-flour in the day time during the week they are taking the syrup ; by acting iu this way I save the bees being out in the cold so long. Pollen has been almost as scarce as honey owing to the wet season. Before the winter sets in I place prepared candy in outside circle as much as it will hold, and prefer to do this if even they have plenty of their own stores. I think the change does them good. In the spring, should there be a few hours' sunshine (no snow on the ground) and bees about, I fill reservoir with warm syrup further on : here is the grand secret, 1 remove cork float and then cut a section or two into two or three pieces, and place in reservoir, and put pea-flour as before. By the above treatment I have early and late breeding carried on, — T. H. BORGUE HONEY. [1835.] In the autumn of 18S6I sent all the information I could obtain from Borgue apiarians, and also some par- ticulars of the bee-flora pasture, to that most accomplished apiarian, who has, perhaps, done more to promote suc- cessful bee-culture than any other gentleman in Scotland, who is] well known in bee-circles under the nom-de-plume of ' A Renfrewshire Bee-keeper.' He thus wrote : — 'A little actual observation on the spot would soon solve the enigma of what flower the peculiar flavour of Borgue honey is due. It is admitted all round the main element is the secretion of the white clover plant, and at the time it is in full bloom if the district where the flavour is most marked — if I mistake not, about Borgue Village — were visited, and which flowers the bees visit most persistently watched, by pressing out the sweet secretion the " smack" could be caught stronger uncontaminated.' 'A Renfrewshire Bee-keeper' sent my note to the Rev. Mr. Sanders, minister of Tundergarth. I have the authority of the Rev. Mr. Sanders to quote from his reply to ' A Renfrewshire Bee-keeper,' qualified with the remark that enlarged experience and increased know- ledge sometimes change one's opinions. The following is an extract from his letter : — ' I have read with great interest the report on Borgue. It is very exhaustive so far as information is to be obtained from practical bee- keepers. I think we must discard the conjecture that Borgue honey owes its superiority to the absence of spruce, or to richness of soil, or freedom from con- tamination. Clover honey in districts where there are no fir-trees is not better than iu places where they abound. When pure, it is clear, and has very little aroma, but it is much improved in good seasons when bees have access to meadows and other flowers, that give it somewhat of an amber colour, so it is probably Borgue clover honey per se is not richer than our own, and that it owes all its virtues to contamination, to the being mixed with honey of wild flowers found around the west coast of Borgue, and in the unploughed dells and glens. It is not un- likely that honey near the west coast is principally gathered from thyme, and on that account may excel what is got further inland.' The Rev. Mr. Sanders, in pursuit of further infor- mation, wrote to the late Rev. Dr. Cook of Borgue. His reply, which follows, is dated October 7th, 1886, and it will be of general interest far beyond the con- fines of Borgue : — ' I am told by those who have personal experience of bee-culture that the south, south-west, and west of this parish are most celebrated for Borgue honey. The flavour is very delicate, and the honey from those parts of the parish along the Atlantic shore is peculiar in colour, of a very pale and beautiful green. The districts noted are very open, Inning comparatively little wood, which is held to be unfavourable to the pro- duction of honey. They abound in rich and in much old pasture, with abundance of clover, especially white, and are celebrated for the production of cattle as well as of honey. The experienced attribute the delicacy in flavour and colour chiefly to the rich clover pasture. I am told that the honey produced in the eastern and northern portions of the parish, although rich in flavour, wants the peculiar and delicate green of the south and south-west, and perhaps western portions of the parish. October 11, 1888.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. 49 9 The parish, especially along the cliffs, which extend along the sea-shore, abounds in -wild flowers, which possibly may contribute to the peculiar colour and deli- cacy of the Borgue honey. I wish I could have given you more full information, but I think what I have stated is reliable.' Rev. Mr. Sanders met a lady, a member of a well- known and highly esteemed Borgue family, who said ' the coast has steep cliffs, indented, and grows natural flowers in the sheltered parts, which are supposed to give the green honey of Borgue its high character. One of the varied and rare plants clinging to the rocks is samphire.' I venture now to give some of my own opinions on the matter. The choicest Borgue honey is gathered in the centre, south, and west of the parish. The first prize going so far north this year was a surprise, and would not likely happen in a good honey year. White clover, we may take it, yields the main body of the best Borgue honey, very probably influenced by soil and climate ; these affect the quality and flavour of butter and cheese, and quite likely have a similar effect on the secretion of the nectaries of flowers. Natural perennial flowers that grow on the untilled knowes (so abundant in Borgue), I am strongly of opinion have a potent influence on the flavour of Borgue honey — thyme probably one of these. The richest flavoured Borgue honey I have yet tasted was of a pale amber colour. I close with the hope that some of our apiarians or florists may steal from the Borgue bees the secret of their cunning blend. — A. M'N. Greenock (Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser). CLIPPING QUEEN'S WINGS, ETC. [1886.] For seventeen years I have practised clipping the wings of my queens as soon as they begin to lay, or the first time thereafter that I can conveniently find them. And having followed the practice so long I think I have a right to an opinion concerning its advisability. Some writers have presented what to them seem grave objec- tions to the practice, but in my experience the objections have very little foundation. It is by some supposed that the bees are more inclined to supersede a queen with a clipped wing. But this is certainly, according to my experience, a mistake. I have had clipped queens live into the fourth year, and no one can prove that one with perfect wings will live any longer than that. Iu fact, unless a queen is marked by having a wing clipped or in some other way it is not easy to tell whether she is superseded or not. Queens are often superseded when the bee-keeper knows nothing of it. The only real objection to the practice is that some- times in swarming a clipped queen gets lost. I have myself lost a few in that way. But the objection is more apparent than real. I have lost more queens that could fly than those that could not. And in losing a queen able to fly, I have lost, at the same time, an entire swarm of bees. And it is certainly better to lose a queen and keep the bees, than to have bees and queen go to the woods together. Of course, if one uses some- thing like Mr. Alley's queen and drone trap, there is not so much need of clipping a wing of the queen. Hiving Swarms. — When I am present when a swarm having a clipped queen issues, I find the queen and cage her, and when the swarm is out, I move the hive to a new location, and put in its place the hive I wish the bees to enter. The cage with the queen may be laid on the frames of the new hive, or kept in the bee-keeper's pocket until the bees begin to return. They will some- times settle, and sometimes not ; but in either case it will not be long until they will return to the place from which they came. Thus they are hived without Being touched, and without the least difficulty. Bnt suppose the queen can fly and the bees have settled somewhere within reach ! How shall we then proceed ? We do not need any sheet or table-cloth on which to place the hive. Anything of the kind is not only useless, but worse than useless. If convenient, put the hive where it is to remain ; if not, put it convenient to the place where the bees are clustered. Place a board 12 inches wide, more or less, with one edge resting on the gi-ound, and the other against the front of the alight- ing board. Now you are ready to get the bees in. If the cluster is on a small branch of a tree that can be cut off without injury to the tree, cut it off, and lay it clown a few inches from the front of the hive, and get a few bees started into it, and the rest will soon follow. But suppose they are not on a limb that can be cut off ! If they can be shaken off, shake them into a nail keg, or any convenient vessel, and pour them down in front of the hive. If not convenient for being shaken off, a large dipper, a pan, or even a tin cup, may be used. Gently dip off as many as convenient, and pour them down before the hive, and repeat the performance until you get them nearly all off their clustering place. A vigorous use of the smoker will drive the remaining ones away, and they will join their companions at the hive. As soon as the bees are all, or nearly all, in and on the hiv8, it should be placed where it is to remain. The practice used to be to drench the bees v i h water to prevent them from taking wing; but thai i- wholly unnecessary. It is a serious hindrance to getting them into the hive. Experience proves that a dry bee will go into the hive much more readily than a wet one. I have but little experience with bees stinging when being hived. If handled judiciously they very rarely sting. But as a precaution against accidents I generally wear a veil. Having established my reputation for courage and fortitude, I can afford to weal a veil all the time when working with bees. — M. Mahin, Bee-keepers Guide, Bluffton, Ind., June '20th. PAPER QUILTS.— THE WEATHER. [1837.] A correspondent asks if any one has tried the above. I have for several years now, and find nothing could answer better ; but would not recommend them to be used next the bees, but after two or three thicknesses of some other quilts — nothing more substantial and better than bed-ticking. I have aiso tried them round my legs when going a journey by rail, &c, on a frosty night ; and especially if your rug and top-coat happen to be safe at home you will find a good-sized newspaper a capital sub- stitute. The weather has for about three weeks been splendid for getting bees ready for the winter ; but on Monday, October 1st, there was a slight fall of snow about (J a.m., and 8° of frost. On Tuesday night there were 0° of frost marked here. — J, W. Blankley, Denton, Grantham. FEEDERS. [1838.] I am glad to see that 'Apiarist' has called attention to the very defective ' Rapid Feeders ' sent out under high auspices and highly commended in your columns. I happened to purchase two from two dif- ferent makers, and I am bound to say that both were almost equally bad. After being placed in water for several days, they both leaked to such a degree that I woidd not venture to put syrup into either of them. I am inclined to believe that there is nothing better for those who have any number of stocks than the improved Canadian feeder. A friend and neighbour who has a large apiary, and who recommends this feeder, tells me that one of his hives will take a gallon (?) in a night. But would it not be better to adopt the dry-sugar system rather earlier in the season? The esteemed writer of ' Useful Hints ' has hardly given this system, I suspect, the full trial it deserves. If there is the slightest defect at the present time in any of the syrup-feeders, so that some of the syrup is spilt, robbing is certain to ensue at 500 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [October 11, 1888. once. Should the roof of the hive not fit exactly, every bee in the neighbourhood endeavours to find an entrance, and the wasps usually succeed in doing so. I sometimes fancy that a plan might be devised for filling a feeder in the interior from a small door in one of the sides. If any syrup is spilt on the floor of the hive, a general scramble follows. In a few days' absence from home I had a very strong hive nearly ruined in this way. But in dry-sugar feeding there is no such inducement to robbing. If a dry-sugar feeder is put on either side of the hive, the bees will soon store a large reserve, without exciting their neighbours or creating any fracas. These feeders, too, can be made at very little expense. In spring-time, a flower-pot, nearly filled with dry sugar, with a passage made in the centre of the sugar, so that the bees can pass up through the small hole at the bottom, will answer almost any purpose. Mr. Simmins, however, advises that the dry-sugar feeder should be placed near the brood-nest, no doubt in order to stimu- late the queen. I venture to hope that when another season arrives, 'Useful Hints' will give the dry- sugar system a thorough trial, and let us know the result of his ex- perience.— E. Bartrum, D.D., Wakes Colne Rectory, Essex. COMBINATION HIVE.— RIGHT-ANGLED AND PARALLEL SYSTEMS. [1830.] Why cannot the entrance to the Combination hive be at the side? If it started at the corners, and continued for ten or twelve inches along the side, the frames would be at right angles to it, and the advan- tages, claimed by some, of this system secured as well as those, claimed by others, of having the brood-nest and surplus honey on the same floor. Possibly this is no new idea, but I have never seen it suggested in the Journal. — East Kent. BEE-KEEPING IN GLAMORGANSHIRE. [1840.] I am pleased to find Glamorganshire astir, while representatives of the east and west are challeng- ing each other and accepting the challenge for coming seasons. Mr. Sims is enjoying the luxury of present success, with a testimonial from the Editor as to the quality of his honey, viz., ' It is the best we have tasted this season.' Now, ' E. G.,' that's hard to beat ; it's equal to a first prize at a local show, anyhow. So when ' E. G.' takes the first prize next year, as he is confident he will, he won't he so far ahead after all. Allow me to suggest to ' E. G.' the advisability of joining the Glamorganshire Bee-keepers' Association, when he will be able to meet Mr. Gibbins and Mr. Sims at the County Show in competition for the silver medal of the B. B. K. A.; and I feel certain the Association will be pleased to appoint him local adviser for the district of Pontypridd, where his experience would be of value to the Association, and the present members of the Asso- ciation would good-humouredly do their best to prevent him taking any prizes. But I wish him every success, and would like to see many more in the county fired with the same determination to go in and win, so that it will really be an honour to take first prize in a local show. — W. Gay, Cathays, Cardiff. NECTAR. Do Bees Hear ?— Swarming and Science. [1841.] There are many questions pertaining to bee- culture that are not directly of practical utility, but interesting nevertheless. Have Bees the Sense of Hearing? — This is a matter, it seems to me, capable of demonstration. That bees do hear in some sense which answers to the sense in which other animals hear, I have ever}' reason to believe. That bees pay no attention to the ordinary din and clash of the outer world about them, proves nothing at all, for the same is true in a limited sense, with all living creatures. My grounds are bounded on the one side by a rail- road, and from ten to fourteen trains pass by every day. My stock graze in the pasture undisturbed — they rarely ever raise their heads when a train thunders by. The same is true with my bees — they work right along as though all was silent. But if I drop some young bees on the ground, they will find the entrance to the hive if they are in hearing distance of the bees at the entrance ; if not, they will wander about, crawl into some other hive, or perish in their lost condition. Sometimes when hiving a swarm, I dip up a cupful of bees, and pour them into the prepared hive ; they immediately set up aloud 'roar,' and the swarm promptly answer ; and they rush into the hive with that joyous hum which thrills the heart of the true lover of bees with joy, that is difficult to describe. Do you say that vibration guides the bees, and not sound'? What is ' sound ' but an impression made on the subject by con- cussion or vibration of the atmosphere ? To say that sound is not the same thing identically to the insect that it is to animals of higher order, proves nothing, because it cannot be proven that sound is precisely the same thing to the lower animal that it is to the intellectual being. Bees hear in a sense which answers all their purposes, and this is all that can be said of other animals. Selecting a Home before Swarming. — This is an old doctrine. It has age on its side. It had its origin away back in the ages of bat-eyed fogyism as pertains to bees. There is such a touching story here, about the sending out of ' scouts ' to locate a future home while the swarm waits with patience and hope. There are among these ' scouts ' some good Joshuas and Calebs — - they will bring in a good report. It is hopeless, perhaps, to try to be an educator along this line. Mr. Youngman, on page 5G7, publishes a case of ' sending out scouts,' which appears conclusive to him. But to me it is easy to see what attracted those bees which he took for scouts, ' cleaning out a new home.' The 'chunks of propolis and fragments of comb' adhering to the hollow tree is what attracted the bees there. They were foraging for bee-glue, and doubtless they unwittingly answered as a decoy to the homeless swarm as it passed that way. I once saw a swarm enter an empty hive in my apiary, directed there by the same cause. No evidence that will bear investigation has ever been published, to warrant the belief that bees locate and ' clean up ' a home in advance of their takiug actual possession. Honey is not Digested Nectar. — Since writing the above items the Bee Journal has come to hand, and Prof. Cook's reply to my article on page 668, has been noted. I am as much astonished and grieved at the Pri >f essor's reply, as he was surprised and pained because of my article. What have I said against ' true science ' that justifies the heated and spontaneous defence of Prof. Cook ? No man has a higher appreciation for what 'true science' that has done for the 'nineteenth century ' than myself. But vagaries and absurd theories are not science. Against these (not true science) I hurl ridicule, because no other weapon can reach them. True science is not the child of one father nor of one ' mother,' hence the ' base ingratitude ' which so stirs the Professor is a thing of his imagination. Yes, ' there are more things in heaven and earth ' than I ever dreamt of, and the remark is true when I apply it to my honoured friend, Prof. Cook, or to any other living man ; but I am pretty certain that no man can lift himself by the straps of his boots. October 11, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 501 Our learned author says, ' that honey is more or less perfectly — (what words are these ?) — digested nectar is as certain as the world is round.' This is at par with his dogmatic assertion that, ' bees never hibernate.' The one as well as the other rests alone on his ipse dixit. ' That all honey is equally digested is very likely not true.' Yes, I should think so; and it is a thousand times more safe — more in accordance with the evidence, with reason and common observation — to say that it is not digested at all in the meaning of that word when applied to the assimilation of food in the stomach. I have before me a fancy little card,]' Why Eat Honey ?' sent me by that shrewd and practical apiarist and honey- dealer, Chas. F. Muth. I quote from it as a sample of good common-sense : — ' What is honey ? It is a vege- table product, not made, but gathered from the nectary of flowers, where it is secreted according to the rules of Nature's laboratory.' These common-sense words whet the appetite for honey, while Prof. Cook's ' more-or-less- perfectly-digested ' vomit makes every fibre of my being recoil. I am not able to make the large reports of great yields of honey as some bee-keepers seem able to do — perhaps my locality will not admit of it; but I had one colony of bees to gather and finish up 300 lbs. of the finest quality of honey in less than thirty days. The density of raw nectar varies so much that it is hard to say how many pounds of raw nectar that 300 lbs. of standard honey would represent, but certainly not less than 600 lbs. of freshly-gathered nectar. Now I say that it would be as impossible for a colony of bees to digest (assimilate) in their stomachs 000 lbs., or even 300 lbs., of raw nectar in less than thirty days, as it would be for Prof. Cook to lift himself by the straps of his boots. The presence of invert sugar in honey argues nothing. Chemical changes going on during the process of evaporation are sufficient to account for that. — G. W. Demaree, Christiawburg, Kg. — {American Bee Journal.) WINTER STORES.— IF SUGAR IS USED IT MUST BE FED EARLY. [1842.] In the last Review Prof. Cook says: 'We know that sugar syrup is safe ' for wintering. I arise to remark that last winter my bees were supplied almost entirely with that article, having been fed 2800 lbs. of granulated sugar, and they made the poorest stagger at wintering that they have in a number of years. I am not calling in question Prof. Cook's veracity, I am merely stating a fact, and I do it, not to pick a quarrel with the Professor, but to show how careful we need be to avoid misunderstandings, and how difficult it is to draw conclusions that will always hold good, when the bees are allowed to have any hand in the matter. It is probable that Prof. Cook is correct that sugar fed at the right time and in the right way is always a safe food. If I had from experience learned that the source from which my bees obtained their winter stores was such that I could with some degree of assurance consider such stores unwholesome, I should extract and feed sugar syrup. Or if, for any reason, my bees were short of stores, obliging me to feed for winter, I think I should, as I have done in the past, feed sugar syrup. And before going farther I will say that the mortality among my bees last winter, I think, would have been equally as great if the best honey had been fed in the place of the sugar. I say I think, for I cannot be entirely positive about anything connected with bees, as I have already hinted. I did not feed till very late, hoping that a flow of honey from fall flowers might help to fill up ; and I very much doubt if a colony, entirely destitute of stores, and then fed as late as October, will ever whiter perfectly in this climate. After a good deal of experience in the matter, I would advise any one who thinks his winter stores un- wholesome, to try extracting and filling up with sugar syrup, but I would strongly advise that the feeding be done early. Just how early may vary with the latitude. In this latitude — 42° — I should like to have the feeding all done in August ; later than this, I am afraid the bees do not have time to properly ripen it. As to taking away wholesome honey — and allow me to say that I think unwholesome honey is not so very plenti- ful— -and feeding sugar in its place, that is another matter. It may be profitable if sugar is low and honey high enough, and time not too valuable. Allow me, however, to mention some objections, for I imagine that the favourable side will be fully enough presented. The editor and others will tell you that pollen, as clearly shown by scientific analysis, is at the bottom of the wintering trouble, therefore take away everything and feed pure sugar syrup, and wintering bees is as safe as winter- ing horses. But who that has followed this teaching has wintered with unfailing success ? I have seen colonies that starved with abundance of pollen in the combs easy of access, with no sign of diarrhoea, and I have never seen any satisfactory explanation of this, if pollen is so disastrous in its effects. I need not tell you of the labour of feeding, although I have tried to reduce it to a minimum, and have no great difficulty in getting a colouv to take twenty pounds in twenty-four hours; still the word ' feeding ' in my family is heard with no little unpleasant feeling. Then I have found it difficult to strike the happy medium as to consistency. Sometimes the syrup granulates in the cells, when, so far as I kuow, there is just the same amount of acid as at other times, when it seems to attract enough moisture to run out of the cells. If you feed sugar syrup, there is danger of your yielding to the temptation to wait longer than you should in the hope that the bees may fill up from late flowers. Better feed up early enough, and then if a flood of late honey should come, you can extract again. I do not say how much, but at least some weight should be given to the objection that a pound of sugar fed to bees helps just so much to raise the price of sugar and lower the price of honey. If you are inexperienced you may gain a considerable amount of experience in a short time by starting the bees at robbing when feeding at a time when they are not gathering from the fields. In spite of the real gain there may be in having all the light honey stored in sections, and having the bees winter on cheaper stores, it is not at all impossible that I may go back to the old plan of allowing eight frames in the hives at all times, and encouraging the bees to keep these heavily provisioned with stores of their own gathering. — Dr. C. C. Miller, Marengo, III., Aur/. 27th. Sagacity of Insects. — If we were better acquainted with those insects that are formed into societies — as the bees, wasps, and ants — we should find that their arts and improvements are not so similar and uniform as they now appear to us, but that they arose in the same manner (from experience and tradition) as the arts of our own species, though their reasoning is from few ideas, is busied about fewer objects, and is exerted with less energy. — Darwin. (!£rljacs frant tbc ||tbts. Denton, Grantham, October 4th. — Not having seen an echo from this part of late, I send you one. There has been no exception here from the general state of things elsewhere, feeders, food, and starving bees, instead of honey for sale and where to find a market for it. We in this part will have no trouble under that head this year. All the same, allow me, though late in the day, to thank Mr. Woodleigh and ' Beeswing ' for telling us how they successfully send 1-lb. sections by rail (1717 502 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [October 11, 1888. and 1710). Such knowledge is sure to be of service sooner or later; though with hut a few exceptions all my honey has been sold at home, as I believe in a home market. Also allow me a line to apologise to Mr. ' Sher- borne ' for charging him wrongfully — my memory was at fault. Never were my bees in such condition for storing surplus honey as this year. It was, indeed, a sorry sight to see hives crowded to excess with bees, abundance of honey-yielding flowers on every hand, but withering away one after the other without scarce a visit from our bees. Of course I feed in spring to get bees in condition, but not in summer — no, not whilst the honey-glut is on. No ! plenty of mouths to feed without stimulating for more. The weather took up just as the limes came in, and the bees got about a ten-days' run and gathered a nice lot for winter stores, but not quite sufficient. After they failed I fed up quickly on good thick syrup, made from pure granulated sugar, having previously re- duced space to what the bees could well cover. An empty tomato or apricot preserve tin, with a round wood-float, and about six inches of pantile lath fastened on top to keep the quilt from lying flat on top of tin is as good a feeder as can be, and holds about two pints : set on the top of frames and cover down warm. These are the times to economise. Never buy what you can make yourself. Cost of feeder like the above — nothing ! I began feeding on tho day the weather took up in earnest, about 7th of September, and had all finished and packed away snug by October 1st, that means far more than can be pressed into an 'Echo.' All sections, separators, frames, crates, &c, thoroughly free from propolis, &c, wrapped neatly in paper and stowed away in a dry, cold place. Extractor thoroughly cleaned and dried, feeders ditto, all, or nearly so, by October 1st. I have not been idle, as the only time that I have is at night, after six p.m. In every bee-keeper's hut there should hang this motto, to be put in practice — ' Never put off till to- morrow what ought to be done to-day.' I fear hundreds of cottagers about nere will lose their bees this winter. Many are nearly destitute of stores. One cottager here lost all his swarms, about five. ' Did you feed them ? ' I asked. ' No, I never bother,' and so they die. What a pity ! says — A Lincolnshire Novice. Kesivick, Cumberland, October 6th. — I am not able to send any better account from the Lake District than those which have been so general and gloomy, nil through the past season, from other parts. The season here has been an entire failure from beginning to end. I only took about J50 lbs. of extracted honey, and no comb honey in a saleable form. Through the weather being a failure I find my stocks much stronger than they usually are at the close of the honey season, in consequence of their not having had to make long flights ; this in some seasons is the means of reducing their numbers nearly one-half ; when this is the case it puts them in a poor state for facing the winter. At the commencement of the season I went in for the non-swarming system of management, but when the time came the bees only made sport of me and my non-swarming practice ; extra space in the hive made no difference, swarm they would ; and, worse still than that, several of them bade me good- bye, and I have not heard of them since, but have an idea where they went to, as scores of swarms have gone to the same place. This is a gentleman's mansion at the foot of a mountain about half a mile away. During tho first week of the fine weather we had in September — it put new life into the bees — heather seemed to be exhausted on the hill-sides at a distance, but they were able to work on some plant, as they brought home and stored a good quantity of honey after I had taken off the sections, which added greatly to their winter stores. They were so anxious to make the best use of the last opportunity, that scarcely a robber was to be seen, though they had been very troublesome before. It has been a splendid time for feeding. I gave eleven stone of sugar liquid in less than a week to sixteen hives. Since October came in we have had a very severe change in the weather, it has been nothing but snow and frost all through the week, and scarcely ever a bee on the wing. Snow is still lying thick on some of the highest hills. I heard a farmer say the other day that we have had snow eleven months out of the last twelve. Let us hope for somethiug better in 1889. — K. P. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS. Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communication. Alfred Wilson. — Queen Fertilised, or not? — A dissec- tion and microscopical examination of this queen con- clusively shows that she had been fertilised, the spermatheca containing large quantities of sperma- tozoa ; an examination of the ovaries, however, showed thern to be atrophied, leading at once to the conclusion that she was old and exhausted, and the inability to lay more eggs probably led to her expul- sion from the hive as described. The workers appear to 'be healthy, so far as can be ascertained from an examination of the contents of the abdomen. Inquirer, and J. W. Abbot. — Bee Flower. — Both the flowers are the Giant Balsam. This plant is a very ornamental autumn garden flower, and is also much valued as a bee plant. John Pearson. — Uniting.— -Your letter has suggested our Editorial of this week, and we think a careful perusal of it will enable you to solve your difficulties. John Stuart. — Linconshire has always had the repute of being a honey^delding county. There is no bee- keepers' association, we regret to say, in the county at present, but the former hon. sec, Mr. R. 11. Godfrey, Grantham, will be pleased to give you every infor- mation you require. Atom. — Feeding. — If your bees are healthy they require no ingredients in the syrup beyond those given in Cowan's Guide. You should give each stock thirty pounds of syrup. You can do nothing to urge them on to feed up quickly beyond covering them up warmly. X. Y. Z. — Packing. — Sawdust well dried will do, but it is by no means so good as either cork-dust or chaff. It can also be used to fill trays. L. W. K. — 1. Queen. — The bee sent is a black queen. 2. Large Insect. — Queen wasp. 3. Winter Stores. — The sealing of winter stores depends on the consis- tency of the syrup fed, the temperature of the air, and the strength of the colony. You might reasonably expect to find a good bit done in a week or so. 4. Winter Quarters. — Leave your bees in their present positions. It. Philipson. — Dead Bees. — With the information given we should say this is a case of starvation. Bee Sting. — 1. Feeding. — It is getting late to feed with syrup, but you may even yet get them to Btore more by giving it to them in the evening as warm as new milk. AVe should not care to risk them on tho small quantity they have stored. 2. Fucking. — Five frames of sealed food and two empty combs for the bees to cluster on should do nicely. Pack up warmly now so that you can remove the feeder, and cover the feed-hole without having to disturb the bees. 3. Swarming next Year, — We are unable to forecast this. Correction.— Page 488, col. 2, line 1, for bi-carbonatc read bi- chromate. liTSSH Communication to the Editor to be addressed ' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 330. Vol. XVI.] OCTOBER 18, 1888. [Published Weekly.] 'NIL DESPERANDUM.' We are right in presuming that the bulk of our readers in Great Britain are amateur bee-keepers, who do not depend upon honey-raising for a liveli- hood, therefore to the majority, first, a few words of comfort may be fitly addressed now that the season 1888 is ended. One of the great recommendations of this pursuit, one of the principal reasons for the growing popu- larity of our hobby, has been that it pays. ; this has been proved over and over again, the question has only been one of doubt as to whether or not one could, in our fickle climate, devote the whole time to bee-keeping and obtain a living by it. On this point the consensus of opinion is that bee-keeping should be combined with some other occupation, such as fruit or poultry farming ; alone it could not be recommended. The occurrence of a dis- astrous succession of fruit, clover, and heather crops, such as we have experienced this season, but adds weight to the advice we have repeatedly given in these columns in answer to inquirers who have thought of making a business of bee-keeping per se. Keeping bees will then pay, because we have more strings than one to our bow, and a single bad honey season does not mean disgust followed by collapse. ' Tis not in mortals to command success, But we'll do more, Semprouius : we'll deserve it.' So let those with whom our bee-keeping is but an agreeable pastime, a true labour of love, take heart of grace, and, with true British courage, fight the harder the more we seem to be surrounded with difficulties. It is only by such an exhibition of pluck that we can show our so-called love for bees and bee-culture to be a sterling feeling and not an empty sentiment, lasting only so long as the couleur ile rose of the hobby — only so long as lasts the golden light gleaming through well-filled honey -jars. Quite a number of proverbial sayings spring into the mind when we urge our readers to have ' a patient continuance in well-doing;' this, by the way, being only a more ancient way of telling us that ' Everything comes to him who knows how to wait.' (We will allow the cynic to get in his jeer edgeway, that ' whilst the grass is growing the horse is starving.') We have often found ' the darkest — the coldest hour, the one before the dawn;' we have found, too, the mere effort to 'take arms against a sea of tri ml iles,' as Shakespeare tells us, 'and by opposing end them.' Who has not felt braced up by a firm determination to get comfort out of disaster by sheer force of will1! Why, the oldest amongst us — old stagers, the steady coaches whose wheels have placidly revolved with the years in an uneventful round of monotony — the monotony of mere routine, these can remember how many of the happiest passages in life have been developed and perfected when there has been no single gleam of hope on the horizon, all dark and dismal everywhere. Be sure we may find much pleasure in sympa- thising with such of our fraternity as have found the year's transactions a loss, all too keenly to be felt perhaps ; we can try to infuse iuto them a little of the spirit of Mark Tapley, who played ' Away with Melancholy ' on a one-key'd flute. We recently saw a couple of bee-keepers returning from the moors with a waggon -load of hives, plodding through a drenching rain for eight miles on a black-dark night ; one of them wheeled a broken tricycle, and both were as happy as sand-boys, wet to the skin as they were, bringing home a dozen hives from which they had not taken a single pound of honey during either clover or heather harvest — on the contrary, they had been forced to feed the bees. England is not in danger (not even of a decline in bee-keeping) so long as we have hearts of this mettle in our midst. Traly, nothing can damp such ardour, and a mishap only makes them ' thankful it's no worse,' sheer animal nerve carries them through breakers into the smooth waters of contentment. Our warmest sympathy is offered to those in the trade who have pluckily launched out in the effort to live by combining bee-keeping with the making of appliances used in the craft. These have had blows with a two-edged sword : — their own bees have earned little or nothing, and there has been very little demand for hives, sections, extractors, and other requisites of the bee-garden. It would be, we believe, a recompense to the trade, if those who have the means would, next season, purchase, instead of making for themselves, such articles as they can. The goods are now-a-days very cheap and well made ; competition has given us many things at low rates, so that it would pay us in the 504 THE BKITISH BEE JOUENAL. [October 18, 1888. long run to keep the competitors in the field until brighter days come, as come they must, when they and we may be repaid for the privations and pinches one has to put up with in such ayear as 1888. THE PAST AND FUTURE. After such a summer (?) as the bees have passed through, it behoves every bee-keeper to see that a disastrous season is not followed by an utter collapse of his army of workers — workers who, unfortunately, have not had the opportunity to store either for their masters or themselves. Already we hear of many stocks dying of starva- tion, and not a few skeppists declare their intention of feeding no more, as they have already fed all the summer in the hope of a turn for the better, and now the bees must go to the wall. Of couse this is only false economy with sugar at present rates. Take, for instance, a common skep, well stocked with bees, and hardly an ounce of food. Rather than let them perish, suppose we give them fifteen pounds of syrup, which, at the outside, will cost not more than three shillings. With a fair prospect of wintering, the following season such stock will be worth at least fifteen shillings, without counting its swarm, and almost certain crop of honey. Is there any question about feeding being a good investment ? The oldest bee-keepers do not remember such a honeyless season as we have just experienced, and it is more than probable that the present generation may not see another such. Apiaries of fifty to one hundred colonies have not given a surplus in total of one hundred pounds ; skeps have been ' taken up ' by the score, and not half-a-dozen pounds of honey have been secured. Many beekeepers have had to feed through the summer, while it has been the exception to find some favoured locality or apiary where the bees have managed to get a living all the time. Such we know of where a small surplus has been given, and some stocks have even stored themselves for winter during the warm spell of weather experienced in September. The past summer has been remarkable in that not a single honey-glut occurred while the main crops were in bloom. We have, of course, ex- perienced poor seasons, but with the present excep- tion we do not ourselves remember when there was not at least one honey-glut, whatever the prevailing weather may have been. There can be no question but that bees will be more valuable next season ; neither can there be any doubt that in the future honey will command a better price than lias ruled for the past year or two, more particularly as American producers have also to complain of a very short crop. It will be remembered that the Americans tried a few years back to swamp our honey market, and more recently the Canadians attempted to establish a demand for their produce. Both ventures have failed, not simply because the efforts put forth were prema- ture, nor that there was no market to supply, but because the producers of neither country were aware of the fact that their own home-markets were not, and never will be, over-stocked with this article when offered in its purest and most attractive fonns. AIDS TO SUCCESS. Having regard to our concluding sentence in the foregoing article, we must confess that there is free scope for honey-producers in this country, notwith- standing we are writing at the close of the most disastrous season on record. We have already shown that prices will improve for another year, but the present experience will not be lost in other ways. Greater economy will be induced, the apiarist will pay more attention to the breeding of his stock, and will want to find why one apiary did fairly well while a hundred others were in a starving con- dition. Was it because of any peculiarity in the location, in the surrounding crops, in the manage- ment, or, what is more than likely, in the strain of bees employed ? We base our calculations upon the latter, and while we consider that the production of honey should be a profitable undertaking, we do not hesi- tate to say that success or failure depends almost entirely upon securing the right kind of bees for the purpose — a strain that will gather aud store honey even in such a season as this has been. Of course a suitable locality is another great point ; and before extending his plant, the bee-keeper who determines to increase his business should con- sider well whether he is in the right situation to warrant him in doing so. It is not simply a question of good honey flora, or of shelter for the apiary. A man may struggle on for years with his bees often too late for the first honey-flow of the district, finding out at last that there is a scarcity of pollen in his district. This item is of far more importance than is generally supposed, for unless a colony has its combs well stored with it, the spring will arrive with stocks dwindling away, while had they a good store of pollen young bees would have been hatching out by thousands. The bees which answer better than any other pure race are without doubt Carniolans, and when crossed with natives, we get workers com- bining the good qualities of both races with superior working capabilities. Unlike the hybrids produced by crossing blacks with Ligurians, the introduction of Carniolan blood into an apiary renders the dis- position of the resulting crosses more amiable than that of the natives. We have repeatedly recommended the intro- duction of these bees, judging from our own experience that the few shillings expended upon a good queen is about the best investment a bee- keeper can make. Apart from the fact that there is greater comfort in handling them, we do not lose sight of their excellent wintering qualities, having known them to come out in spring ttronger than when covered up before winter, while, when crossed with blacks or Syrians, we secure the bees which store while others may be starving. This is no bare statement, but the result of knowledge gained from a con- siderable experience is here presented to the honey- producer of the future. October 18, 1888. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 505 THE WEATHER. Most bee-keepers will admit that one of the greatest hindrances to the bees gathering stores this season has been want of sun. Our readers will therefore be interested in the following extract from the Daily News on the sunless summer we have this year experienced : — ' The publication of the last weekly report of the Meteorological Office enables us to review the weather of the season with regard to the prevalence of bright sunshine. Taking the past thirteen weeks as a whole, it would appear that the total amount of this most essential element has been very deficient in all parts of the country with the exception of Ireland and the north of Scotland. In the former of these regions, the aggregate duration of sunshine has not been more than from 2 to 4 per cent, less than the average of the previous eight years ; while, in the north of Scotland, it has actually been 11 per cent in excess of the normal. Over England, however, matters have been very different, the deficiency varying from 20 per cent in the north-western district, including North Wales, to 28 per cent in the north- eastern and midland counties, and to as much as 34 per cent over the southern and eastern counties. Over all the more central, eastern, and southern parts of England, in fact, the sun has not shown on an average for more than from four to four and a half hours per day, instead of a possible fourteen or fifteen hours. In Scotland the daily average has been about five hours, and in the Channel Islands about six. A comparison with the bril- liant weather of last year gives some very striking results. t >ver England generally the quantity of sunshine regis- tered during the season which has just elapsed has been little more than half the amount recorded a year ago. In the eastern counties the average daily amount this year was 4"3 hours, against 8"5 hours last year ; and in the southern districts 43 hours against 8"4. Owing to the marked absence of sunshine, the deficiency of neat noticed duringthe past summer has been relatively much greater during the daytime than at night, in London the mean of the midday readings for the entire period has been more than 4' below the average, while the deficit in the night values has not amounted to as much as 1°. Notwithstanding the general coolness of the season, the absolute minimum temperature, or, in other words, the lowest reading observed in London on the coldest night, has been higher than any similar value recorded during any summer since the year 187-'!. During- the past three months the thermometer has not descended below 43°. Last year the summer, although so fine and warm, gave us a minimum temperature of 39°, while in the summer of 1880 the sheltered thermometer on one occasion fell as low as ;55°.' Jvebictos. VoORDRACHT OVER HE OoRDEELKUNDIGE BlJEN- teelt, door Karel De Kegel, Brussel. — During the last year or two bee-keeping has taken a start in Belgium, and owing to the interest taken by a few leading men modern methods are coming into vogue. The Revue International has for some time had a considerable circulation, and many copies of our Guide-book, translated by M. Bertrand, have been sold, and latterly his Conduite du Rucher has been eagerly sought for. All this shows that a real, earnest endeavour is being made to improve bee-keepino- in Belgium. These publications are all, however, in French, and, as most of our readers know, every one in Belgium does not speak or read French, so that they are of no use to a large number of the inhabitants. Flemish or Dutch is spoken by these, and in order to bring modern bee-keeping before them the above work by M. Karel De Kesel has been prepared. It does not treat of bee- keeping as a guide-book, but gives a general account, or report, of the modern methods, and the great advantage to bo derived from the proper use of moveable comb- hives over the old-fashioned straw skeps. At the end of the work there are four pages illustrating the hive recommended by M. De Kesel. This is a double-storey hive with frames 44 cents, by 28 cents, for the body, and a slightly shallower frame for the upper storey. The hive is of wood, covered outside with straw, and over the top there is a sloping roof. The frames are made to slide in at the back like in the German hives, and they are kept the right distance apart by nails driven in the top bar near the ends. The moveable back forms the fourth side of the hive, and is pushed up to the frames. It has a roll of felt tucked in all round to keep all warm. These hives can be placed on shelves one above the other and their contents examined from behind. Between the two storeys there is an adapting-board, with an oblong hole in it to aliow the bees to pass up. Although this is a great improvement on the straw skep, we wish M. De Kesel had gone a little further and adopted a hive open- ing from the top, which presents many advantages over the one he has selected. Manipulations are much easier, and enlargement of the hive to the full force of the colony may be effected without limit. M. De Kesel is doing a good work, for he travels the country, being em- ployed by the Government to give lectures on bees. With liim he has a van containing hives, appliances, and different races of bee-s. These form an exhibition, and in every village he visits they are used to illustrate his lectures. This little work, which was felt to be a want, will bring the knowledge of modern systems of bee- keeping witlun the reach of all, and we wish it every success and a large sale. Bee-keepers' Guide, or Manual of the Apiary. By A. J. Cook, Professor of Entomology in t he Michi- gan State Agricultural College. — We are pleased to welcome this the thirteenth edition and fifteenth thousand of Professor Cook's Manual, which first made its appearance as a modest pamphlet in 1876. So much was t his at that time appreciated that it sold rapidly, and Professor Oook has from time to time enlarged it, until it has grown to contain nearly 450 pages. In the present edition there are 110 added pages and 31 illustrations; and it has been in a great measure re-written, to bring it up to the knowledge of the present day. Not only has the Practical part been brought up to the present time, but also the First part — treating of the natural history of the honey-bee — has had full justice dune to it ; for the works of Schiemenz, Schonfeld, and others, have been mentioned, and the reader is made acquainted not only with the progress made in the science connected with bees, but also with the names of those to whom we are indebted for the discoveries. Just fancy any one writing about Parthenogenesis, and not mentioning that to Dzierzon we owe its discovery in connexion with bees made in 1835, and published by him in 1842 ; yet hard as it is possible to believe it, an author has recently done so, and only ment i< ins 1 >zierzon casually in connexion with the introduction of the Italian bee in 1853, which enabled him to prove his discovery to be true, yet never once is lie mentioned as the discoverer. This is the way many books are made ! So conscientious is Professor Cook in acknowledging where he gets his information and giving due credit, that in the preface he even mentions where every woodcut is taken from ; and this is in striking contrast to the ways of com- pilers of the present day, who copy right and left without even so much as alluding to those from whose works they copy. It is in the first part of Professor Cook's Manual that we find most of the additions, and it is heie that it contrasts favourably with Vol. I. of Cheshire's work. In referring to Cheshire's book, Professor Cook has dis- covered— although perhaps he is not the first — that this 506 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [October 18, 1888. is a compilation ; and says that ' many of the pages and illustrations are taken bodily from such writers as Schiemenz, Girard, Wolff, &c, and, we are pained to say, generally without any credit whatever. The author gives as original many views which others have previously advanced ; and worse, his quotations — un- marked quotations — show that he knew he was claiming what was rightfully another's.' Those who have Ches- hire's work have only to compare, for instance, pages 149 to 151 and 200 to 205, with Girard's pages 56 to 58 and 80 to 93, to judge for themselves. The same ap- plies to many of the illustrations, and it is funny that in one of these Cheshire commits the same error he so severely criticises in Cook's eleventh edition. The sections on Plate III., although nothing is said of this, are taken from Wolff 's monograph ; and in copying Section F it has become reversed, so that the hairs are to the left side, whereas in Wolff's (Plate IV., fig. 31) they are to the right, otherwise they are identically the same. Another curious error is made when he is copying from Dujardin — although his writing would lead one to suppose it was original research — the sizes of the brains of insects. Dujardin gives the sizes in letters, and states that in the red ant the brain is ' deux cent quatre vingt si.iieme,'1 or -jisth part of the whole body. Cheshire gives it as tjJu, and this in French would be ' deu.r cent quatre vingt seizieme,' — an error easily committed by a person not thoroughly conversant with the French language. Looking through the book before us, we find, amongst other things, that in writing about the races of bees Professor Cook appends the following chart, which he thinks represents pretty accurately the species, races, and varieties of the genus Apis. Species. Apis Indica, Fab. Apis florea, Fab. Apis dorsata, Fab. Races. f A. dorsata nigripennis, I Varieties. Apis mt'llifiea r Caruiolan or Krainer. ■^ Heath. | Austrian. LCommon black. Latr. , A. dorsata bicolor, 1 King- , A. dorsata zonata, ^ Smith. rA. mellinea nigra. G man bee. A. melliiica fasciata. Egyptian bee. Syrian ? South Palestine ? Cyprian ? Italian ? Greek ? Bonnat ? Caucasian ? China bee. A. melliiica umcolor, Latr. Madagascar. A. melliiica Adansonii. African bee. Where a race is followed by an interrogation point, there is a question if it should not be considered a variety of the last preceding race not thus marked. He thinks lOssibly through the law of variation each race might :ave originated independently, or possibly all — such as Italian, Cyprian, Greek, Sec. — as varieties of the Egyp- tian bee ; although Vogel considers, after a long series of experiments, their origiu is a cross between the yellow and black races. In Chapter II. The Anatomy and Physiologyof Insects, and the Honey Bee in particular, are treated. Here we find many new illustrations, and much fresh matter. Describing the antenna;, he agrees with those who, like Leydig, Erichson, Hauser, and others, consider these the organs of smell, and tells us that ' while Erichson first discovered the pits in the antennae, Burmeister discovered the sensitive nerve-ending hairs at their bottom, and Leydig the perforated pegs or tooth-like hairs.' Further, he says, ' We may state, then, that the antennal organ of smell consists of a free or sunken hair-like body, which opens by a pore or canal to a many-nucleated ganglionic nerve. We thus understand how the bee finds the nectar, the fly the 1" n meat, and the drone and other male insects their mates. That the antenna; are organs of smell are generally admitted, but some have from time to time endeavoured to show that they also contain the organs of hearing. Taking this view, we find Dr. Braxton Hicks, Graber, and Mayer, but the evidence they bring forward is not suffi- cient to satisfy scientists that these depressions are really organs of audition. This also is our view, and is the one taken by Professor Cook, for he says, ' Mr. Cheshire speaks of small pits in the antenna;, which he regards as organs of hearing. He gives, however, no proof of this, and the pits that he describes are not at all ear-like in their structure. Dr. Packard says that there is no proof that any insects except crickets and locusts have real organs of hearing. He here refers to the ear-like organs situated on the sides of the body of these insects. Dr. C. S. Minot, in reviewing Graber's work, says that it has not been demonstrated that even these tympanal organs are auditory, and adds that all attempts to demonstrate the existence of on auditory organ in insects have failed. That insects are conscious of vibrations, which with us cause sound, I think no observing person can doubt. . . . Every apiarist has noticed the effect of various sounds made by the bees upon their comrades of the hive, and how contagious is the sharp note of anger, the low hum of fear, and the pleasant tone of a new swarm as they commence to enter their new home. Now, whether insects take note of their vibrations as we recognise pitch, or whether they just distinguish the tremor, I think no one knows. There is some reason to believe that their delicate touch organs may enable them to discriminate between vibrations even more acutely than can we by the use of our ears. A slight jar will quickly awaken a colony of hybrids, while a loud noise will pass unnoticed. If insects can appreciate with great delicacy the different vibratory conditions of the air by an excessive development of the sense of touch, then undoubtedly the antenna; may be great aids. Dr. Clemens thought that insects could only detect atmospheric vibrations. So, too, thought Linneus and Brunet. From our present knowledge this view seems the most reasonable one, for nothing answering in the least to ears, structurally, has yet been discovered.' We are ourselves inclined to the same view, and do not see any reason why bees should not be sensible to vibra- tions which produce no effect upon us. Our ear is so fashioned that it is sensible to vibrations reaching at the outside to 38,000 in a second. The sensation of red is produced when 470 millions of millions of vibrations enter the eye in a similar time. But between these two numbers vibrations produce on us only the sensation of heat, for we have no special organs adapted to them. There is, therefore, no reason why bees should not be sensible to vibrations even with their touch-organs which do not affect us. We have examined the antenna; re- peatedly with the microscope, both superficially and section by section ; and although using instruments second to none in efficiency, we have failed to trace any con- nexion between the organs described by Graber and Mayer and an auditory apparatus. The title of Graber's work above referred to is Uber neue otocystenartige Sinnesorgane der Insecten, 1878; and Mayer's Supra certi organi di senso nel/e Antenne dei Ditteri, 1878. {To be continued.) THE POLLINATION AND PERFORATION OF FLOWERS. The perforation of flowers by insects, and in a few cases by birds, to get at the nectar by fraudulent means, is a matter of common observation ; hut in a few cases this is the normal way of procedure, as has been shown by Darwin and Muller, for insects are obliged to perforate the lax inner membrane of some orchids (nearly all of the British Ophrea;, according to Darwin) October 18, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 507 in order to get the nectar, 'which lies within their tissues ; and in the case of Laburnum, &c, Muller has shown that insects puncture the thickened bases of the standard petal in order to get nectar. I ought also to call attention to the destructive work of species of Megachile, which cut out parts of the petals of roses, pelargoniums, &c, and use them to line their nests. A century ago Sprengel noticed that flowers were per- forated. Since his time many European as well as American observers have noticed perforation. Among them I may mention Darwin, Delpino, Ogle, Kerner, Loew, and Hermann Muller. To Loew, and especially Muller, are we greatly indebted for painstaking labour in giving lists of flowers and their visitors, and, with the exception of these and a few by other investigators, we have no statistical tables on the pollination of flowers and their insect visitors, so that we have little accurate information as to what insects perforate flowers. It is of value to know not only that a given flower is perforated, but also what relation the insect bears to the flower which it perforates. It is, indeed, interesting to follow out these relations from Muller's tables. . . . Darwin, in his 'Cross and Self-Fertilisation,' &c, states that out of many hundred specimens of red clover examined by him, nearly all were perforated, and he has even seen whole fields in the same condition. Thos. Belt, and others, have noticed the same thing. It is quite as common for red clover to be perforated in this country as it is in Europe. Italian Bees and the Red Clover. — In the summer of 1883, in the vicinity of La Crosse, Wis., I noticed large numbers of honey-bees on the flowers of red clover, and wondered whether they made perfora- tions, or what they were doing. In some cases they obtained pollen, but in a vast majority of cases nectar was collected through perforations made by some other insect. Among bee-keepers there is a notion that the Italian bee is able to get nectar from red clover. I doubt whether this is true, for, in my experience, I never found them collecting nectar in the normal way ; they seemed to collect only through perforations made by some other insect. One thing will show, in part at least, why honey-bees go to the red clover at certain times and not on other occasions. It is a well-known fact that the amount of nectar secreted by a plant varies according to seasons and locality. There are periods, as I have had occasion repeatedly to observe, when hive-bees cannot collect enough to supply their young, and they then freely use the perforations made by Bombus, and other insects ; but when there is an abundance of nectar they pass over fields of red clover, and when Monarda punctata is in flower, and has a good supply of nectar, they will pass over fields of white clover, and fly some distance to fields of wild bergamot. Although the rule seems to be that honey-bees do not perforate flowers, there seem to be exceptions, for no less an authority than Hermann Muller states that they perforate the flowers of Erica tetralix, using their mandibles to bite holes in the tube of the corolla. The tongue of the honey - bee is only 6 mm. long, so that it is not able to get the nectar otherwise in these early flowers. Later he found honey - bees collecting nectar in the normal way, but he failed to observe whether these late flowers were smaller or not. It is not always an easy matter to tell whether an insect makes the perforations, especially when these are in the form of longitudinal slits, or whether it is merely looking for the perforations of some other insect. In flowers where the tissue is firm, these slits close over quite effectively, and are not readily seen. While the honey-bee makes, at most, few perforations, Muller re- cords many cases in which it uses perforations made by other insects ; but it is sufficient here to refer to his works for these. In this country, Meehan believe3 that the honey-bee perforates the flowers of Salvia splendens. Delpino, Comes, and a few other observers, also state that the honey-bee perforates corollas. I think, however, that, generally, honey-bees only usj the perforations made by other insects, and they are certainly quick to perceive these perforations. Muller records the most interesting case of Salvia Sclarea, in which the tube of the corolla is so long that the honey-bee is not able to get the nectar in a normal way. It made several attempts, but did not try to perforate the corollas. When, finally, it found several in which the corollas had just loosened, it imme- diately began to sip the little drops of nectar which still remained attached to the base of the corolla. It is cer- tainly a clear case, for the insect tried in every way to get nectar, except by perforating the corolla. The examples of flowers perforated by Bombus terres- tris show that it mainly pierces those from which it cannot get nectar in a normal way. Muller has found this interesting difference between its visits to flowers on the plains and valleys, and to those of alpine and sub- alpine regions ; that while in the lower regions it per- forates man}' flowers where the nectar is in part accessible to it . . . others are visited in a normal way in alpine regions. Muller also found a constant difference in the length of its tongue. In the Alps its tongue was usually 8-11 mm. long, while in the lowlands only 7-i> mm. long. Bombus terrestris is one of the most abundant of European humble-bees, and this is perhaps one reason why it uses these illegal means to get nectar. But B. mastrucalus, as Muller's investigation shows, is the worst enemy to alpine flowers. Notwithstanding that its tongue is of sufficient length to enable it to reach the nectar of some flowers ... it perforates them, and only pollinates such flowers as ... it could not well perforate unless it were to go to more trouble than getting the nectar in a normal way involves. Cabi'ENTEr- Bees and Flowers. — The carpenter- bees, belonging to the genus Xylocopa, do considerable injury to flowers in more southern latitudes, where they abound. Xylocopa Virginica, according to Cresson, is found in the middle, southern, and western States, and of the twenty- seven species of this genus mentioned in his catalogue, this is the most northern, and has the widest distribution. The species no doubt cause considerable annoyance, as Mann, Ryder, and Miss Murtdfeldt have shown. Mr. Mann was the first to describe one method which it uses to perforate flowers, in which ' the insect applies its sharp and wedge - shaped maxilla? to the grooved surface of the tube, and slits this open 3 or 4 mm. from the base.' Dr. Schneck and Mr. Van Ingen each records several cases in which the tube of the corolla had longitudinal slits, but as perforators they found humble-bees {Bum- bus?). As these slits correspond so well to the slits I found on the tube of the corolla Phlomis, I bring them up in this connexion. I frequently found this Xylocopa in the act of making longitudinal slits in the tube of the corolla of Phlomis tuberosa. The insect applies its powerful mandibles against the tube of the corolla until it gains entrance, then, thrusting its maxilla: in as far as it can in a longitudinal direction, the tissue yields easily, so that longitudinal slits are the result. At other times the mandibles are drawn backward and forward, thus causing longitudinal slits. The number of slits varied from one to three. The insect did not take much trouble to find the old slits, but went directly at making new ones, as it seemed to be easier for it to do this than to waste time in looking for the old ones. Wasps Perforating Flowers. — Wasps also per- forate flowers, especially such as are adapted to this class of insects. . . . Mr. Robertson has reported to me several interesting cases where wasps use perforations, and, at 508 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [October 18, 1888. least in one instance, make them. At Orlando, Fla., he found tive species of wasps which sucked the flowers through perforations, which are at first very small, but finally large and irregular. At Clinton, Mo., he observed that Odynerus boraminatus made perforations in the tube of the corolla of Monarda Bradburiana, which, as he thinks, were made by the wasp taking the tube between her jaws and cutting towards the mouth of the corolla, thus loosening a triangular piece which could be closed over the opening. In the Botanic Garden I frequently found the flowers of this species perforated, but the per- forations were in the form of longitudinal slits. While wasps do not generally perforate flowers, they are not above using those perforated by sp?cies of Bombus and other insects; for these, in their rapid visits to flowers, are certain to leave some nectar. Insects much lower in the scale than wasps frequently use the perfora- tions made by species of Bombus, as Muller has shown to he the case in a small Ichneumon fly, which eagerly sought the nectar left in the flowers. — L. H. Pammell (Shaw School of Botany.) (To be continued.') JOTTINGS BY AMATEUR EXPERT. Mel Sapit Omnia. Mel. — Time was when there was a feud between the clan McNally and myself. I am a most unlucky chap : if I do not get into the wars by some remarks from my own cranky brain, some one is certain to point out some- thing to me at which I am bound to rush if it is an abuse, and down comes the trouble on my poor devoted head. But we always manage somehow to make matters straight, be it amongst Britishers or Americans. Well, the McNallys and myself have sworn peace, — at least till next time, and so Mr. John McNally has sealed the truce with some real heather honey. The railway people managed to smash some of it as a matter of course, but apart from that it was extremely good ; in fact, nothing like it can be ' got out of Scotland.' Mel (?) again. But yesterday I received a glass bottle containing a substance that was bought in Norfolk this summer as 1887 honey. It looks like greystone colour paint ; it is in a frothy ferment ; it stinks horribly, and tastes like the combined essence of all the yeast and bottoms of stale beer-barrels rolled into a concentrated viscid mass. The vendor of this is known as ' Honey Mary' in her country-side. The history of the stuff I much wish to learn. I certainly never met with any- thing fit to compare with it. Presents. — The post brings me a variety of things because I 'jot' from time to time in this column. My last present was a large photograph of our Canadian friend Mr. McKnight's stall at the Toronto Honey Fair last month. The display reminds me of our own at South Kensington in 1886 ; it is composed chiefly of run honey in 1-lb. screw-stopper glass bottles. There are a few sections and a few square tins, containing probably a dozen or twenty pounds each, but the whole erection is capped with flowering plants in pots, and over all a group of national flags. At the end of the stall, which is sur- rounded with crush barriers, stands Mr. McKnight him- self. He looks well and ' at-home ;' and the scene recalls the ' Honey House ' at the Indian and Colonial Exhibi- tion in 1886 very vividly. On the walls of the building are placards — ' Honey, some reasons why it should be eaten,' showing the Canadians have the same ' push ' at home as they displayed with us. I am very grateful as well as flattered by our friend's remembrance of me, and sincerely hope the stall showed a different appearance at the end of the show. Dry Sugar Feeding. — I see the lazy bee-keepers — I beg Dr. Bartrum's pardon — are recommending this system at this season. ' Useful Hints ' told us the other day how to make syrup in bulk. If that is too much trouble people only deserve their bees to die. This season, above all others, bees require all their energies being conserved, and yet people give their bees hours of labour carrying water to save themselves a very little trouble. When I read their letters I wish I could put them on a pump crank for as many hours as they give their bees ' penal servitude' carting water to mix with dry sugar. Rapid Feeders. — I have been using llutchings', which is made of zinc. I can get each stock to take syrup given warm at the rate of 1 lb. per hour. I have fed them through the day and given them rest at night, and have had no robbing ; but I have been careful and not gone slopping the syrup about, and kept the entrances closed to about one inch only. Giant Globe Thistle. — When attention was first called to this plant I had seeds sent me from three different localities — one in the far north, a second from Mr. Cowan, and a third from ' across the pond.' I find they all produced the same plant, and it undoubtedly is one of the first bee-plants I have ever grown. I have been cleaning and drying the seeds during the past week, and as I broke up the large globular heads the house was filled with a honeyed sweetness. If any one cares for a few seeds I shall be happy to extend my offer made to ' Apis II.' last week. Send a stamped addressed enve- lope to the Editor, and I will send you some seeds as long as they last. The Jews and Honey. — Mr. Neighbour called our attention to the consumption of honey by the Jews a short time since. ' Honey Mary's ' sample referred to above led me to look into the subject in Scripture. I find honey was not only considered a blessing and a symbol of fruit fulness and pronounced 'good' (Prov. xxiv. 13), but was coupled with ' leaven,' and forbidden in sacrifices. Leaven, we know, is a symbol of malice and wickedness ; but why should honey be classed with leaven ? Was it because it symbolises mere human kindness, which, like malice, is corrupt, and drew from the lips of the Saviour the rebuke to Peter, ' Get thee behind Me, adversary t The sample sent that has led me to these thoughts are as highly fermentable as any leaven and far more offensive. I commenced with ' Mel, I will end with it — ' Pleasant words are as an honey- comb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.' May these ' Jottings ' be not only sweetened with Mel, but savoured with Sal .' '—Amateur Expert. Rattle-Snakes and Honey. — Near Fayetteville, Ark., two young farmers named Young and Stewart were out hunting a few days ago, and discovered bees passing out and in through a hole about forty feet from the ground in a large black oak, which was some four feet in diameter. Of course they thought that they had made a rich discovery. They were not then prepared to cut the tree, and started for home. On their way, Young bought Stewart's interest in the find, paying one dollar cash for it. Xext day Young invited several friends to help him cut the tree and share the treasure it contained. So, supplied with axes and buckets, they proceeded to the woods, and cut down the tree. After it fell crashing to the ground, Young ran with a handful of leaves and stopped the hole through which the bees entered the tree, but soon they came swarming out at a split made in the trunk by falling. One of his friends pulled the plug out of the hole, and immediately a rattle- snake came crawling out, coiled himself, raised his flat head, and gave out that paralyzing sound with his rattles which, when once heard, is never forgotten. He was soon despatched, and the work of discovery went on. They then chopped into the log, split out a long block, and there found two other rattlers, which were promptly killed. What promised to be a delicious feast only proved to be a mass of dry comb. The tree was perfectly covered at the stump, and the snakes to reach the hollow had to climb forty feet. — Globe Democrat. October 18, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 509 OLamtyariiiMtt. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should, be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Saoios, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, Jtc, must be addressed only to *The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.G.* All business communications relating to Advertisements, Ac, must be addressed to Mr. J. Hockle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). *m* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. PREPARING FOR WINTER. [1843.] At last a fine change in the weather has allowed the bees to work here on the ivy, which is moat abundant, and now is covered with bloom. It has opened later than usual this year. The 22nd of September was the first day on which I saw bees on it. A cold snap, with frosts every night, kept things very quiet, but yesterday and to-day they are as busy as on a June day. Numbers of bees in straw skeps have died out already of starvation ; bar-frame hives would have done the same but for constant looking after. The number of sections taken everywhere must be unusually small. One gentleman near this actually smothered seventeen hives, would not have them driven, and had only two of those with any honey in them. What a cruel waste of innocent and useful life, when it has been proved to demonstration that bees need, not be smothered to take their honey ! Smothering bees should be con- sidered and treated as cruelty to animals. Large breadths of plants affording bee-pasturage should be largely planted. Of Limnanthes an acre would not be at all too much, if one had a fair-sized apiary and the land todo so ; is easily propagated — in fact, if once sown, it needs but to have the land renewed year by year, and in a fine season would give a good account of itself. Berberis Darwini, a beautiful shrub, Buddlea globosa, Ribes sanguined, Helleborus niger and its varieties, called by some the Lenten Christmas rose, blooming from mid- January to April, in every shade of colour, from purple to white, many of them most beautiful, and affording pollen when crocus cannot be touched. Of these I propose planting out at least 200 for spring blooming. I do not think I ever saw any mention of this as a bee-plant in the B. B. Journal, except in Abbott's list of bee-plants given some years since. A plant of Helleborus Abschasicus, measuring four feet across, threw up thirty-six bloom- spikes, which give, on an average, six blooms. That will show what one may expect from established plants. Each bloom is good for three weeks, as the pollen ripens in succession, one set of anthers falling when ripe, and being succeeded by another. Those plants spoken of above, also all spring bloomers, should be planted in quantity. Trifolium incarnatum, vetches, mustard, aie all most valuable, especially the latter, as it can be grown in succession. Buckwheat is a great forage plant, but'gives the hives a most unpleasant smell. Small quantities of bee-plants are valueless when honey is the object ; they cannot give a surplus unless the supplies are near and in quantity. Any one thinking otherwise is only deceiving himself. Anemone blanda at catalogue prices would not leave much profit on honey, nor woidd Scrophilum nodosa, that stinking and per- nicious weed, leave much either. — John J. Smyth, Rathcoursey, BallinacHssa, Cork, October 11?A. rather ' bumptious' epistle which appeared in your issue of the 20th September. If ' A. E.' is correct in his con- clusions— and I have every reason to think he is, judging from his wide connexion with most of the bee- keepers in England — I think they have got their eyes opened so far as trading in foreign queens is concerned. I for one should like to see this subject probed to the root ; and I have no doubt in the hands of such a writer as 'A. E.' the matter will be goue into in right ernest. The opinion I hold now I have always held, that the craze for having foreign queens would lead to such a state of matters as now disclosed. Those trafficking in foreign queens, &c, have done well in the past, and at the same time the parties who were reaping the benefits spare no pains in tilling the columns of our bee papers about the great qualities of Oarniolans, Cyprians, and other sorts. Why have British bee- keepers been so long and so easily deceived in the matter? Mr. Benton will require to make his remarks more easily understood ; and if he has not been guilty of the charge now made against his queens, he must not try and bring in the names of others, even though they are opposed to him as brothers in trade. We shall wait patiently until Mr. Blow returns and hear what he has got to say in the matter. — John D. McNally, Springburn, Glasgow. CARNIOLAN bees. [1844.] Mr. Benton v. ' A. E.' — I was very pleased to see in last week's issue of the B.B.J, our respected friend, 'Amateur Expert's' reply to Mr. Benton's DO QUEENS EVER LAY EGGS IN ROYAL CELLS ? [1845.] I see by the replies to Query 669 that some are still in doubt that a queen ever lays eggs in qneen-cells. Formerly there used to be many such, but I had supposed that at this late day and age (after such men as Gallup, Grimm, Shuck, and others, had testified that they had seen queens deposit eggs in queen-cells) the doubting ones had given up the old theory of the queen hating a rival so badly that she would in no way contribute toward the getting of such an one ; but in this I see that 1 am mistaken. It seems to me that the way an egg is attached to a queen-cell should be enough to convince any one that none but a queen could so put the egg, occupying the same position that it occupies in a worker-cell. I never saw a queen in the act of laying in a queen- cell, but my hired man did, which gave me positive proof that what I had long considered as a fact was a literal truth. God said to all of His creation, after He had made it and pronounced it good, ' Multiply and replenish the earth ;' then why should not the queen perform her part of tins work as well as the mothers of all else living ? That one queen will kill another, when two come in contact, does not positively argue that the mother- bee should not do her part in keeping the colony provided with a means by which it could exist after she had left with a swarm. What difference could it make with her, after she had left, how many queens sprang up, so long as none of them could possibly harm her ? I am well aware that the workers do once in a great while carry eggs from an ordinary cell to an embryo queen-cell ; still this is not done nearly so often as larva; are so carried, and when eggs are so cavried, it is very easily 'detected by the experienced eye, for they are placed in the cells in almost any shape, save the manner in which the queen does her work. I once had a strong colony swarm, and before I could get around to do my part of the work they returned, the queen having her wings clipped. Thinking that I would be already for them the next day, I did not try to divide them in the afternoon, as I sometimes do, to save time for the swarms of the next day, but left them as they were. The next day, when they came out again, I was on hand, but before they were fairly out of the hive another swarm came tumbling out of a very popu- lous hive and went with them. 510 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [October 18, 1888. No sooner were they all in the air than the whole of thern were re-inforced by another swarm from another hive, which I had said was not to swarm that year on account of their having- a failing queen. This last hive had been opened an hour previous, and all queen-cells cut off, so as to keep them as I wished for a few days, till I could get some queens fertilised which I had under headway; and one can imagine my surprise and chagrin when, before this last swarm had got two-thirds out, the whole mass went piling into the hive of the colony that I had determined should not swarm. After a few moments' thought 1 concluded to leave them as they were (only I put on section room to the capacity of 100 pounds, or over) to see what would become of it. The next morning, before 8 o'clock, out they came, and were hived in an empty hive, after giving them one of the good queens which were kept back the day before. Having secured them, and having the old queen that I had said should not swarm in a cag'e, I went to the hive to inspect it before I let her go back in. Now came the greatest surprise of my life in the way of queen-cells, for by turning to my diary I see that by actual count there were 423 — 270 of them having eggs and larvae in, when less than eleven hours before there was not a queen-cell in the hive. Here was where I first detected the difference between eggs carried to a queen-cell by the bees and those placed in them by the queen. I decided that 188 eggs had been laid by the queen in these cells, by their being attached by the point to the bottom of the cells, and 17 were carried there by the bees, as they were in all positions in the cells ; 71 cells had larvae, which the bees must have carried there, of course. These larva; were from two to three days old, as nearly as I could judge, and all of them were literally swimming in royal jelly, as much so as any I ever saw of that age in my life. Here is a point worthy of note for those who claim that no queen can be really good unless started from the egg and fed as a queen. Since then I have a few times had eggs and lame re- moved from the comb I had given to a queenless colony, to a dry comb at its side ; but in all these instances the queen- cells were built first, and the eggs or larvae deposited in them, the position of the eggs resembling that which I have described above ; but as I said near the beginning, the cases are quite rare where either eggs or larva? are removed from one cell to another, and three larva? are removed to where one egg is removed ; for the bees can get a queen more quickly from the larva? than from the egg. The usual way of working in a queenless colony to secure a queen is, to float the royal larva when chosen, out to near the end of the worker-cell in which it is, and when there, turn a queen-cell down over the ends of the cell. Nearly all writers tell us that the bees when made queenless tear down adjoining cells so as to build a queen-cell over the larva which they have selected for a queen ; but this is not done once in one thousand times, according to my experience, and not then unless the combs are new, not having any cocoons in them, or the selected larva is near a hole in the comb, or the edge thereof.— G. M. Doolittle, Borodino, N. Y. (American Bee Journal). DISPLAY OF HONEY AND HONEY-COMB. Suggestions fob Futtjee Schedules. [184G,] These should be confined to a given weight, say, two classes,one under 50 lbs., the other under 100 lbs., this, in my opinion, would bring out more competitors, and at the same time give small bee-keepers an opportunity of competing with those who probably could stage 500lb. as easily as a small bee-keeper could stage 1001b. Two distinct classes, and those competing in the one debarred from entering in the other would, in my opinion, be a marked improvement, and give a chance to small bee- owners that hitherto they have had no choice in the matter. Sections. I see no good reason that twelve or twenty-four sections should be required for a class if three or six will do the same purpose. A small bee-keeper may be able to pick out three excellent boxes from his limited supply while he cannot manage twelve or twenty-four the same way as those who have hundreds to select from. The same applies to run-honey as the foregoing, and I have no hesitation in saying that increased entries would be the result if such a rule was adopted. I would suggest that there should be two distinct classes for comb and extracted honey — i.e., a class for comb-honey of a previous year, and one for the current year. There would then be an opportunity given of showing the superiority of the one season's produce over the other, if any ; also two distinct classes for run-honey, the one in liquid state, the other granulated. This would give all a chance, and specially those whose honey granulate twenty-four hours after being extracted. The reason I ask for consideration of these points is to check the great risk that is connected with carrying such a large quantity of honey, say, from 300 to 400 miles, and also the expense of carriage, while those who reside within a certain radius of where the competition is being held can stage the whole produce of their apiary without much expense or risk either. When the quantity is plainly stated on a schedide we will then know what to work for, and be able to compete with our friends. — John D. McNally. WHY SOME HONEY IS NOT SAFE AS A WINTER FOOD FOR BEES. [1847.] Some kinds of honey contain a great part of indigestible substance ; for instance, honey from the bark louse, or from some kinds of pine trees in Ger- many. This honey is clammy and smells like rosin, and has been known to cause dysentery in every hive of a large vicinity. The trouble is that the intestines of the bees are too soon overloaded. If late-gathered, thin and watery honey is the greatest part of the winter food ; it may absorb some more water, may ferment, and the acetic acid may cause a sickness of the alimentary canal that will lead to dysen- tery. If the bees can have an occasional cleansing flight, they may recover in both cases, but long confine- ment, or very low temperature, and the consequent increased consumption of unsuitable stores, may prove fatal to the colony. Some honey candies very easily, especially very thin and watery honey of some spring flowers or rape. I know such honey candies in the summer-time. Such honey freshly gathered contains much cane sugar and little reducible sugar. By-and-by this cane sugar will be changed to reducible sugar, and thereby some water is bound chemically, and this causes the candying in warm weather. If the bees have no other honey for winter food, they can't eat it except they have some water to make a solution of the honey. They uncap the honey and try to lick out every particle of the fluid from the honey, while the hard sugar part will drop down on the bottom board. The bees get very uneasy, and in a short time they will show dysentery. A quart of water given in a proper way would save the colony. Other kinds of candied honey may be safe for winter food, because the bees cluster on this honey and make it liquid by animal heat. Good basswood and clover honey is surely as good for winter food as sugar. So we see unhealthy honey is easily to be determined without any analysis. Pollen of itself will not cause dysentery. The bees do October 18, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 511 not eat pollen before they commence to breed, after this they need pollen and get uneasy if they have none. So the absence of pollen can cause dysentery, not vice versa. I think winter losses are caused 99 cases out of 100 by starvation. The next cause is dysentery, and this is again caused by — 1, Bad honey ; or, 2, too cool a winter quarter; 3, too wet and mouldy hives and combs; 4, want of water ; 5, too early breeding ; and 6, too high a temperature, by which the bees get uneasy. All this will do no harm, if the bees can have a cleansing flight, but will be fatal if the bees are confined very long. This, briefly, is my opinion on the question. — L. Stachelhausen (American B. Journal). A VISIT TO THE ROYAL BERKS APIARIES, WORLD'S END, NEWBURY. [1848.] Not having seen Mr. Woodley since the show at the Colonial two or three years ago, I wrote to him in- forming him I should be pleased to pay him a visit some time this autumn. I received a reply saying that he should be very glad to see me, but that he hud no honey to show me. Accordingly I dropped him a line to Bay that I would be at his place on Monday the 24th of September. We had had nearly a fortnights tine weather previously. I started about 7 a.m., and had scarcely got half way to Leamington before it began to rain, and it did come down most of the time I was in the train. However, it cleared off just before I arrived at Hamp- stead Norris Station, and found friend Woodleywaiting there for me. After mutual congratulations we got outside the station, when to my surprise I found he had a trap there. He told me he was going round to Hermitage to fetch some stocks of bees in skeps, and this enabled him to meet me, thereby killing twobirds with one stone. We accordingly went. I noticed that the tees were the old-fashioned English bees, and as the season up there had been nearly as bad as we have had it, the stocks were very light, and would require a deal of feeding. On our way to WorkTs End we came up with a young man, who I afterwards found was some- what of a dealer in bees. He expressed rather strong- opinions against bee-keepers' associations, saying that he, and others had told him the same, did not reap any benefit by them for the half-crown subscribed ; he rather seemed to think it was through them that the price of honey was lowered so much last year. He did not seem to realise that so many more people had become bee-keepers, and by this means so much more honey had been obtained. After a little discussion, we proceedi-d on our way up a road that, Mr. Woodley said, was an old Roman road, leading one way to Winchester. The mile or two that we went up it was very sandy, and I could not help remarking that if the Romans had had cannon in their day they would have made it a better and more solid road. Presently we emerged on to a good road, and not very far up it was Mr. Woodley 's cottage, and a little on one side, on a nice little lawn, stood three stocks of bees in bar-fi-tnne hives, which Mr. Woodley said were his trade-mark ; while from the road, as we went up in the trap, could be seen many of his stocks of bees further back in the garden. When we arrived, I was introduced to Mrs. Woodley and their daughter : they have a son who is away from home now, and was shown a little hive that he had made, and kept humble bees in when he was at home. I was ushered into a nice cosy room, and having dined, we went out into the garden taking a look all round the apiary, and discussing many points of bee management. The afternoon was very dull, but I noticed a great many bees on the sunflowers and borage, which were flowering about the garden in great profusion. On taking a glance round, the preponderance of the Combination hive is quite marked, though comb honey is Mi-. W.'s forte. I asked Mr. W. how many stocks he had got, and this is something like it : — Fifty-six in Combination hives, four in makeshift hives (all these have frames parallel to the entrance), also twelve stocks in Woodbury chaff hives, part with frames parallel to entrance, and part at right angles to entrance, also six colonies in twin hives, frames at right angles, also twenty colonies in straw skeps. Mr. W. said he had taken especial notice of something like forty stocks in skeps this season, outside his own apiary, and had found combs built at every conceivable angle to the entrance, proving, to his satisfaction, that bees are not guided by any rule in the matter, and that they are guided by convenience of attachments of comb to domicile to which they build ; and as far as he was able to judge by his eye, the stools were level on which the stocks stood. Speaking of brace combs, and the means of preventing their attachment to the bottom of the sections, we should like something (more particularly myself) that would not hinder the bees, like, as we think, the ex- cluder-zinc does; however, I have got one of the Raynor honey-boards, and hope to be able to test it another season. As regards honey, Mr. W. had a better honey- flow the early part of the season than I had in my locality, some of his stocks not requiring to be fed very much. After looking all around we went into the house, and Mrs. W. showed me her plan of glazing sections, which I consider very expeditious. We then went up into the room where the crates of sections, extractor, foundation, wax, &c, are stored. Mrs. W. said that it took her four days scraping propolis off the sections and crates, and rearranging them, remarking to me that they will be first-rate to put on hives another season. On going downstairs again Mr. W. showed me his silver and bronze medals and certificates, of which he has a large and varied number, and last, but not least, a beautiful silver cup, out of which I had some mead or metheglin, which was first-rate. Then, looking at the time, we found that the afternoon had slipped away so fast there was only just time to get tea and be off. So, having wished Mrs. Woodley good-bye, there was an hour's walk to the station, to which Mr. Woodley ac- companied me. We had many matters to discuss by the way, and got to the station just in time ; and having bid Mr. W. good-bye, off I went at 6.33 p.m., and got to Leamington about 9.30 p.m., and had a five-mile walk home in the rain (which had commenced again), arriving about 11 p.m., rather tired, but much gratified by my day's outing. — John Walton, Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington. A JOURNEY FROM THE MOORS. [1849.] Having decided to fetch our bees from the heather on Saturday, September 29th, we made arrange- ments accordingly, and having engaged a pony and borrowed a rully, we took the pony to fetch the latter, and found that some one had been before us and borrowed it on French leave, so we had to go and hunt it up : and, having found it, we commenced our journey after a delay of three quarters of an hour, reaching the moors at half-past four. We commenced at once to pack our bees, tying tape round the frames and placing pieces of wood between the frame ends, wedging all up tight to prevent the frames rocking, as we had to go over four miles of rough road and finish with three miles of good. The frames we covered with perforated zinc tacked to a frame to allow a space over the top bars, and screwed down to the hive sides. Darkness came upon us before we had finished, and, to make matters worse, rain began to fall pretty fast ; however, as we had got zinc on all the hives, the bees were none the worse for the rain. We loaded the rully, placing the hives upon a good layer of ling, covering them with the hive-covers, so they had 512 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [October 18, 1888. plenty of ventilation, and were kept dry at the same time; the section crates (alas! almost empty) we placed in the outer cases covered with old bags. We finished loading about 7.45, and the night was so dark that we could not see our hand before us, to use a nautical phrase ; and the rain came down rather too fast to be pleasant, which made the roads in a fearful state. We had not provided ourselves with a lantern, so were com- pelled to proceed very cautiously, my friend, Mr. C r, walking a few paces in front of the horse so that he could inform us when we came to a turn in the road, myself walking beside the rully, whilst Charlie W s (also a bee-keeper) led the pony ; and it took us all our time to keep the road. Twice were we brought to a full stop through Mr. C. shouting — ' Stop ! or we shall be in a a dyke ! ' Charlie and the driver did not require to be told twice, I can assure you. We then went and had to feel for the road with our feet and umbrellas, as it turned suddenly to the right, on the left of which ran a dyke ; but by careful navigation, and a good look-out, we reached the turnpike road without any mishap, and having now a good road it was more easy travelling. We reached our destination, unloaded the dray, set hives in position, took zinc from entrances, covered up warm, and left our bees to go and look after ourselves, as we were wet through, and thoroughly tired with our weary tramp. We examined them on the following Monday, and were pleased to find no combs broken. The bees had stored very little in the sections, but the stock combs were solid slabs of honey, except one or two in the centre, which were three parts filled, so they will require no feeding, and will give us a little surplus ; but what a pity that we have to destroy the combs to get it ! —A. Woodhead, Ooole. KUSSIA. Wintering Bees. Being sure of the interest you will take in whatever relates to wintering bees on their summer stands with us in the north, during an exceptionally cold time, I am prompted to give you particulars. The hive for your colonies which you described in your British Bee Journal (page 535, vol. xiv., 1886) re- mained in its place in the garden the whole winter, and this gave me the opportunity of observing the effect of wintering out of a cellar during great cold ; also the effect of the entrances upon the well-being of the colonies and the difference in the spring between the hives which were wintered in a good cellar and my quadruple hive which bore the brunt of all the four winds. The results have surpassed my greatest ex- pectations. My large hive, furnished with dry leaves above the woollen quilts and at the sides, and protected under the floor-board with straw, has not only withstood the severe and prolonged cold of last winter, but it has also surpassed the other fifty hives (both Berlepsch and horizontal twin hives) which remained in the cellar in vigour and activity. During this very late summer the bees of this hive gave the first swarm on the 9-21 June, whereas the others did not commence swarming for twelve days later. The first swarm came from the colony whose entrance faced the north. One of our old bee-keepers (Witzwitsky) was right in favouring this direction for the entrances of hives. I am not sure that my hive could have consumed less honey if it had been put in the cellar, but I find in the autumn that it con- tained no less honey than the others. — A. de ZoubAREFF, St. Petersburg, Sept. 19, 1888. MeNally, has also to be removed. Mr. John D. McNally, who has now become sole partner in the con- | cern, has resolved, and we think wisely too, to clear out entirely from Rutherglen, and is at present negotiating for a site in the vicinity of Bishopbriggs or Lenzie, where the locality abounds with everything favourable to make bee-keeping a success, and being within sight of the Campsie Hills, we should expect to see fine specimens of honey from that locality in a good season. We wish our friend good luck and success in the new adventure, and shall be pleased to have a report from him at a future date. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- W. Lovkday. — The hon. secretary of the Essex B.K. A. is Mr. F. H. Meggy, High Street, Chelmsford. A. Tukkington. — The sample of sugar forwarded will be found suitable for making syrup, J. B. Blundell. — Foul brood. T. Nixon.— 1. ' Lift' for Winter.— Close hive entrance and let entrance be through lift. 2. Strength of Stock. — Fairly so. 3. Mice. — Try heavily peppering the coverings. 4. Quilts. — Sugar-bags will do if cut to size, but we prefer cushions. 5. Enamel Quilts. — We know of nothing as cheap that answers the same pur- pose so well as American oil-cloth. C. Spare Queens. — The bee-world generally would be glad to know of a satisfactory way of preserving these. A. W. — Ileathei- Honey. — Sample forwarded is a fair specimen of English heather honey. It is on the point of granulating. If the bottle is left open the bubbles will rise to the surface, and will in time form a white crust. The air-bubbles may be prevented by placing the bottle in warm water, or by frequently stirring the honey, but it is questionable whether this latter mode would be desirable. business directory. Change op Apiary.— Owing to the removal of Mr. E. McNally across the Border to join the ranks of our English friends, and also the removal of Mr. Ferguson's nursery to another district, the apiary situated in the nurseries known as ' Berelands,' the joint property of Messrs. E. and J. D. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Bdrtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neota. Godhan, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hdtchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Boad, Beading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Caruiola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Siumins' Bee Company, Limtd.,Eottingdean, near Brighton. ==g^ British Communicationt to the Editor to be addressed ' Stranoewayb' Pbintino Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 331. Vol. XVI.] OCTOBER 25, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (flfoitorial, Itflitres, #r. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Finance and Exhibition Sub-Couiuiittee met at 2 p.m. at 17 King William Street, Strand, oil Thursday, 18th inst. There were present Hon. and Rev. II. Bligh, in the chair. Rev. Dr. Bartrum, Rev. R. Erriugtou, J. M. Hooker, Captain Bush, Rev. J. L. Seager, and the Secre- tary. The Exhibitions Committee fully considered the Prize List for the Bee Department of the Royal Agricul- tural Show to be held at Windsor next year. Several new classes were added, and considerable improvements made throughout the entire schedule. The General Committee subsequently met at 10o Jermyn Street at 4 o'clock, the Hon. and Rev. II. Bligh in the chair. There were also present the Rev. Dr. Bartrum, Rev. J. L. Seager, Captain Bush, and the Secretary. Communications were read from the Rev. F. S. Sclatev, Captain Campbell, Rev. George Raynor, H. Jonas, and the Rev. R. Errington (the last having to return immediately after the Sub-Committee meeting), regretting their inability to be present. The Finance Committee's Report having been con- sidered, the accounts as entered were ordered to be paid. A letter was read from Mr. Walter Martin requesting that, in the event of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society continuing the Bee Department of their annual exhibition, the B.B.K.A. should give some support towards the undertaking. The Secretary was instructed to inform Mr. Martin that the Committee would give general support to the proposal. The Prize List for the R. A. Show at Windsor was considered, and after some discussion approved and passed. It was resolved that the sum of 501. be awarded in prize money. Dr. Bartrum called attention to the fact that the financial position of the Association hardly justified so large a sum ; but inasmuch as the event of the next year's exhibition being an exceptional one, and par- taking somewhat of a metropolitan character, he con- sidered that the Association should act liberally, and that an appeal should lie made to bee-keepers generally for support in the undertaking. It was resolved that steps be taken for the publication of a leaflet on the treatment of foul brood. Quarterly Mketing of County Representatives. The Hon. and Rev. 11. Bligh in the Chair, the follow- ing Representatives being present : Mr. \Y. Lees McClure and Mrs. Currey, Lancashire and Cheshire; Mr. W. B. Webster and Mr. A. Woodley, Berks; Mr. Crimshaw, Yorkshire; Mr. H. Cudd and Mr. Jesse Garratt, Kent ; Mr. Taylor, Surrey. The Minutes of the last quarterly Conference were read and confirmed. Mr. McClure reported that the Representatives had held their usual preliminary Meeting. 1. The Representatives wished to express their regret at the absence of the Rev. W. E. Burkitt ("Wiltshire), through illness, and to express their hopes that he will speedily recover. ■J. The Repres ntatives expressed their disappointment iu not having a corrected proof of the amended regula- tions for third-class examinations submitted for their consideration. The Secretary pointed out that the proofs were in the hands of Mr. Raynor, who had been ill and unable to complete it. Resolved that a proof copy be sent to each Secretary, to be returned within one month. Mr. McClure further reported that in reference to the proposal made at the last Meeting of the Committee of the B.B.K.A. for receiving Associations (other thau Counties) into affiliation, the Representatives had con- sidered the matter, and had drawn up various suggestions in regard to amendment of the conditions and privileges of affiliation. After some discussion it was resolved that the consideration of these suggestions be postponed. The prize list for the Bee Department of the Royal Agricultural Show at Windsor was read, the Repre- sentatives expressing their unanimous approval of the amendments introduced. Oil the motion of the Rev. J. L. Seager, seconded by Captain Bush, it was resolved, ' That the British Bee- keepers' Association do apply to the Royal Agricultural Society to allow the Berkshire Association to give a sum, not less than 10/., towards the schedule of prizes, two- thirds to be offered in prizes for honey produced in Berkshire.' On the motion of Mr. McClure, it was resolved that the next Quarterly Meeting be held on the same date as. the Annual General Meeting of the B.B.K.A.. The last Quarterly Conversazione of the present year was held at the offices of II. S. 1'. C. A., 105 Jermyu Street, St. James's, on Thursday, October 18th, at 6 p.m., when among the large audience present were the Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh, Mr. Hooker, the Rev. J. L. Seager, Captain Bush, Mr. Grimsbaw, Mr. Webster, Mr. and Mrs. Garratt, Mrs. Currey, Mr. Neighbour, Mr. Met 'lure. Mr. Henderson, Mr. Graham, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Bailer, and other ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Grimsbaw. having been voted to the Chair, opened the proceedings by calling on the Rev. Mr. Seager to favour the meeting with his opinion on the subject of County and District Associations, and certain proposals in reference thereto, which the latter gentleman had undertaken to submit for consideration that evening. Mr. Seager's address was delivered viva rocc, and we had prepared a report of it, but in a communication wc have received he suggests that, in order that the subject should be fully brought before our readers, he should himself write out his paper at length, and he considers it is desirable that we should ' hold it over ' till the following week. As the matter treated is one of great interest and importance, and indicates a new 514 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [October 25, 1888. departure iu the conduct of associations and districts, we readily accede to Mr. Seager's suggestion, and post- pone the paper to our next issue. The Chairman, Mr. Grimshaw, had purposed to read a paper on the Sting of the Bee on the same evening, but, in consequence of the length of time occupied in the dis- cussion of Mr. Seager's paper, it was found impossible to do so. Mr. Grimshaw has kindly placed his paper at our disposal, and we have much pleasure in subjoin- ing it : — The Sting and its Poison. Some three years ago I had the pleasure of reading you a paper on the ' Identity of the Bee's Sting with the Ovipositor of other Insects;' and at this time, without desiring to refer at too great length to the opinions I then expressed, I may recall to your minds that I con- sidered the sting of the worker-bee a modified or aborted ovipositor, utilised by the insect as an offensive and defensive weapon (the only one at its command), exactly in the same way as other insects have been known to use their ovipositors, depositing iu the wound a quantity of corrosive poisonous fluid, similar in its toxical properties to that pumped under the skin by the bee. "When we expect the perfect use of the different parts of any animal, we presuppose that we have a perfect one to deal with; and as we know the worker-bee to be an imperfect example (inasmuch as its reproductive organs are aborted and undeveloped), is it an unfair assumption that the anatomical structure of the sting, being so iden- tical, mechanically, with the ovipositing organs of other insects, its use_ of this organ as a sting is, on the face of it, faulty and imperfect, especially when we observe the astounding fact that such a use' of it ends in death, tearing from its fixing and base, in a rude repulsive way, part of the abdomen and its contents? This always seem3 to us a cruel and somewhat unnatural arrange- ment. Depend upon it that when we find an untimely death resulting from the exercise of such a natural impulse as self-defence, there is outrage on, or inter- ference witli, Nature's laws ; and an inquiry into such an abnormal state of things may assist us in finding the true uses of the parts under consideration. If the ostrich by using its two claws, the deer its antlers, the bull its horns, lost their lives as a necessary sequel of a defensive effort by a coarse rending away of these very weapons, we might, I think, very properly come to the conclusion that they were intended originally for some other use; in the case of the reindeer, for instance, the horns are modified in form to plough up the snow in a food search, or to clear a way for the herd through the bush, as in the ease of many other deer. I know you may quote against my assumption the fatal effect on the drone of a somewhat similar rending of its structure, but the analogy scarcely holds good, for with him we are dealing with an admittedly perfect insect perishing after having successfully played its part in the world, illustrated many times in both vegetable and animal kingdoms, whereas with the worker we are dealing with an imperfect one — imperfect because of its inability to take part in reproducing its kind, however well it may indirectly aid others in so doing, just as the worker is a necessary help in reproduction, by nectar and pollen-gathering, brood-rearing, cell-building, and so on, yet after all she is only an adjunct. We find the queen humble-bee performing all these labours herself until she has a family of workers round her as deputies, still they are only reliefs, lady-helps. We must, I think, consider the sting of the queen, with its curved form and barbs differing so much from those on the worker's sting as a true ovipositor, the per- fect instrument in the perfect bee, exactly corresponding (as it does) to the saw-like ovipositor of other nymen- optera; we must put it in opposition to the imperfect instrument either faultily used by the worker for another purpose than that originally intended, or in process of adaptation or modification. We find the ovipositor of the queen curved towards the under part of the abdomen, the barbs fewer in number, and not so sharp and formi- dable as those on the worker's sting; the ovipositor (or sting) may thus be withdrawn when used in queen- fights. Here, again, is another bit of evidence against considering the instrument as a sting: — The queen not using it when attacked by workers or any enemies such as ourselves when we handle or even injure her. One cannot think, then, of the queen and worker being provided with such a complex and beautiful piece of mechanism, attached to which are the highly sensitive palpi; the toothed sheath, the marvellous rods and slides, the barbs and poison apertures, the poison-bag, with its valves and admirable pumping arrangement, the oil-glands providing a lubricant which prevents the poison from clogging the darts, and (mark 'this) thus enabling them to be brought into use again and again at the need of the insect, the delicate poison-glands secreting the wonderful preparation from the blood and storing it in such an intricate reservoir, — I say we cannot think of all this work remaining dormant and useless in the queen, excepting on the occasion of a few fights spread over a few years, or in the case of the worker existing only as a standing menace of death if brought into play, especially when we remember that for every one bee using its sting as a sting iu its wild or natural state, very many thousands die without ever so using it. It is not, I hope, blasphemy to say the Creator does not waste His work in any such way. We must look around for as regular a use of this whole apparatus, as we find when we regard the tongue or the pollen-clearing and collecting contrivances. We cannot attend the queen iu her movements on the cell- base during egg-laying, but we may clumsily try to imitate her. In this effort I take a piece of foundation; and make a scratch with a needle. I next apply strong sulphuric acid, the same diluted, and poison from a bee's sting, to different parts of it, and I find the joint action of the wax and acid produce a stickiness of the surface, to which my little bits of white thread (re- sembling bees' eggs) adhere,and remain fixed by their ends quite as firmly as if placed there by the queen herself, though the implement of the queeu is much in advance of mine, inasmuch as she can apply the corrosive fluid at the time of making the scratch by slightly bending the abdomen forward, or with her curved ovipositor she can use the side barbs as the saw-fly uses its saws, depositing in the groove her poison just as the saw-fly does. This discovery filled me with delight, for I could by analogy now see the use for what had hitherto seemed almost useless organs in the mother bee. I could also dispense with the generally received notion that the egg is pro- vided with an adhesive secretion on its extrusion (but by what glands secreted we are not told). The necessity for the extremely sensitive palpi of the sting, so as to enable the bee to feel about on the ridges formed by the lozenges of the cell-base for a suitable spot on which the egg may be placed, thus becomes evident. Let the queen use her sting and poison in a contest with an opponent if you like, but we can no more call that its true office than we can say the true use of the hind-legs of a horse is as a means of attack and defence. Well, as the horse uses its heels, the worker-bee uses its sting, its old ovipositor, for which it has no use other than those it can adopt it to. My idea that the sting is used by the queen as a groove-former, and the poison spread on wax as an adhesive compound, to which the egg is attached on being laid, is somewhat borne out by the experiment of Mr. C. N. Abbott. This well-known practically scientific bee-keeper found that when he gave wooden-based foundation, the queen refused to lay in cells. If we now experiment with bee-poison, we find we can use it as a capital varnish and mixing medium, a October 25, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 515 varnish at once antiseptic and complete, so that the cell may not after all be polished and varnished with the orthodox mixture of propolis any more than we ourselves need polish timber, fetching and carrying the materials, when we have a varnish ready made. The worker's sting, then, may be a tool used for macerating wax by the aid of the secretions upon it, a moistening gum-like secretion being all the while pumped out through the openings in the rear of the barbs by each muscular movement of the darts, the palpi of the sting being used as a bru.-h or spreader of the acid secretion — our bees, perhaps, diligently working when we have been crediting them with the idleness of wax- secretion. Dr. A. Von Planta (B. B. Journal, p. 410) throws some light on the value of bee-poison as a preventive of fer- mentation when mixed with honey ; on this subject I have nothing to add to my remarks made in a recent paper on the medicinal properties of honey. It is generally understood that the active principle of the bees' sting is formic acid, and that a hypodromic injection of this acid is poisonous to the bee and other animals ; this is not the case, the result of this act is only a local irritation and inHammation. Now formic acid corre- sponds to methylic alcohol, just as acetic acid corresponds to ethylic alcohol (wood spirit or spirits -of wine) ; these are the two simplest acids, and are most nearly related. Acetic acid(dil) is prescribed as a subcutaneous injection for cancer, so there cannot, after all, be much danger from formic alone ; indeed I have experimented on my- self with it and find little harm in it. This acid alone produces upon wax, on the skin, or in the blood — (1) effects quite different from those made by bee-poison ; (2), it is very volatile, giving off an odour much re- sembling that from acetic acid, not leaving a crystallised or gummy residue as does bee-poison ; (3), its colour is different; (4), it is not poisonous; (5), it does not mix with, soften, or varnish wax, as is the case with bee- poison. Now, although tho bee requires formic acid it does not gather either it or the oxalic acid from which it may be derived, it is a secretion of its body from (in all probability) some other more complex acid which it may gather (I refer to uric acid, from the very mention of which some hypersensitive natures seem to recoil). From this acid oxidising agents may give the bee com- pounds containing oxalic (or, oxalic may be secreted from nectar, honey, or other carbon compounds acted upon by nitrogenous substances), l'or the matter of that, the decomposition of the liquids said to be much sought after by bees will give them their formic acid : I prefer, however, to lean to the pleasanter formula : — the oxidation of hydro-carbons into the simplest of the fatty acids, say, for instance, a hydro-carbon CH4 is oxidised into C H4 O, again into C IL 0, and, finally, into OIL 02, the formula of formic acid (at least this is a process of the laboratory), bow much more simple or in- tricate in the alembic of the bee we may never know — the conversion of floral perfume into what we find it — we know this, however, it is secreted copiously and used plentifully in various ways, least of all as a venom or poison. 1 have come to the conclusion that the truly toxical (or poisonous) principle of the bee-sting is an animal alkaloid, a virulent poison secreted in its body from the volatile and essential oils found in nectar,* that this alkaloid is collected by glands and stored in the poison -sac mixed with a gummy, non-saccharine sub- * It has recently been proved that alkaloids are the pro- ducts of organic decomposition, that they can be artificially induced by the decomposition of vegetable matter, that alkaloids of the most toxic kinds exist even in the human economy during life, existing in the kidneys, viscera, muscles, and brain matter, in the sweat, blood, and saliva, an interesting study may then be made of diseased con- ditions of the body ending fatally from a bees' sting. — Life Lore, p. GO. stance, and heavily diluted with formic acid. What is this gummy substance, this residue left by a dried-up drop of poison ? TakiDg the temperature of the bees' body at something near our own ('J0° being required in the hive for wax-secretion) I find Canada balsam and formic acid soon give us a suitable gum ; fir-wool oil, terebine, and preparations of turpentine do this also, but in my experiments with formic acid and sugars I fail altogether. Now, if the bees gather turpentine (a resinous substance exuding from trees of the pine tribe, which we call propolis), oxidation of a small quantity of this taken into its system converts it into various acids, or, having undergone a slight change, it may be stored in the poison-bag for use in wax softening; thus giving our bee its furniture-polish, varnish-pot, and gum-pot, in one. We are often told about bees mixing propolis and wax together, doing this, that, and the other, but we are not told wdiether the tools are at the tail or the head of the insect ; neither have we been informed where the flux or mixing medicine is found. I think we know now. Triturating wax with formic acid produces no perceptible result so far as softening it is concerned, but, on the other hand, treating wax with an alkaline gives us a soft, plastic mass, which, in turn, by the addition of a little acid becomes a similar froth-like substance, such as we find in the bees' first process of preparing wax- scales for cell-building. While agreeing with Mr. Cheshire that the offices of Nos. 2 and 4 glands are of a digestive nature, secreting brood-food from honey and pollen, I am inclined to the belief that the system No. 1 (or No. 3) gives an alkaline salivary secretion, converting cane into grape sugar, and dissoh ing gluten, oil, &c, while starch-granules may be converted into dextrine by dilute acids secreted by the glands of the other system — ferments and yeast. I may, however, remark, transform cane sugar into dextrose (glucose or grape sugar), and into levulose or fruit sugar; such a ferment is Myeoderma aceti. Pollen, the nitrogenous flesh-former of bees, requires a different digestive secretion than that necessary to convert nectar into grape sugar, but until it be changed it cannot, of course, be assimilated by the bee. If we ourselves have two distinct digestive secretions — tho alkaline of the mouth and the gastric of the stomach — we are not going beyond the bounds of reason in ascribing a similar arrangement to the bee's salivary secreting organs, nor in attributing to the sting, the barbs, the palpi, and the poison other and truer uses than those usually attributed to them in the grand scheme of economy, the great and glorious Harmony of Nature. USEFUL HINTS. Weather. — During the first ten days of the present month we read of 14 degrees of frost being registered in Westmoreland. The mean of the lowest night temper- ature for the same period was only 81"7 degrees, the lowest of which there is any record. The centre of the anti- ex clone (the cause of this unusual degree of cold) was over Ireland, and the winds, in consequence, were westerly in the northern districts, and easterly in the southern, but light in force. This early winter is another straw added to the already heavy burden which bee-keepers have to bear, since it has effectually pre- vented the bees carrying down and sealing over the supplies of syrup, whether offered in rapid or slow feeders. May it not be that last straw which breaks the back ? Sugae Cakes will now be the safest food for bees in frame-hives. If well made they are readily taken by the bees, and there is no danger of deliquescence, so that the cake may be laid over the cluster of bees and be covered by impervious, and woollen quilts. In cases where sufficient store of syrup has not been laid up, in consequence of late feeding and cold weather, we advise 516 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. the use of these cakes. If used on skeps it is well that the feed-hole should he from 3 to 4 inches in diameter, and the cake should be slightly raised above the hole to allow passage for the bees, and must be well and warmly covered up. We prefer the 2-lb. size, but others consider the 1-lb. cakes more handy, especially for skeps. Sugar Candy used to be in the olden times a favourite winter food, but we hear nothing of it now. We have saved the life of many a ekep-colony by turning up the skep and pushing in between the combs all around the cluster of bees the sticks of sugar candy. It is a food of which the bees are very fond. Feed, feed, must still be our uarnest exhortation, especially^ to the cottager whose bees must otherwise perish. Feed with sugar cake or sugar candy. A Comb-Filler, the invention of Mr. J. H. Howard, is a most useful appliance, and, although we should hesitate to describe it in the inventor's phrase as ' enabling the bee-master to dispense with every other feeder, in apiaries large or small,' nevertheless in a season of dearth like the present, it certainly enables him to feed rapidly (at a great saving of time and wear and tear of bees) almost any number of colonies. It consists of a syrup-tight box, in which a frame of empty comb is placed. The syrup is heated to 10 or 15 degrees above the surrounding temperature, and the box is tilled within an inch of the top-bar of the frame. The lid is then placed on and secured, when some half-dozen jerky up-and-down motions of the whole, till the comb with 0 or 4-lbs. of syrup. With wired frames, or combs built on wired foundation, there is little danger of break- age, but with combs unattached tu the bottom frame- bar much care is required, particularly in using syrup of the proper temperature, otherwise, when filfed, the weight of the syrup is apt to break down the comb. Perfect Rest should now— from the preseut time until the middle of March (five long months)— be the motto of the apiary. All winter preparations should be speedily completed, and no disturbance of any kind to bees or hives should be permitted. Safe wintering, in a very large degree, depends upon strictly observing this principle. The colonies which come out best at spring are invariably those which have been spared unseasonable— i.e., too late or too early— manipulations. East Africa.— The territory of 'the British East African Company (which lias obtained a Koval Charter), as described by Mr. Johnston in an article in the current number of the Fortnightly Review, is an El Dorado for emigrants, and especially for bee-keepers :—' There is,' we are told, 'a great Quantity of delicious honey produced throughout the district. ' The wax is of very good quality, but the natives have no use for it, and merely throw it away. Cattle, sheep, and goats, are most abundant; the latter, a small and plump variety and great milk-givers. Most important in their influence on the present and future of this territory are the niaiiv continuous mountain-ranges, and the high cool plateaux, which form such a large proportion of "the land's con- figuration, and which afford districts of considerable extent endowed with a temperate climate and a temperate flora, well watered, richly wooded, sparsely inhabited, and offering most suitable localities for the establishment of European settlers. Nowhere in Africa is there such diversified and remarkable scenery offered to one's gaze. The climate is superior in its salubrity to many other parts of the Continent, In the neighbourhood, and near the east of Kihma-njaro, the greatest heat I registered was 81 ; in the warmest part of the interior, 91° The average night temperature in hilly districts is 00 '; in the plains, 08J. Except on the loftiest mountains, and on the Victoria Nyanza Lake, where it rains a few days in every month, the seasons in Eastern Equatorial Africa are regular in their divisions of wet and dry. From June to the end of October there is almost no rain, and [October 25, 1888. from November to May there is an abundant rainfall during certain months. On the lofty mountains the climate, at an altitude between 4000 and 8000 feet, is that of a Devonshire summer. Above that elevation you may have it as cold as you like the higher you go.' We believe Mr. Burdett-Coutts is one of the chief pro- moters of the Company. To those thinking of emigrating we recommend a perusal of this highly interesting article. Single Judging.— From a Report of the banquet celebrated at the Freemasons' Tavern, previous to the late Dairy Show, held, as usual, at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, we quote the following: -'The Hon. and Rev. A. Baillie Hamilton strongly supported the opinions of previous speakers as to the desirability of entrusting the awards in each class to one judge only, instead of, as usual, to two or three.' And from a peru- sal of the awards in each class, with the names of the judges attached, we find that in all, except the Jersey class, the one-judge system was followed and gave per- fect satisfaction. The advantages of the system are evident if the judges are capable and experienced. When two or more judges are engaged in judging the same class, the probabilities are that differences of opinion will arise, especially if the competition is close and severe. Then a compromise follows, necessarily, contrary to the judgment of one or more judges. On the next difference of opinion we fancy we hear a judge exclaim, ' You had your way in the last case, it is my turn now ! ' At our largest apiarian exhibition— that of the late Royal Show at Nottingham— the entire work of judging was assigned to three judges only, and occupied them fully for two long days. Here there was ample employment for six judges' at least. Had one judge been appointed to each principal class — Collections, Hives at 15a., Hives at 10s. 6d., Section. Racks, Useful Inventions, and Feeders— we venture to think that the result would have been more satisfactory to all con- cerned, and certainly the responsibility would have been undivided and individual. The judging of these classes being completed, by mutual agreement) the judges could have arranged for making the awards in the remaining classes on the same one-judge system. When an award in any particular case has been called in question, and a judge has been asked his reason for making it, often have we heard the reply, ' My collealeton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Bdrtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Kdet A Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C. , 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 Higli Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godman, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bkos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, .London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BAKER, W. B., Mnskhani, Newark. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. McNALLY, R., Glenlnce, N.B. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich. RTJDKLN, F., Belton, Upptngham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail. way Bookstalls. W1THEMSHAW. A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. TIEUE Britisli Bee-keepers' Association Established 1874. President: THE BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS. THE Committee appeal to Bee-keepers, Manufacturers of Bee-keeping Appliances, and others desirous of promoting our Home Industries, to become Annual Subscribers or Donors to any Special Branch of tbe Association's work. Subscriptions, 5s. and upwards per annum. Life Members, £'•">. Tbe Association carries out its work by — Tbe holding of Annual Exhibitions ; Assisting Count}' Associations; Sending out Lecturers and Experts ; The publication of Literature relating to the best methods of Bee-culture; The disposal of Bee-produee, &c, &c, &c. Secretary : John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 25, 1888. Special prepaid ^Ldvertisements. Exchange Column; — Sales of Honey and Second-hand Goods. — Intended to aid Bee-keepers in the disposal of Bee- produce and Appliances for which they have no further use. Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad- ditional Three words, One Penny extra. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, die. — Twenty words and under, One Shilling; for every additional Three words, One Penny. No reduction made for continuous insertion. Now Reapy. t-jIMMINS* NEW BOOK.— 'A MODERN BEE-FARM, O AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.' Popular Edition, limp cloth cover, 3s. 9d. Special Edition, stiff covers, 7s. 6*• bound up with that county. He had already alluded to the imperfect rail- way communication extending throughout different counties which often rendered intercommunication next to impracticable; and be would therefore say that it wm highly desirable to draw up a system of Associations quite independent of geographical boundaries, and he recommended that a sub-committee should be appointed for the purpose of doing so. He hoped he had said enough to induce the members present to throw out some suggestions. It seemed to him that the chief reasons why these new Associations should be formed were that the cause was not sufficiently gaining ground, and that signs were not wanting of the gradual decay of the branches as at present constituted. That was a most important point. He felt sure they would all recognise the necessity of the existence of the B. B. K. A. The fact was that unless the B. B. K. A. was supported more liberally by the outside world than it had been hitherto its usefulness would to a great extent be curtailed, and he believed that by extending the number of Associations, in the way indicated, old interest would be revived and new interest created, from which the whole body would undoubtably reap some benefit. As a matter of course, there would be an increase in the number of affiliated Associations. In that way new life would be given to the cause, and it might be the means of bringing new blood to the parent Committee. That would perhaps be an advantage. There was no necessity that the new Committeemen should all be practical bee- keepers. Practical apiculture was tolerably sure to be well represented. What they wanted was shrewd busi- ness men. He hoped all present would endeavour to persuade their friends to become subscribers to the B. B. K. A., so that it might be enabled to extend its in- fluence more widely than at present was possible. He believed the time would come when the work of organization, especially in the matter of shows, would be carried on almost entirely by the B.B.K.A. in connexion with Agricultural and other societies. Local Associations would exist in the future rather as Natural History Societies, than as the promoters of public industry throughout the country. He very strongly believed that in a short time technical education in bee-keeping would become general in the schools of agricultural districts, but that this must be brought about by the efforts of the Central Association, whose annual income must first be augmented before any appreciable advance coidd be made in the cause they advocated. The Chairman expressed his thanks to Mr. Seager for 528 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 1, 1888. the practical suggestions he had made, and begged the meeting carefully to consider them. The discussion which ensued will be given in our next issue. JOTTINGS BY AMATEUR EXPERT. Mel sapit omnia. Foreign Races or Bees. — Mr. John McNally evidently thinks I condemn all foreign bees. That is not so. There are good points about them all, and there are bad. The stinging powers of some of them are such that they become at times positively unbearable to the average bee-keeper. I imagine, if I tried, I could put up with the naughty ways of either Cyprians, Syrians, or Holylanders, but they are not worth ' it. They are too capricious and uncertain, aud the difference between the amount of surplus they and the average British bee will store, will not compensate one for the extra pain and trouble it costs to work them. The greatest recommendation for the Carniolans has been their gentleness, and I feared their tempers would be ruined by cross breeding, as all the other Eastern races, as well as the Italians, have all been ' mongreled' by the queen-breeders until it has become practically impossible to get a pure-bred queen of either race. But I wish to remark 1 did not blame Mr. Benton for doing it ; it was he who ' fitted on the cap.' Cahniolans again. — During the past two seasons I have had access to a ' tinker's half gross ' — not dozen — stocks of the ' banded ' Carniolans, and I will confess this freely about them, they were all very amiable in temper. I believe they are all a first cross with pure Italians, a cross which does not seem to affect their tempers nor their working qualities, and I must learn something more about them than I have yet been told before I am shaken in that opinion. Late <^ueen Introduction.— The 13th and 15th of this month found me introducing young Carniolan queens. A batch of thirty imported queens arrived healthy and alive, and not a ' banded ' queen or worker amongst the lot. I introduced seven of them to as many of my own stocks, removing the queens they contained to make place for them, my own strain being a mixture of all the races imported. I should not talk about queen intro- duction thus late in the season if it was not too late for others to copy my example, as many would fail, and probably wish I ' were kicked to death with butterflies.' How it was done. — I will tell you how I managed it. I had the help of a sharp lad, which was a great boon. I used some stages that I made of deal some five years ago. They are very simple, and this is how they are made. They are 1 in. thick, aud 4 in. square. In the centre of these I bored a 2-in. hole ; one side of this hole I covered with wire cloth or perforated zinc. Into the recess thus formed I placed a foreign queen and about a dozen of her attendants, and a small piece of ' Good' candy, and covered all with a pipe-covered cage, which just fitted down into the recess. I let them remain in-doors in the warm, aud fetched them one by one as required. We next proceeded to find a queen and removed her from her colony of bees, dropped a small lump of camphor into the hive, and closed all up again, leaving open the feed-hole in the top of the quilts. Over the open feed-ho'e I placed my stage con- taining the foreign queen, so that the bees in the hive were able to communicate with her through the wire cloth or perforated zinc. I then covered up the stage warmly, aud left them thus until the next evening. By this time the whole colony were impregnated with the odour of camphor, and the fumes had ascended and perfumed the stage and foreign queen as well. I liberated the queen thus. Remove the stage, bluv? a puff of smoke into the feed-hole to drive down the bees ; remove the pipe-coyer cage, being careful the queen is not in it, but'on the bottom of the stage. I then carefully turn the stage upside down oyer the feed- hole, and the queen and attendant bees are at liberty to go down when they please. I cover up the stage again till next eve, when I find it empty and remove it, and cover all up snug-. I reserved three of the best queens that I removed — they were all this year's — in case of failure, so that I had them to fall back upon ; but they were not required, as all were accepted freely. Some of the hives had eggs aud brood, but none of them attempted to build queen-cells. Don't try to do likewise ; it is too late ! Giant Globe Thistle Seed. — So many have accepted my offer that this has been one of the liveliest of my bee- keeping experiences, — reading the letters, packing np the seeds, aud starting them off. Most wish to know how to sow them. One went so far as to hint that I was remiss in my duty b}- not giving a full description as to culture ; while another wanted a ' few seeds of a strain of bees that will gather honey when it rains.' Several asked 'if they are weeds;' a 'cousin Jacker' remarking he had an abundance of ' dissels' already. Others, again, sent a stamp but not an addressed envelope ; while yet others sent their communication to Mr. Iluckle, and not ' the Editor.' Now I will try to satisfy you all. I have seen Carniolans at work on Canadian balsams on a chilly evening in September long after sundown. I have also seen Cyprians at work in a cold drizzling rain, when all other bees have been at home. The fault this season has been there was no hmey to gather. My bees have worked hard enough, but got very little for it. No ! Mr. Cornishman, they are not weeds like ' dissels' (Cornish for Echinops) ; when the seeds are ripe the globular heads will fall to pieces and the seeds fall to the ground, and many of them will spring up next year, but they will not fly about so as to taint the surrounding country like the common thistle. How to Grow them. — They ore perfectly hardy; they will not bloom till the second year, consequently seeds sown next March or April will bloom in 1890. I dig and prepare a piece of ground the usual way as for seeds. I then take a small iron dibble and make holes in rows six inches apart; into these holes I drop a seed and rake all smooth, when I have done. When the young plants are large enough to handle I set them out where I intend them to bloom, at least half-a-yard apart. Do not let them get too large before setting out, as they soon root very deeply, and I choose a rainy day for the job, or water well and shade them, as they very soon wither and take some time to recover it. If any more wish for seeds send on your envelopes ; there is enough for all ! The ' Royal' at Windsor. Judges. — So our Com- mittee have responded to the call made upon them, and introduced ' amendments,' and are going to spend more money into the bargain. ' Useful Hints ' has caught the spirit of the thing, and hopes the show will be a ' decided advance ' on all former attempts. We only require one thing, and that is, a vigorous and united effort, and the thing is bound to be a success, especially if it please a bountiful and wise Providence to send us a good flow of honey. ' Useful Hints ' also sees we require more judges and a different method of judging. I have got in awful hot water for sticking to this contention, but the time has come at last when the need for change is "admitted. But I cannot see it is so great a calamity as he does, ' when a less experienced judge at some provincial show (ah !) reverses the awards of more experienced and capable judges (Good! good!) made at more important shows.' Does it follow as a sine qua non that all shows must follow the lead of the Royal? If so, local shows need not appoint judges for hives and appliances. The winner at the Royal simply walks through all the provincial shows, and other exhibitors had better stay away. Bacillus.— So we are physicked to death to kill the November 1, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 529 bacilli, and treat the bees on the same method. Once more I wish to tell the readers of these 'Jottings' I never bought or owned a pennyworth of salicylic, phenol, thymol, creosote, or carbolic. Throw away the physic and poison, and be cleanly and bid foul brood defiancy ! ' X.' wants a taste of Scotch heather honey, I guess, and that accounts for half the envy he has towards me over the Scotch truce. He is evidently unaware that honey gathered from horehound contains not only the odour but a very strong flavour of horehound, so strong, in fact, as to make horehound honey unfit for ordinary purposes of food ; consequently, if there are any medi- cinal virtues in horehound,horehound honey is not hum — , but a good medicine. Gwr-yn-erwyn-y-byd. One little piece of good news and I must close. The peculiar species of heather known as Erica car/am is only found (in England) near the Lizard, in Cornwall, where there are some hundreds of acres of it. A local paper says a swarm hived early in August stored .'SO lbs. of surplus honey from it. That shows the possibilities of bee-keeping under favourable conditions. — Amateur Expert, Oct. 25. BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY ; On, Glossary of Technical and Scientific Words used in Works upon Bee-keeping. See glue. n. (fr. L. gluten.) — Propolis ; a resin- like substance obtained from buds and limbs of trees and used to seal up every small crevice about the hive. Bee glass, n. {Sax. ylaes, shining.) — A glass used formerly as a super, bell-shaped, also flat-topped, and of various shape and pattern. Bee-guard, n. (Fr. garder, to keep.) — A perforated metal contrivance placed at the entrance of the hive, which allows workers to pass while preventing the queen and drones. Bee-gum, n. (Sa.v. goma.) — A term used in some parts of the United States for bee-hive, because formerly the hollow trunks of the black gum-trees were employed for this purpose. In a general sense applied to a hive made from a hollow log or tree ; that part of a hollow tree which is, or has been, occupied by wild bees. Bee-hawk. n. (Sa.v. hafoc.) — A bird called honey- buzzard (Pentis aviporus) which preys on hvmenop- terous insects; also a clear wing moth (Sesia fociformis) resembling a wild bee. In America the dragon-fly is also called bee-hawk. Bee-herd. n. obs. (Sa.v. hyrd, holder or keeper.) — Old name for one who took care of bees. (See Bee- keeper.) Bee-hive. n. (A.-Sa.v. hu/e, a bouse.) — Term applied to the habitation of bees, made of wood, straw, or other materials. In some countries even earthenwaie cylinders are still in use. Bee-hood. n. (M. E. hod.)— See Bee-cap. Bee-house, n. (A.-Sa.v. hus.)—A. bouse for shel- tering several colonies of bees, the hives being placed on shelves; also used by German wiiters to signify a hive. Bee-hunter, n. (Sa.v. huntian, to bunt.) — A per- son who pursues wild bees with the object of finding their nests and taking the honey and wax. Bee-keeper, n. (Sa.v. cepan, to keep.) — See Apia- rist, Apiculturist. Bee-keeping-, vbh sb. — See Apiculture. Bee-killers, n.pl — Flies belonging to the family Asilidas, of which there are several in the Western and South Western States of America that prey upon bees. Jforctign. ITALY. At the Exhibition recently held at the Vatican, on the occasion of the Jubilee of Leo XIII., Cav. L. Sartori, of Milan, was awarded the large silver medal and diploma for his exhibits of honey, wax, and plates illustrating apiculture. SWITZERLAND. The Revue Internationale d' Apiculture states that, in consequence of the want of honey in most parts of the country, the committee of the ' Societo Komaude d'Api- culture ' has decided unanimously to put off until next year the inauguration of the honey market which they had intended opening late this season. GERMANY. A race between bees and pigeons took place at Hamme, Westphalia, a short time ago. The distance 'run' was a good mile. One afternoon, at 4 o'clock, twelve bees and twelve pigeons were set free at Rhynern, the competing bees having been rolled in flour before starting. The bees won the race, the first of them, white all over with flour, having arrived at the hive entrance a quarter of a minute sooner than the first pigeon, whose nest was situated close to the bee-stand. The rest of the competitors arrived within another second a little while afterwards. Coraspcmbcncc. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken oj anonymous .coin- munications, and correspondents are requested to wiite on one tide of the paper only, and give their fall names and addresses, not noecssonhi for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should M drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, Ac, must be addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c'o Messrs. Strangcways and Sons, Toiccr Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C All business communications relating to Advertisements, ,iv ., must 6c addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 2nd pafle o/ jldugrtisements.) *t* In order to facilitate reference. Correspondents, when speaking oj any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning tlie number of the letter, as xcell as the page on ichich it appears. CARNIOLANS. Mr. Amateur Expert and ' Your Humble Servant ; THE LATTER, AT LEAST, NOT AT ALL ' CUT Up.' [1854.] Mr. 'Amateur Expert' says of himself; 'I fear I know more (about Carniolans) than Mr. Benton would care for me to tell.' Not at all, Mr. 'Amateur Expert.' I am anxious to learn all I can about them. Out with- it ! Tell us all you know about them, if you can find time for so much, and an indulgent editor will grant you so much space. No, I do not claim that I have told all the truth yet about certain queen-raisers or queen-dealers, but only that what I have said is true. About some that Mr. 'Amateur Expert' quotes^and apparently upholds I could, if I deemed it meet, tell some very homely truths which would make some ears tingle, and Mr. 'A. E.' conclude never to take up his pen in their defence. He evidently does not know some of these as well as he ought ; does not know how well, in more ways than one, they might be compared to that very crooked thing called a boome- rang, a weapon which, I have heard, will, when directed by the hand of one not fully acquainted with it, fly back and crack the skull of the sender instead of that of his opponent. But, dear Sir, do you mean to insinuate — to hint, even remotely, that my name is to be included in that bl.ick list (if list it be — something I must doubt) of those who send out virgin queens as fertile ? Do you mean even to 530 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 1, 1888. says that I send virgin queens at all ? If so, then out with it in plain English — in hlaek and white, with not a shadow of equivocation. It was, indeed, a right clever thing you did when you sandwiched that rich paragraph about virgin queens in between Benton and his Car- niolans, and then hinted only that I was not meant as one of the condemned ! 1 fancy lyou wrote this ' that he who runs might read,' well knowing, too, how such are likely to read. Please tell us in the next number of the Journal just what and how much you mean. I have sent queens to nearly every county — if not every one — in England, and also to many parts of Scotland and Ireland, and I believe their merits are such as will recommend them. Most of the Oarniolans sent out by me are ac- companied by workers, which are their own progeny, and none are sent away until I have seen their brood. But in the case of Italians sent from [here I cannot always tell whether the workers sent with them are their own progeny or not. They come to me in small nucleus-boxes, and, in so far as it is possible, I use, in mailing these queens, workers from the nucleus, which came from Italy with that queen. I have received altogether large numbers of queens from Italy, and from Carniola, before I located here; and, [though I have repeatedly received poor queens — old ones, crippled ones, and runty specimens — still I do not think it was ever my lot to receive an unfertile queen, and I have carefully tested many of these purchased queens. It was but a few days ago that from twenty-four queens that arrived from Italy two were picked out that I would, under no circumstances, accept, and were re- turned, carriage -paid, to the sender. The remaining twenty-two were separated into two lots, marked first- grade and second-grade, the latter including some six or seven out of the twenty-two. Yet all of these queens were sent me as first-grade. It could only be in my own interest for 'Amateur Expert' to name parties who sell virgin queens as fertile. But now, Mr. 'Amateur Expert,' 1 must denounce you most severely as guilty either of malice aforethought or of gross blundering; let me believe the latter, the more easily pardonable. You say, " Mr. Benton says all Carniolana are 'banded,'" (The italics are mine.) I positively deny ever having said this, and I hereby challenge you to show where you derive authority to say I ever said it, or wrote it, or printed it. I did say in the leaflet, Bees, No. 5, Jan. 20th, 188G : ' In all parts of Carniola some queens are found which produce bees having the first segment of the abdomen somewhat rusty red in colour, and they are as often seen among the finest, most prolific queens, as among those of any other grade.' And again in a private letter to S. W. Morrison, M.D., of Pennsylvania, a prominent American breeder of Oarniolans, from whom I have annual!}-, for four or five years past, received orders for breeding queens, I wrote last July as follows : ' Two intelligent bee-keepers from the northern part of Carniola, who were at my residence to-day, stated in answer to my inquiries that an occasional tendency toward orange or rusty-red bands was always the case with all Carniolans.' An extract from this letter appeared in the American Bee Journal, August 8th, 1888, and was copied, I believe, by the British Bee Journal. Likely it is on this that 'A. E.' bases his state- ment. But surely to say, ' an occasional tendency toward orange or rusty-red bands ' is by no means to affirm that ' all Carniolans are banded,' as ' A. E.' would have it appear. Again in this same letter I said ; ' There is in the race (Camiolan ) a tinge of yellow blood that crops out every now and then, do the best one rnay.' What better proof do I need to bring forward to show the absurdity of one's attributing to me the statement that ' all Carniolans are banded with yellow or orange ? ' But let me cite still another sentence from my letter to Dr. Morrison. It is as follows : ' I breed only from such queens as produce yrey workers, such as show no yellow or orange bands, not even a tinge of orange, and I permit no drones to be reared in ni}' apiary except those from Carniolan queens, whose workers and drones are quite grey.' Then Mr. 'A. E.' goes on to ' wonder why, if it is so (that all Carniolans are banded), that other dealers can supply queens that will not breed banded bees, aud are as gentle as their other characteristics are true to the old style of queen.' Plain enough it is why they furnish such ; because they, as well as I, would find it trouble- some, even were it desirable, to supply only ' banded ' (yellow or orange) Carniolans, since yreyness and yenile- ness are the most striking characteristics of the bees of Carniola. And even though in every native apiary in Carniola, of any size, a few stocks may exist, some of whose workers are ' banded ' more or less, that is no reason why every dealer here cannot supply queens that produce grey bees that are at the same time gentle ; and, though probably many that produce workers showing some 3'ellow are sent out when no preference is stated, I do not doubt but that each and every one jiow in the business here in Carniola does, for the greater part, send grey bees, and, in the main, he could not but send yentle Carniolans, whether they showed a trace of yellow or not. It must be that I too have, for the greater part, some of Mr. 'A. Expert's' ' old style of queens,' for I wear no bee-veil at all when manipulating Carniolans, and my nice silk-net veils stored away in a box are getting all mildewed for want of an occasional airing. It is a pity, too, for I am likely to need them in Italy soon ! Recently I have been breaking up some second and third swarms that, for want of empty frame-hives at the time they issued, had been thrown into native box- hives. The latter are long shallow boxes, about 36 inches long, 14 by 8 inches. Turning one of these bottom upwards at anytimt — even during unfavourable weather or towards nightfall — with a hatchet I pry off the bottom board, which is nailed firmly with nails about 2i to 3 inches long, often wire-nails that hang well, and immediatel}' proceed to cut out combs. Sometimes a few bees dash out at my face, but I dodge their first onset, and seeing their mistake they apologise by going back and standing up on all sides and buzzing lustily, an ' old style ' song. Say, Mr. 'A. E.,' are not these the 'old style' sort? Mind you, this is all without a veil. I haven't much use for such a nuisance around Carniolans, and as to smoker, it is half the time too much bother to pay to light up my Bingham, which came all the way from my native pines. 'A. E.' must needs help out his lame argument by dragging in ' Cyprians.' It is not worth whilo to tight with him on this score, for if I convinced him it would ' be against his will, and he'd be of the same opinion still ! ' But ' stick to your text,' Mr. ' A. E. ;' aud to the ' Editor I would suggest -that, when I bring in anything as irrelevant to the subject under discussion as is the paragraph about ' Cyprians' in Mr. ' A. E.'s ' letter, the pencil or scissors should be used on my manuscript — and perhaps lie will show his impartiality by treating Mr. ' A . E.'s ' in the same manner. Well, now, Mr. ' A. E.,' are you simple enough to suppose anything whatever that Henry Alley can write would ' cut me up rather rough,' as you put it? And as to the Carniolans (bees), they are sure to take it good- naturedly. Do you remember, or did you know, how, when I wrote about Apis dorsata, some ten or twelve- years ago, Bro. Clarke of classic (!) I meant, Canadian, bee-poetry fame, quoting nearly the words of Father Langstroth, said, ' Wanted, some bee-keeper, not too old, nor too young, &c, and,' he added, ' eery thick-skinned, to emigrate to Java, &c.' ? And if you are aware of these things you will also no doubt know that 1 was not afraid to let them pinch and probe my hide then ? and do you suppose that, after all the punches and pricks I havu November 1, 1888. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 531 gotten since thou, and after having run the gauntlet with Hymettus bees, Tunisians, and the Eastern races, on one hand, and the giant Apis dorsata on the other — do you suppose after all this that my hide is any tenderer — that any ordinary fellow is going to make any impression on it, say nothing of ' cutting me all up rough'? At the time 1 was unsophisticated enough to suppose Mr. Clarke was poking fun at that valuable bee, Apis dorsata, but now I am sure he wanted some one thick-skinned enough to be able to survive the javelins, not of the Javans nor their wild bees, but of envious, ignorant, seltish, and un- principled bee-keepers and dealers who, Mr. Clarke knew, would soon overwhelm a thin-skinned chap. Mr. Stachelhausen says, ' The first Carniolan queen imported into Germany had no sign of yellow blood.' Very likely, Mr. S. And there are plenty more of the same sort "here in Carniola. But your one queen could never, no more than coidd the traditional ' one swallow make a summer.' And hundreds of bee-keepers here who have nearly reached the allotted time of man, can testify that yellow-banded bees existed in their native Carniola when they were but striplings. But in your imagination all this is because, as you put it, 'some strange races may have been imported into Carniola, and so the Carniolans are more or less mixed.' Strange reasoning, that is, if it he reasoning at all. Stick to your chemistry, friend S., or your bee-botany, or microscopy, and get Professor Cook to coach you up in it, but don't meddle with what you evidently know little about. Mr. Alley's statements — some of them, at least — are, I fully believe, so plainly absurd to anybody who reads them, that I do not need to waste many words as com- ments. He says,' All the good points possessed by those bees sold as pure Carniolans by dealers are derived from the Italian blood, by which it is evident that they are crossed.' Exactly the reverse of this is true Every breeder of Carniolans realises that, in so far as his Carni- olans approach Italians in their characteristics — I mean in those features in which they most widely differ from Italians, and which, therefore, must be those that give them the superiority claimed for them over Italians — just so far they are inferior to the type of Carniolans he wishes to have. If Mr. Alley's statement were tin.', why should so many who have tried Carniolans by the side of Italians be rejecting the latter in favour of the former? I could cite many instances, but a couple will do. In Gleanings for Sept. 10, page 682, Mr. E. E. Ewing, Rising Sun, Md., after a paragraph in strong commenda- tion of Carniolans, says, ' My bees are Italians, but they will not be after this season.' Mr. Hoot says to him, ' I suppose you know you are giving the Carniolans a pretty big recommendation.' And elsewhere in the same number (page 696), Mr. Root, the strenuous opposer of Carniolans, says, ' We have no Carniolans, but expect to test them again.' No doubt he sees the tide has turned, and proposes to ride with it easily, instead of trying, like Mr. Alley, to drive it back by throwing himself square against it. Mr. S. L. Watkins, Placervillo, CaL, says, in the Ame- rican Bee Journal (copied by B. B. J., p. 495, Oct. Hth), that he has Carniolans, Italians, blacks, and hybrids, and ' that Carniolans have done the best,' &c. ; adding, ' Next season I shall keep nothing but Carniolan bees in the 1'lacerville apiary.' I have selected these because the parties are not, so far as I know, breeders or dealers in queens, except Mr. Hoot, who handles only Italians. Mr. Alley does not believe, so he says, ' that there are more than two bee-keepers in America who ever saw pure Carniolan bees, nor that there is a pure queen of that race in the United States.' Hence it would appear that he does not believe pure Carniolan bees exist any- where in the world ! for certainly as pure Carniolans as exist or ever have existed in Carniola itself, have been sent, not alone by me, but by others also, as I have reason to believe, to the United States, and are now incolouies of bees there in nearly every state in the Union. It was this same Alley who brought forward a race of bees which he claimed to have imported from Hungary, and which he called Hungarian bees, but which he discon- tinued rearing when he found he could not get others to accept them readily, and then when he found that Carniolans were fast gaining friends in the western world largely through my efforts to make their merits known, wrote, a year or two ago to Gleanings : ' You will find Carniolans described in my " Handy-Book " under the name of Hungarians. They are worthless,' etc. Fine authority one who writes such stuff ! It is of this man that an Ohio correspondent had purchased queens, and then wrote me: ' I'd rather pay you $15 for one queen than give Alley IS cents for a whole bushel of his.' And to a customer on the Pacific coast — one of the most courteous and honourable men I ever had to deal with — to whom Mr. Alley had sent unsatisfactory queens, he wrote, when asked to make the matter right, and sent an equally valueless queen, saying : ' You may call her Carniolan, Italian, or Holy Land; whatever you d n please.' It was of this same man that I purchased just fifteen and a half years ago, a number of his so-called 'fine Italian queens,' and received the poorest lot of queens, without excepting any, that I everknew anybody to Mini out: most of them absolutely worthless and all dark, small, inferior, runty queens. When I wrote him that three or four were wholly valueless, lie sent me a couple little, if any better, than the first. You see his old sins, like ghosts, rise up to accuse him, and there are many more for which he has yet to answer. I venture that Mr. Alley's words will not receive one-tenth the attention in my native land where we are both known, that they will get in < Ireat Britain, where his full history is not so well known. I might tell you some twenty-two years of it, but then in the end l fear, even if it did make a ' handy book for bee- keepers,' it would not be very ' scientific' It would be too much like taking a-back Alley! — 1'ha.nk Benton, M.S. Michigan State Agricultural College, Laibach, Carniola, Austria, October 19th. CARNIOLANS AND OTHER RACES. L855.1 I have known the Carniolan bees since about 1868 and saw them in the apiaries of my friends, and have had a few colonies myself. The first Carniolan queen im- ported into Germany had no sign of yellow blood, and they were very similar to the brown German bee, only the hairs of the young bees were more grey or white;. Since that time Carniola has exported a great many colonies, swarms and queens, and some strange races may be imported there, and so the Carniolans are more or less mixed. The proper Carniolan bee is certainly nothing else but a variation of the so-called German bee. The difference in the exterior markings is not more plain than with other variations of the same race, and so it is wil h the other characteristics. In the north of Germany, in 1 lannver, we have another variety of the German bee, quite alike in habit to the Carniolans, but more black. They breed well and early in spring, breed drones all the time, and swarm as often as anybody can wish, exactly like the Carniolans. In the middle and south of Germany you can find a strain of bees more brown than black, slow in breeding and swarming. A colony with a young queen will not build any drone-comb or swarm out the first year, and some colonies, and strong ones, too, did not swarm for many years. But now this variety of the German bee is mixed with all the different imported races, and you can hardly find a pure colony. Why is this difference ? The answer is, that the Carniolans and the northern German bees are varieties of culture, and to a certain degree fixed by a certain management for more than one hundred years. In both countries the 532 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 1, 1888. main honey flow is late in the fall. In the spring the bee- keeper does all he can to get early and many swarms. To get as many colonies as possible for the crops, in both countries very small hives are used. In the fall all the surplus colonies are brimstoned, the heaviest and the lightest colonies are killed, and in the selection of the stock for the coming year the bee-keeper is very careful. He selects colonies witli young queens only, mostly after-swarms; a colony which cast no swarm at all is surely brimstoned. It is easy to see that in this way queens with a swarming impulse, only are selected, and so by the run of the years this impulse got more and more fixed. The Carniolan and the German bees rear too many drones and build too much drone-comb, but this characteristic is necessarily in connexion with the swarming impulse, and every race possessing this swarm- ing impulse will do the same. In both the so-called races you see a strain of bees bred and fixed by the hand of men by selection and not by crossing. This fact will show us the way by which we can get ,a race of culture. It can be done by selection of queens to breed from witli the desired characteristics ; but this selection has to be done, and carefully, too, for many generations before a certain characteristic may be more or less fixed. I do not believe we can get a fixed race by crossing two different races, because in a couple of generations the markings of the one race will more or less disappear. I believe that the Italian bee is a cross between the Egyptian and the black bee, but it is no fixed race yet. In the time of Virgil it is known that in Italy there were black and yellow bees, and so it is to-day. The first bees exported from Italy looked quite mixed up, some nice yellow bees, some of them we would call hybrids now. Dr. Dzierzon imported the first Italian colony to Germany about 1854, and bred from this one queen all his queens for many years. For breeding he selected the most yellow queens or better queens with the most yellow daughteis, and in a few years his Italian bees looked nicer than any of those imported directly from Italy. Soon a big trade sprang up in Italy for queens, and the breeders were more careful to select for colour. More than this, they imported some Cyprian queens to mix with and better the colour. This selection and breeding in one direction can be done as easilv here in Germany, and so every dollar spent for an imported queen from Italy is, in my judgment, lost. The Italian bee is as nice a bee as any, and if we breed not for colour only, but look for other good qualities, too, we can surely breed a strain of bees adapted to our purposes. What is a bee good for like the Carniolan that sends out swarms and after-3warmsin an unlimited number at least containing a dozen and more young queens and about two dozen worker bees ? (I have seen such after- swarms not quite as large as a child's fist.) Mixing this race with a good strain of bees on the one side, and every year inventing another management to prevent swarm- ing, is merely nonsense. These bees are very good for their location and for certain purposes, but not for American apiaries. Further, I know, and proved it too, that the Italians are better honey-carriers than the black bees — at least, better than our black bees. I had them side by side during a couple of yeais, and the hybrids are as good for working quality as the pure Italian, but not better. But to get hybrids I want some pure Italians to breed from, and will get hybrids more than I want by themselves. If I breed from the hybrids without later selections I have black bees, with the same bad working quality again very soon. I know what I talk about, I have tried it. Disproved that the Italian bee can be bred by careful selection to a more yellow colour ; in the other direction the same bee can be bred to a dark-coloured one. I think this is proof enough that the Italian is no fixed race, but a cross of two races that may be more than one thousand years old. If we breed a race or strain of bees by crossing or selection, we can keep this race by constant and careful selection only ; and the same bees coming to other circumstances will lose their characteristics in a few generations. So it seems very improbable to breed a fixed race for any purpose. The best way will be all the time to select from the best stocks, and we can improve our bees as long as we select, and shall go backward if we stop selecting. — L. Stachelhausen, Selma, Texas {The American Apiculturist). REPORT No. 2. [1856.] My first {B. B. J., Jan. 12th, 1888) was a chapter of accidents and blunders, of which I had my share, and was satisfied as to the cause. We are over- anxious, perhaps, as beginners, especially if we are alone, I.e., without the advantage of another's advice and experience now and again. To use a trite saying, we have bees on the brain — night as well as day. Having removed all I could during last winter of the cause of ray first wrong-doings, I was sanguine of success during the season just gone; then, when all were ready, the weather was wrong, and consequently, hope was less. According to all accounts, many will feel sorely patience-tried, and the purses of the poorest of us have been emptied that the hives might be filled. Still some- tiling within urges us to yo on; for, although this year the labourers have been many and the harvest small, next year, we hope, will more than satisfy the most sanguine. I am not far wrong in reckoning this my first season with bar-frame hives, although 1 had one hive last summer ; but as a result of my ignorance it yielded me nothing, and had to be strengthened by uniting and feeding to pass the winter. I began the spring of this year with an old straw skep and three frame-hives. From No. 1 (Cowan) I have extracted 40 lbs. and taken 18 completed sections ; from No. 2, 28 lbs. and 24 sections : and from No. 3, extracted 84 lbs. The skep swarmed June 24th (Sun- day), and have stored enough to winter upon ; and the Sunday but one following a cast issued, which, with those driven from the skep, have stored enough for wintering. In B B.J. for August 10th, the ' Selected Query' was, 'Can honey be obtained from a swarm the same season!' ' &c. The Rev. George Raynor replied, ' Not in seasons like the present.' But from a swarm which I purchased from a neighbour about mid-June and hived, I have taken 20 completed sections, and several partly sealed over only. As near as 1 can guess, I left about 20 lbs. in the hive. Considering the few and brief honey-flows we have had, I think, Mr. Editor, you will, say with me, to this swarm — ' Bravo ! ' As I had never taken a section till this summer, I was anxious to begin well, as I could not afford to stock myself with crates, &c, and then throw them aside for something new and improved ; so, contrary to the advice of the more experienced, I went in for the very latest invention, viz., Lee's hanging-frame section crate. We regard this invention of Mr. Lee's as a real and genuine advance, the result of much patient thought and labour. When completed these sections are very beautiful. My best-built combs, too, are those in Lee's frames, being perfectly regular. I venture to predict for Lee's frames and sections a great success. Having a wish to try shallow frames, I knocked together a crate and ten frames, and placed them under aerate of sections on hive No. 2. July 10th I had a peep, and found sealed comb in all of them, but as the queen was using eight of them, I removed two only, Norerabei' 1, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 533 which weighed 3 lhs. each ; replaced these with two more with starters in, and on August 29th removed all ten, splendidly filled and finished, and extracted 23 lhs. of sainfoin honey. My honey has been mainly gathered from sainfoin, white clover is not grown hereabouts. September loth I had a new experience — it was a case of desperate robbing. I had cautioned my neighbour some days previous about sprinkling sugar in front of the skeps, and now the fatal consequences were seen. Under the circumstances driving seemed to me the best thing to do, and we commenced at once. There were 6ix skeps, and the robbers were just in earnest on the second. One had been emptied of every drop of honey, and when I lifted the next the sight was shocking. Lumps of well-filled comb lay on the hoard, and thou- sands of bees, black as beetles, lay weltering in honey. Inside the skep was just as bad, scarcely a bee could fly. By cutting the skep in twain, several pounds of comb were secured. What was mo?t strange was that those which I drove from a skep on the shelf above, and placed there again till evening, were all gone when I went for them. I found that the board underneath, which was still wet with honey, had attracted the bees from above, and in the evening, being too fidl of honey to fly, I suppose, they united with another driven lot a few inches distant. The two skeps left have not been molested since. I am glad to tell you, as others have done, that wasps have been comparatively few this summer. 1 must have killed about thirty queens amongst the raspberry canes. I don't know whether others have noticed it, but the robber wasps (I will not call them worker-) seem to me to be smaller this year. I have increased my stocks by uniting in three hives eleven lots of driven bees. So now I have nine hives, lavender, [salmon, blue, green, stone, brown, slate, and plain, the last named being in my new hut. Most cottagers about here prefer the old way of taking up their bees, as, if driven, they contend that they return and rob those left for winter. For all the robbing this autumn, my bees have to bare the blame ; for, as several have told me, if yon take the honey from the bees, they will proceed to rob wherever possible ! The fact that my bees are a mile from the village goes for nothing, as the cottager says bees go for miles and miles. 'Why, I kept bees afore yow wos born,' said one ; ' and I tell ye tha ont ate sunup ; tha rob the tothers. Yow ma think yow know a lot about bees, but other fouks know as much as yow, an' yow arn't agoin' to make me b'leve that yar way is the best.' We must not forget that but very recently we shared the darkness with our neighbours, and one by one they will emerge into the light of modern bee-keeping, and share its pleasures and profits. More than this we can- not expect, as the expense alone of commencing with frame-hives is too much for the cottager who has to support himself and family upon 10s. a-week. And most bee-keepers hereabouts are of the farm-labourer class. If I could afford it, my plan would be to present a hive to each cottager in the spring, and assist him till he could manage alone. This, I think, would be the quickest way, and the best, too, of bringing about a change. — F. Goodrich, MethwuM, Norfolk. THE B.B.K.A. AND AFFILIATED ASSOCIATIONS. [1857.] The time has now arrived for a thorough ventilation of the subject of the relations existing, or in future to exist, between the County Associations and their mother Association. Without doubt there is a strong feeling pervading the County Associations that their affiliation with the B. B. K. A. is not of a character to warrant a continuance of same under the existing regime. I am sure all would deplore that the relations should be in the least strained. There seems to be a want of confidence, which any one regularly attending the meetings of the county representatives will readily observe. This feeling must be removed at once, and a thorough fraternal co-efficient one take its place. I take it that the B B. K. A. exists for the County Associations, and these, likewise, for the British ; if one fails the other does likewise— if the counties flourish, the mother must, and will, do the same. Our aims are identical. We must, to accomplish the ends for which our Associations were formed, be perfectly syuergetic : when this takes place, all stumbling-blocks and difficulties of every kind must certainly be surmounted, and the aims of every Association be successful and appreciatingly received. All the Associations being, or ought to be, as taught by the mot her Association, co-operative and united under one standard ; it seems to me, and I know to most others, a direct contradiction to the teachings of the mother Asso- ciation, that the affiliated Associations should not have an atom of voice in the matter as to the working of their own family. We, speaking on the part of most of the affiliated Associations, have now grown to manhood, and so, as a matter of course, as in all families, desire to have some control as to the manner in which the family is governed. We do not desire ' Home Rule,' but we surely can expect to have some voice, practical voice, in the management of our own affairs, these being identical with the B. li. K. A. The P.. B. K. A. issues regulations, for instance, the Show rules, but the affiliated Associa- tions have no voice in the framing of same, they are only allowed to suggest — whether the suggestions will be carried out rests entirely with the ideas of the B.B.K.A. Committee. In no more striking manner was the fact of the office of a county representative being quite a sinecure more fully illustrated than at the last meeting of county representatives ; when, upon a proposal being made by a county representative that the B. 15. K. A. should ask "the Royal Agricultural Society to allow of certain prizes to be given, the proposal, without any comment, was at once takeu from the county representative's hands, and proposed and seconded by two members of the B.B.K.A.'s Committee. I had an idea at the time that it looked rather impolite ; perhaps I was wrong. An idea is prevalent that as the affiliated Associations pay only the modest sum of one guinea to the parent Association as an affiliation fee, they cannot expect more than they get for the money. I think we fairly get our money's worth, but that sum was the proposal of the B.B.K.A., and I don't think if the funds of the B.B.K.A. urgently wanted increasing, that any of the affiliated Associations would say nay. The money part of the question is not the correct way to look at the matter ; we must ignore that, and study the moral aspect. After when the B.B.K.A. has a truly repre- sentative Committee, each affiliated Association being- represented on the same, can the money question be more equably and no doubt satisfactorily solved. A county representative ought, and eventually will be, an ex-ofjivio member of the Committee of the B.B.K.A. Now is the time for such a motion to be carried. Between now and the annual meeting of the B.B.K.A. there will be plenty of time to ventilate the subject for and against in these columns, so that the question, which I must allow is of the very utmost importance both to the B.B.K.A. and each affiliated Association, may re- ceive its proper share of consideration, to be gained only by mental co-operation. — Wr. B. Webster. NOTES OX BEE HIVES. Glass Sections. [1858.] Perhaps another way to make up glass sections maybe interesting: — Take a block '.if x 3J" x J", place this within a 4j" x 4J" x 2" wood section, cut a piece of glass i" x In", and place it in at ("), and another similar 534 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 1, 1888. piece in at (b), cut a slip of glass 4" less twice thickness of glass used x 5", and place it at (c), another similarly at (d). Cut a whole sheet of foundation, 4" x 4", less twice thickness of glass used, and place it upon the block which is within the wood section at b f. Cut another wood block same size as bf, and place this wood block -wood section upon the foundation ; place a slip of glass at e and d to complete this glass section. These latter slips must be pressed down ' home.' The blocks may now be with- drawn, and sections put on hives or into supers. The bees will soon fix top and bottom and the sides of the foundation quite securely. The dimensions of the bloeks and glass slips are quite correct, but will serve to indicate how they should be made. The tops and bottoms of the glass slips may also be cut or divided so that the foundation is held firmly all round in a vice-like grip. — T. Bonneii Chambers, Tref Eglwys, Caersws, Montgomeryshire, October 15th. P.S. — One, two, three, or four of the glass sides may be divided to suit the tastes and convenience of those using them. If the slips are prepared within the wood section, as illustrated in the B.B.J, on page 490, the top and bottom rails divided, full sheets may quickly be inserted by using the above bloeks. I will also state that I have forwarded full working drawings of one or two other methods for making blocks for glass sections, and they will appear in the manufacturers' catalogues in the spring. I might also state any one wishing for an invisible glass cement will find gelatine dissolved in gin and applied warm will answer efficiently. NOTES BY AN AMATEUR CARPENTER AND BEE-KEEPER. [1859.] Although I should hesitate, with my present limited experience in bee-keeping, before advising any one who has to purchase his hives to commence forming an apiary, I recommend all who have plenty of space and a carpenter's shop to begin making hives on the first rainy day, and filling them with bees as soon as they conveniently can. Two years ago I bought a hive for 32*,, and hired the services of a neighbour to manipulate what I then thought from tradition to be very dangerous insects; but in a short time I saw that, with the aid of my carpenter's shop, a veil, and smoke, ' Fumosque maim prsetende sequaces,' I could get much pleasant employment at a very small cost. In the whole range of amateur carpen- tering I know nothing so satisfactory to make as a bee- hive. Amateur defects, imperfect sawing, planing, &c, can be satisfactorily remedied by their ' friends ' putty and paint. Having learnt from my model the theory of modern hives, I, during the wet days of winter, turned a dozen Stores ' non-returnable cases ' into an apiary, which my neighbours view with astonishment and delight. But the hives have one considerable fault — they are all shapes and sizes, from the gigantic ' Bees' Castle ' to the ' Little Wonder,' — names bestowed upon them by my gardener^ who works under me. Buying a case of Tate's cube sugar, however, I determined to make these boxes my future hives, as they are all the same size and of a very convenient shape. I put extra interior walls to the ends, and 8i-ineh boards on the sides, which make a warm residence for the bees in winter, and form a support for regulation-sized bars and section-boxes. My grocer sup- plies me with these empty boxes at Gd. each, and without counting my labour, or rather pleasure, in making them, I calculate each hive, when ready and painted, costs me about Is. 6d. I should like to take an order for 10,000 at 8s. each. The four legs are very easily cut out of ordinary rafters and screwed on. I put an extra bottom on the box, allowing the end piece of wood to project, in order, when bevelled down, it may form an alighting- board. All crevices are filled up with putty, and exte- rior strips of wood nailed over them for further security. I much prefer hives of my own make to those purchased, as they are deeper and admit of better manipulation. The latter have the bars level with the top of the sides, and unless great care is used the carpet coverings are liable to get on the top, where the roof has to sit. In my hives I can keep the lower storey warm by using very little besides paper for a covering, as the sides are high. I made wdndows in two of the hives, but I don't see much use in them, as very little is to be seen through the glass, and it is much more satisfactory to look in when the roof is off than in at the sides. In order, however, that others may have a good view of my bees, I made a couple of hives to fit into my workshop window, and formed all the sides of glass, with moveable wooden frames, so that any one can view what is going on inside with perfect security. I show them to all sorts of people, and am often amused by the remarks which are made. The second of these hives was only filled with bees last month ; I bought two stocks of condemned bees at 9d. each, and put them both into one hive ; and now they are apparently in a very thriving condition, having filled the whole place with wax and Jamaica sugar syrup. A friend of mine wdio has estates in Jamaica sent me a barrel of sugar, and the bees have had it all. This year I have taken no honey, but I hope my stocks will pass the winter on the large amount of syrup I have given them. I regret to say, however, there has been a good deal of robbing going on. A neighbour, who has twenty or thirty stocks, does not feed them, and I believe they are the robbers. A law might bo passed compelling people to feed their stocks, so that they may not rob their neigh- bours. The mortality among my bees during the year was certainly very great. Incautiously I allowed a pair of swallows to build a nest close by, regardless of Virgil's sound advice : — ■ ' Absint et pieti squalentia terga lacerti Pinguibus a stabulis, meropesque aliseque volucres ; Et manibus Proene pectus signata cruentis. Omnia nam late vastant, ipsasque volantis Ore ferunt duleem nidis imrnitibus escam.' And they fed their young ones almost entirely on bees. Unfortunately I did not discover the fact until it was too late. One advantage I have derived from keeping bees is that I have had my attention drawn to the beauty of the fourth Georgic, and I have lately read it so often that I nearly know it off by heart. The lines I admire most are those beginning, 'Ac veluti lentis,' where the bees are compared to the Cyclops. These lines, to be fully appreciated, should be learnt off by heart, and repeated whilst watching a pair of blacksmiths hammering hot iron. But I am wandering from my subject, and will con- clude with the remark that it appears/in this neighbour- hood at least, bees will be very scarce next year. — L. November 1, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 535 STOKING APPLIANCES AWAY. [I860.] Now that the time has come round once more when we should be storing away sections, racks, spare combs, doubling boxes, extractors, &c, &C, I thought I would give my way of doing the same; and if I differ from our esteemed friend, ' Mr. Useful Hints,' a trifle in some things, I hope he will forgive me and correct me where I am wrong, as I have gained most of my know- ledge from various writings in the B.B.J., and those from ' U. Hints ' have mostly been particularly looked after by me. I have often thought how glad I should have been to have had the pleasure of seeing the B.B.J. years before I did, but it had been in circulation years before I thought there was likely to be such a publication. I have always been very fond of bees, and for a long time I had wished I could decide upon some better way of keeping them than the old straw skeps afforded. And about the mouth of February, 1883, a friend of mine came from America and brought a model of a frame- hive with him. He said it was quarter-size ; so I made one from it, but when 1 had finished it it was very awkward-looking, and still worse handling, as the top bars of frames were about '22 in. long and 10f in. deep. I had never heard of comb foundation, so 1 put melted wax along the under side of top bar to guide the bees in building their combs. The top of the bar was Hat on the upper side, and the bottom an angular or V-ahape on under side. The next trouble was how could I get the bees into it, as I had never heard of driving ; so I placed my frame-hive close up to the entrance of a strong sksp, so that the bees were compelled to go through the frame- hive before they could fly, and as they required room they took possession of the frame-hive and built their combs very nicely ; but all were drone-combs, and when the fall of the year came all the bees retired back into the skep and left a very good surplus of honey in the frames for my trouble ; but it was so awkward to handle that I considered a modification necessary. The frames ran ends on to the entrance, which I now think is the best. I considered what size I should make my next hive, which took me some time before I could start. At last I decided to make it 15 x l'O inches inside, but before I had proceeded far I saw a friend who had purchased a frame-hive, and be told me it was sold to him for the standard size for England, which was 14 x 16 inches from back to front, so I altered my size for that, which, after I had made six good, substantial hives, I found to be wrong. I could not afford to set them aside, as the difference of the standard size was so small, the depth of the hives being the same as the standard and being im- portant to have all frames one size. I have always kept to the above size, so it will be seen that my size is three-sixteenths of an inch longer than the standard, although in speaking of them I call them the standard size. My way of storing away and preserving for winter is as follows : — After the extracting from combs and partly - filled sections is completed, they are all returned to the hives for the bees to clean out ; when that is done the sections are placed in section-racks — of course, sections, frames, racks, dividers, and doubling-boxes, are all well cleaned by scraping all propolis, &c, from them ; then sections are placed in racks with dividers, and all just ready to place upon hives when required, the combs and frames are also replaced in doubling boxes. I then stand an empty doubling-box on four bricks at the corners to keep it from the ground and to give draught under it, then the boxes with combs are placed on the empty one and piled one on the other to the height of about eight feet, and the section-racks and sections are placed in a like manner, when an iron pan containing some sulphur is lighted and slid under empty box at bottom of each pile. When the sulphur is well alight the draught at bottom is closed by placing some old materials round the bottom of empty box, when the sulphur burns very slowly and all the fumes pass to every particle of comb and crevice (if crevices there are) ; when they have stood in this position for ten minutes the top draught is closed, so that the fumes of sulphur are shut in with the combs. After they have stood in this position for about one hour, each section-crate with sections receives about half an ounce of camphor, rolled up in a piece of rag in about the centre of crate, then each crate is placed in paper and tied up so that it resembles a neat paper parcel, when they are piled away in a dry place one upon another as high as the ceiling of room will admit. The doubling- boxes with combs are not put in paper, but each receives a piece of camphor, as above ; and in storing them away they are placed one upon another with a piece of stout, or, maybe, two or three thicknesses of thin paper be- tween. Combs, &c., treated in this way I have never known to be troubled with any kind of vermin what- ever, and they come out when wanted as clean and bright as though they had just been taken from a strong- colony ; and when they are wanted there is nothing to do but remove camphor rag, and paper, and replace them on the hives where they are required. Of course, by the time they are wanted all tin; camphor will be evaporated. I may say ben- that I always keep about half an ounce of camphor, as above, in each hive which is Btocked with bees, and since I have adopted the above plan my bees have always been very healthy and vigorous. Extractors and all other tin ware are also well cleaned, dried perfectly, and while the tin is yet warm they are rubbed all over with a piece of rag with some oil upon it, using plenty of oil, so that it runs well into the joints; then the camphor and paper, or some other covering', and the result is that they never rust. I keep my extractor in a sack, which is very easily protected by just tying up the mouth. I am a great advocate of the use of camphor, both with the bees and with appliances which are stored away. 1 may add that the first number of tin.' British Bee Journal came into my bands in February 1883, ami I have always continued to make the best use I possibly could of its pages, and I have j'et plenty of room for learning. I make no doubt that 'Useful Hints' plan is quite as good as the above, but I do think the latter takes less time, which is a great consideration with many of us. I beg to apologise for trespassing so far upon your valuable space, but if it should be of any good to any of our bee-keeping friends, it will not be all waste time. Just a word or two more upon Nepeta Muasini plants. When you kindly inserted my last ad- vertisement, I had no idea there would be many plants asked for, but applications arrived so fast that all the plants were cleared out in a few days, and I have got many applications which I cannot supply at present, so I have made arrangements to strike another large batch, so that no one should be disappointed in the eud, as I hope to be able to supply them in March 1889. — C. H. W., . tyleeford, near Maidstone, Kent. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Letters or queries asking for addresses oj manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in adcanc» of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issub immediately following the receipt oj their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. C. B. — Honey Imports. — We shall be reviewing the honey and wax imports and exports of the previous year in the course of a few weeks, when we shall endeavour to give you the information you desire. John Watson. — You will find the sugars forwarded by you suitable for your purposes. We shall be pleased, at your leisure, to receive a report of your experience. 566 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November I, 1868. Far North. — Amount of Stores. — If your stocks have at present thirty pounds each, there will be a sufficiency to tide them over to the spring. W. J. S. — Queen fertilised. — In the face of the very un- propitiou3 weather we have had, and the lateness in the season when the queen was raised, we cannot say whether the young queen has been fertilised. Inspect the hive in February for the demonstration pro or eon. A. Woodhead. — The American Ajtieulturi.it is published monthly by Henry Alley, Wenham, Massachusetts ; price one dollar per year. L. W. R. — 1. Number of Frames when Feeding. — It is not necessary that number of frames should have been reduced to that requisite before feeding. 2. Reducing Frames. — If any of the frames are empty, they may be removed. 8. Proper Number of Frames. — Six to eight. 4. Winter Stores. — If the stores are not sealed, there is danger of them becoming sour, and of dysentery ensuing. 5. Empty Combs. — The required empty combs should be placed in front of your hive. 6. Brood Nest. — Not necessary, seeing the cluster varies its position as the stores are diminished. 7. Selecting Stores. — Select the fullest ones to be left. 8. Super- fluous Stores. — Place these behind the division-board, allowing the bees to get at them. A Puzzled One. — Queen Deposed. — The bees have deposed the queen because she was aged, or in their opinion unequal to her duties. The probability is that thp hive is now queenless. W. D. and T. C. — We will place ourselves in communi- cation with the manufacturer named in your letters. E. A. Fey. — We should recommend you now to use sugar-cake. It is too late for syrup-feeding. T. Pearson. — A bad case of foul brood. business ^Directory. !-♦-» HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Bonn, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godjian, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour A Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C. , 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfiekl, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 2G Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godman, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B. , Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained o£ all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St.. Chelmsford. EDEY St SONS, St. Neots, Hants. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. McNALLY, 11., Glenluce, N.B. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Weoeum Street, Norwich. RUDK1N, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHUSTSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. TIHIIE British Bee-keepers' Association Established 1874. President: THE BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS. THE Committee appeal to Bee-keepers, Manufacturers of Bee-keeping Appliances, and others desirous of promoting' our Home Industries, to become Annual Subscribers or Donors to any Special Branch of the Association's work. Subscriptions, 5s. and upwards per annum. Life Members, £5. The Association carries out its work by — The holding of Annual Exhibitions ; Assisting County Associations ; Sending out Lecturers and Experts ; The publication of Literature relating to the best methods of Bee-culture; The disposal of Bee-produce, &c, &c, &c. Secretary: John IIucklk, Kings Langley, Herts The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World. THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL Established in 1861. Price 6». (id. per annum, post free. T. G. Newman, 925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A. London Agents: Messbs. GEO. NEIGHBOUR & SONS, 149 Regent Street, W. London: Printed by Strangeways & Sons, at tbeir Printing Offlco, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., in tbo Parish of St. Gilea's-in-the- Fielda, in the County of Middlesex; and Published for the Proorietor by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in the same county. — Nov. 1, 1888. Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stbangeways' Pointing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 333. Vol.. XT I.] NOVEMBER 8, 18S8. [Published Weekly.] (^tutorial, gotuts, &t. PROTECTING BEES IN WINTER. Those who have their bees in single-walled hives would do well to give them some protection during the winter. We know bees have sometimes been wintered safely without any protection whatever, but our experience does not warrant us to recom- mend this plan. Many use common boxes, which they place over the hive, and lay on the top a piece of zinc, or even a piece of roofing felt. We think it a great advantage to have chaff outside our hives and between the walls and outer casing. The editor of the Bee-keepers' Guide uses, and re- commends, a very simple arrangement; and as it is inexpensive, and can be made by any one, we here give a description and illustration of it. Get a 0 m piece of cloth half a yard wide and long enough to go round the hive ; the ends are sown together, and it can then be slipped over a wooden rim, to which the edges of the cloth are tacked on the outside. The rim is then to be slipped over the hive, which it fits, and the space between the cloth and hive filled neatly with chaff, some being also placed on the top, forming a cone. The edges of the cloth are drawn together, and a couple of stitches with string twine will keep the outer band from slipping down. Over all place a square yard of cotton cloth which has been previously water- proofed by painting over with hot tar. The corners must be drawn down, as seen in illustration, and securely fastened to the cloth band by tacking a few stitches witji a needle and twine. Straw skeps might also be protected in the same manner, ami should require no disturbance until spring. Should it bo requisite to give sugar-cake in the spring, it can easily be done by untacking one of the corners, lifting it up, and pushing on one side sufficient chaff to raise the quilts. We should prefer also to waterproof the band, as, in our moist climate, the chaff would be likely to become and remain damp. Another simple way is to use, instead of the cloth, ' Willesden card,' which could be tacked on the rim and the top edges folded over. A square on the top, or, better still, a cover with the edges turned down, would keep all secure from wet. Al- most anything can be made with ' Willesden card,' and the joints are easily made waterproof by putting hot tar between the ends which lap over each other. A square roof coming to a point can easily be made out of one piece of card without a single joint. Fold the square diagonally across the corners in both directions, then turn over each corner an inch at the bottom, tapering to nothing at the centre, where the two lines intersect. Fold this over and turn under the "piece projecting at the bottom. A few paper fasteners will complete it and keep it in the desired position. Such a cover can be made for a few pence, and will answer as well as a more expensive one, especially where cost is a considera- tion. Of course, being very light it would be liable to be blown off unless kept down somehow, but a piece of string will do for this purpose. We are surprised that ' Willesden card ' has not come into more general use in the apiary, and we should be glad to see it applied more frequently. Its prin- cipal recommendations are that it is light, strong, waterproof, will take paint easily, is very cheap, and no tools are required but a knife for cutting- it. I SEFUL HINTS. Weatiieh. — Rain and fogs. Fogs and rain. Season- able (?) November weather! Sincerely do we pity the ' troglodytes ' (dwellers in fog) of ' famous London town.' Not that country fogs are enjoyable, but they are a mere bagatelle compared with a modern London fog. A country fog is white, and is only a shade removed from a healthy atmosphere. A London fog has the additional ingredients of clouds of smoke and soot, which render the foggy air of the metropolis terribly destructive of life. The Londoner breathes four times as much carbonic acid gas in a fog as he does in fine, clear weather, and 538 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 8, 1888. the organic matter taken into his lungs is seven times as great. But ' necessitas non habet legem! Nevertheless some day before long we^hope compulsory consumption of smoke will render the atmosphere of the great city com- paratively pure when contrasted with its present con- dition. We English are never satisfied with the weather ; and yet how very ungrateful it is to complain, after the seven or eight weeks of splendid, bright, dry, invigorating, autumnal weather we have lately experienced. For feeding our bees after a honeyless summer, for getting them comfortably into winter quarters, for clearing up and stowing away implements, appliances, hives, crates, odds and ends, and what not, had we ourselves made the weather we could not have made it more charming. Shame on the idle louts who leave their poor bees to perish from want, their hives and stands to rot for want of a coat of paint, and their apiaries, like a pig's court, covered with refuse and filth ! Entrances to frame-hives, if the hives are covered with impervious quilts, should be kept open at full width, and bees and other refuse must be occasionally removed by a bent wire. A slide of perforated zinc, with an inch wide opening, allowing passage for the bees, may guard the entrance and keep out mice. The cottager rarely keeps a sufficiently wide entrance to his skep in the winter months to allow of free ventilation. If he would keep the entrance from four to six inches wide, guarding it, as above recommended, with a strip of perforated zinc, his hives would be better ventilated, and his bees would winter better, than with the entrances plastered over with clay or cowdung, according to his present practice. A New Feeder. — Messrs. Dines have sent us a specimen of their ' new shilling feeder,' which, although in course of manufacture in large quantities, has not yet been placed before the public. It consists of a bottle which holds about 1] pints, and on the base of which is 'blown' in the glass ' Dines' Maldon 1*. Feeder,' so that no retail dealer can raise the price beyond that figure, the object being to supply the cottager with a really good feeder at the low price of one shilling. The edge of the bottle-neck is ground and accurately fitted with a screw-cap of nickel silver, which is incorrodable, and has eight perforations in semicircular form. The stand is formed of a block of beautifully white light and close- grained wood, 5| in. square by 1 in. thick, having on one side a slight circular depression exactly fitting the screw- cap of the bottle, and the other side being hollow, in order to receive the upper portion of the cluster of bees when extending from below. A semicircular slot, 5 in. wide, corresponding with the perforations in screw-cap, is cut in the stand, through which the bees feed even during cold weather. By these means from one up to eight holes can be used for stimulation or rapid storage. On the bottle is placed a label, on which is printed an index finger (pointing as the bottle revolves to the numerals 1. to vm. stencilled on the stand), and also full directions for making syrup. On the label, when varnished, washing will take no effect. The feeder is most accurately fin- ished, the perforations, which are slightly larger than those commonly used, corresponding exactly with the slot. We have given this feeder a full and searching trial, and have found all its fittings so accurate that not the slightest leakage has occurred. By its introduction we consider that a great boon has been conferred on all bee- keepers, especially on the cottager, and we trust that full publicity may be given to it in the advertising columns of our periodical bee-literature. We must not omit to re- mark that this feeder is manufactured very much upon the lines of the Raynor feeder, differing chiefly in the following points : (a) The bottle is rather smaller ; (A), there is no cork lining to the screw-cap, neither is the index finger placed upon it, nor the central pivot, and the metal is different ; (e), the interior of the dome on the under side of the stand is not lined with cloth, but may be rendered impervious to moisture by brushing over it a little molten wax. This feeder is certainly a marvel of cheapness, and how it can be produced for the price is also a marvel to us. Candy. — An excellent kind of food for winter feeding, when autumnal feeding has been neglected, is 'Good's Candy,' which is made by mixing together liquid honey and finely-powdered loaf-sugar until the consistency of 1 stiff dough is attained. The best sugar for the purpose \ is that termed ' Confectioners' Dust Sugar' — a powdered sugar as fine and white as the finest wheat-flour. The mixture should be well kneaded by the hand, and formed into cakes of the size required, which are to be laid on the top bars of the frames, above the cluster of bees, and beneath the quilts. The operation of feeding thus may be very quickly performed during any period of the winter, and with little or no disturbance of the bees. In skep-feeding the cakes are placed on the feed-hole, and pushed down upon or between the combs. The man who declines to bestow so small an amount of trouble and expense upon his starving bees deserves to lose them. Virgin Queens. — With regard to the large consign- ments of virgin queens said to have been sent to England in late autumn, and distributed as fertile, we have no experience. During the last twenty-five years we have used largely imported queens obtained through the prin- cipal supply-dealers and agents, commencing with the late Mr. Woodbury of Mount Radford, Exeter; and out of many hundreds received we have met with two only which were unfertilised, and one impurely mated, and the price of the imperfect queens was honourably returned without the least murmur. These queens have been of all the well-known domesticated varieties, and the greater part were received in autumn, when prices are low. The loss by introduction has been so iutinitesimal that it is not worth mentioning. From Mr. Benton we have not im- ported direct, but through his agents; and, in justice to him, we are bound to say that all his queens have been true to race, fertile, prolific, and fine specimens, being chiefly of the Syrian and Cyprian varieties. If so many unfecundated queens have been distributed over the country, it seems passing strange that we have had no complaints in the Journal. Englishmen are said to be very fond of airing a grievance, and these virgin queens cannot, in every case, have fallen into the hands of novices in queen introduction. ' Amateur Expert ' should be more careful, when quoting, to quote correctly. When we wrote, in our last ' Hints,' — 'There can be no doubt that there is room for improvement in the judging at our shows ; when a less experienced judge, at some provincial show, reverses the awards of more experienced and capable judges, made at more important shows, the evil arising therefrom is great,' &c. ; we neither made, nor intended to make, allusion to any particular show, but had in our mind a general reference to shows of past years, down to the present time. The inferences, therefore, which ' A. E.' has drawn from our words, as above quoted — after inter- spersing interjections by way, we suppose, of innuendo, the point of which is utterly lost upon us — thus, ' When a less experienced judge, at some provincial show (ah !), reverses the awards of more experienced and capable judges (Good ! good !) made at more important shows ' — the inferences, we say, which ' A. E.' has drawn, that ' all shows must follow the lead of the Royal,' and, con- sequently, that ' local shows need not appoint judges for hives and appliances,' and that, therefore,' the winner at the Royal should simply walk through all the provincial shows and other exhibitors stay away,' are most unwar- ranted, since we made no allusion to the Royal nor to any other show in particular. We certainly should not have ventured to credit ' A. E.' with advocating the reversal of awards at various shows by various judges, in order to give ' other exhibitors ' a chance of obtaining November 8, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL 539 prizes ! Surely we had better institute ' consolation prizes ' than encourage a policy so suicidal and unjust. When our ' Hints ' are erroneous, or impolitic, we are not only willing, but desirous, that the Editor, or Sab- Editor, of the Journal should freely use the editorial scissors on our MSS., but in future we beg respectfully to decline the criticisms of ' Amateur Expert. When he becomes the Editor of the Journal, if we continue to write for it, it will be time enough then to submit to his critiques with the best grace that we an' able. It', how- ever, he is to be installed as 'Critic general,' lei him exercise his ingenuity on our 'Editoiials' as well a* on the productions of smaller contributors who favour the Journal with the results of their experience. Lei ' A. E.,' therefore, bear in mind tlie old maxim,' Ultra rires nihil aggrediendwn' THE BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Discrssiox on the Paper of the Rkv. J. L. Seageu. Mr. McClure said that his experience differed in some points from that of Mr. Seager. Bee-keeping was not known in Lancashire or Cheshire to any large extent. There were hundreds of persons in those counties who bad never seen a bee tent, consequently the subject had not been worked out threadbare in those places as in Herts. With regard to the Secretary, the trouble was that nobody could tell him what he should do. lie thought that if Secretaries were men who thoroughly understood the work, they should have little difficulty in gaining subscribers. SVith respect to Committees, tie' head- quarters of hi< own Committee were eighty miles distant from some parts of the county, and yet the attendance once a-month averaged from eight to eleven members, lie certainly could not complain of any want of support by the Committee in his tie meetings, ami wt re me i l>"is of the B.B.K.A. (that is, subscribed thereto), they should be ex officio members of the Committee, and con- sequently entitled to vote. He also proposed certain alterations to Rule 9, and concluded by stating that the Lancashire and Cheshire Association was most anxious to work in harmony with the B.B.K.A., but at the same lime hoped for an early alteration of the rules then in existence. Mr. Webster agreed in great part with Mr. Seager's views. He thought it was very desirable that those Associations which had been formed from County Associations should be allowed to be' affiliated with the B.B.K.A. If that were permitted there was no doubt that the number of Associations would soon multiply, bee-keeping would be better encouraged through the country, and that would mean an accession to the funds of the Central Association. Mr. Garratt said that he had already written in the British Bee Journal on the subject raised by Mr. Seager, who had brought the matter forward in an admirable manner. There was little doubt that the time had arrived when it must be dealt with. He had some time ago expressed fears that the County Associations were deemed, unless some means were found to give a fresh impetus to them. However, the ground which had been traversed that night was very wide indeed, and he thought they were hardly prepared to go so far in discussion as Mr. McClure wished to lead them. His suggestions amounted toa proposal for a revision of the constitution, which could not be entered upon without considerable deliberation. His own experience of County Associations led him to think that the work for which they were organised had been done. Although the importance of bee-keeping had not been preached in every portion of a county, yet the practical aspect of the matter had been before the public in all the counties, and the question was, how was the interest to be maintained? They must look at the subject chiefly as it concerned the welfare of the B.B.K.A. The independent multiplication of societies would bring difficulties. He supposed Mr. Seager meant that the County Associations must cease to exist where the local societies sprang up, at any rate some constitutional change must be provided by which the County Associations might disappear, and others rise in their place. He thought that Mr. Seager must feel that if his suggestions were adopted, they were on the threshold of a very great disturbance in all arrange- ments which had existed. He was not one to shirk a duty because difficulties presented themselves, and he felt sure that unless something were soon done the failure would be much greater than if the task were faced at once and some changes adopted. What form those alterations should take, time would be required to decide. A Sub-Committee should be appointed to deal with the matter, and present it for discussion at the next Annual General Meeting. Mr. Woodley suggested that the B.B.K.A. should bring itself, if possible, into more intimate contact with the County Associations. He quite approved of Mr. Seager's remark that the Committee of the B. B. K. A. should be more representative, and argued that the County Representatives should have a vote. It would be a good thing to form a Council from the County Representatives and Members, and from that elect a Committee. lie thought the Committee of the B. B. K. A. lacked influence owing to its exclusive character, and should be more ' democratic ' in composition. Mr. Graham had acted as provincial Secretary under Mr. Iiligh, and quite concurred in Mr. Seager's remarks as to the difficulty of getting work done under the present arrangement. That gentleman's proposals formed a sort of Local Government Bill, and had not been brought forward a day too soon. lie thought that Count v Associations on the exbting plan should not be abolished, but allowed to go on as long cs they could. 540 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 8, 1888. As soon as the proposed rules came iuto force, his own county would split into two branches, each becoming affiliated with the B.B.K.A. Middlesex would divide into four districts. Hitherto it had been almost impossible to get representatives from those four districts to attend a general meeting of the Middlesex Association, although the room in which they were now assembled had been offered them for the purpose. Bee-keeping could be extended much more than it had been. There were many districts in his knowledge where a real live educated bee-keeper was an unknown quantity. The Chairman said that since he had become connected with the County of Yorks he had done his utmost to bring about decentralisation, and by that means strengthen the hands of the central authorities. If the raison d'etre of the B. B. K. A. was to disseminate bee-keeping in the provinces and the parent body had founded County Associations for that purpose surely by analogy it was the duty of the latter to form Bistrict Associations. He had found that the general question asked by persons in the country when invited to join an Association was : — ' What shall I get if 1 subscribe ? ' They always wanted a quid pro quo, and it was important that a good answer to that question should be given. There was no doubt that Mr. Seager was quite correct in saying that as a rule a whole county was unmanageable in the hands of one Secretary. In his own county they had started five Bistiict Associations, which had grown lately and were doing good wort. In many cases a County Committee was little more than an empty name; its meetings were attended by the Chairman, Secretary, and possibly another, and under such circumstances it was almost a mockery to go through a meeting. It was perhaps a question whether all the Associations which would spring into life after the introduction of the new, rules would be able to affiliate themselves to the British, the fee of one guinea being a large item to a small auxiliary ; that, however, was only a matter of detail. He recommended that the Counties should be divided into the Parliamentary divisions; the Local Government Bill might be taken as a guide. lie thought all members of Committees should be bee-keepers, or they would lack enthusiasm for the cause. Business-like capacity only was scarcely a sufficient qualification. Mr. Hooker explained in reply to Mr. McClure that the reason of the delay in issuing the bound-up reports was that some of the counties did not forward their reports to the central office until the month of June. Mr. McClure replied that the rules should be strictly adhered to. In Lancashire and Cheshire there were six different Associations which could be affiliated to the B. B. K. A. under the proposed new system. Mr. Garratt repeated his suggestion that a Sub-Com- mittee should be formed, so that Mr. Seager's proposals might take practical shape. The Bev. J. S. Seager, in reply, said that with regard to affiliating Associations he imagined some limits would have to be placed on that, but it was outside his province to sketch out rules at present. Associations desirous of affiliation would have to state over what area they in- tended to carry out their work, and care must be taken to render it impossible for three or four persons to start a hole-and-corner branch. In reference to a remark made by the Chairman, he wished it to be distinctly understood that he did not mean to suggest that Committeemen need not be bee-keepers, but that there was no necessity they should be advanced bee-keepers, or men of prominence in the bee world — an idea which hitherto appeared to be paramount in the selection of the Committee. Mr. McClure, for instance, was now a skilful bee-keeper, but he knew little or nothing about the subject when he became Secretary of the Lancashire Association, and his energy and success in that county were well known. The question of affiliation fees wAs a matter which the Committee would have no diffi- culty in settling; a sliding scale could be adopted, and regulated accoiding to the number of members in each Association. The affiliation fees were no source of income to the B. B. K. A., ISs. thereof being always returned in the form of medals, to say nothing of postages, &c. From the descriptions of Mr. McClure and the Chairman it appeared that Lancashire and Yorkshire were in a barbarous condition so far as bee-keeping was concerned, but he was happv to say from personal experience that the converse of that was true as ivgarded the hospitality of bee-keepers in those counties. Xo doubt the Executive of the B. B. K. A. were open to the charge of being an exclusive Committee, but he could assure his hearers it was not the desire of his colleagues that that should be so. The difficulty was that only those persons who lived near to London could spare the time and expense to attend the meetings. They of the Committee would only welcome with open arms a friend of the cause living L'OO or .'{00 miles away, if he would join them. He did not propose that the present County Associations should be done away with, but that their existence should not prevent the formation and affiliation of other Associations in the same counties. He could not agree that the new Parliamentary division of Counties would be a satisfactory arrangement. "With regard to the question, ' What am I to get by joining your Association ? ' etc., he would have two answers thereto, either of which should be used according to the social position of the interrogator. If the latter were a person of good position, to whom a sovereign was a a small matter he would reply: — 'The aims of this Association are of a benevolent character, designed to promote the welfare of the poorer classes. The institution is doing a great work, and on that ground alone we confidently appeal for public support.' In the case of that class who have to think twice before parting with a few shillings, he would sa}7 : ' You will get exactly what you make us give you. The Committee of the B. B. K. A. will be in your hands. You are the electors to all intents and purposes of the Association, and you have the power to decide what shall be done.' If the Local Associations paid their affiliation fees they ought to have a vote for the election of the Committee. He hoped a Sub-Committee would be formed in that morn to draw up a report to be presented to the B. B. lv. A. A small Sub-Committee would be best, doing the work if necessary by correspondence, and the members holding a final meeting together in London. A general conversation ensued, the outcome of which was that a Sub-Committee was formed as suggested, when the following Members were proposed and seconded and elected thereon: — The Rev. J. L. Seager (who at first demurred on the ground that the Committee ought to consist of persons not on the Council of the B. H. K. A.) Mr. McClure (who complained that he lived too far from London), Mrs. Currey, Mr. Grimshaw, Mr. Garratt, Mr. ^Veb3te]•, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Meggy. Mr. Garratt proposed, Mr. Cooper seconded, and the Chairman supported, a vote of thanks to Mr. Seager for the valuable suggestions he had laid before them, the Chairman expressing a hope that the decisions of the Sub-Committee would be put into shape with as little official delay as possible and placed before the ( 'ouncil of the B. B. K. A. Mr. Seager briefly acknowledged the compliment. At this juncture a large number of the audience left, and the Chairman intimated that the paper he had in- tended to read that evening, entitled ' The Sting and its i'oison,' should be held over till a future occasion. Mr. Hooker exhibited a hive of his own design, executed by Mr. Neighbour; the speciality of which was that the feeder could be placed either above or below the hive according to the wish of the owner. The Chairman and others disapproved of feeding at the bottom, owing to the disturbance caused by lifting November 8, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 541 the hive to place and remove the feeder. Mr. Hooker replied that the contrivance was so arranged that facilities for feeding might he given which might, under certain circumstances, be desirable. A vote of thanks having been passed to the Chairman and briefly acknowledged, the proceedings closed. BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY ; Or, Glossary of Technical and Scientific Words used in Works upon Bee-keeping. Bee-line. n. (L. linen, line from linum, flax ) — A straight line between two points, such as a bea was supposed instinctively to take when returning to its hive; the shortest line from one point to another. Bee-lippen. n. A bee-hire. (Somerset.) Bee-liquor, sb. (L. liquor, from liqueo, to be liquid.) — Mead, made from the washings of the combs. (Kent.) Bee-literature. 11. (L. literal urn, from literre, letters.) — Books and periodicals treating of bees and bee-keeping. Bee-louse, v. (Sax. /us, to creep.) — A parasite found on the honey bee in Southern Europe called Braida ceeca. Bee-ma ^'g-ot n. from magn, to breed.) Bee-martin, n. — Name of i en given in some parts of the United States to the king-bird, Tyrannus Caroliensis. Bee-master, n. — Used to signify a bee-keeper, but should properly be applied only to one proficient in the art of bee-keeping See Apiarian, Apicnltwixt. Bee-mite. n. (Sax. mite, » small insect.) — See Acarus. Bee-moth. n. (Sax. mat, from (loth, mat/an, to eat.) — Moths whose larvae are destructive of combs. There are two species, Galleria meloneJJa and Achroia yrisella. The former is very common in Southern Europe. Wax moth. Bee-nettle, n. (Sax. netele.) — Species of dead nettle visited by bees, Gahopsii Tetrahil and Lamium Album. Bee-pap. n. — Used by old writers generally to designate the food of larval bees ; by Berlepsch and others for the first soft food of larvfe provided by the nurse bees. Bee-pasturage. bees collect, nectar. ( fT". macai, plur. magioi, a grub, -The larva or grub of the bee. -Flowering plants from w hie) Bee-pest. n. (L. pestis, a plague.) — The disease known as foul brood; bee-plague; a disease which Ililbert stated was not only a disease of the brood, but also of mature bees, sometimes including the queen. See Bacillus aleei and Bacillus alveolaris. Bee-plague, n. (L.plaga, a calamity.)— See Bee- pest. Bee-plants. «. — Plants visited by bees. Bee-pot. n. — A bee-hive (Sussex). Bee-protector, n. — See Bee-dress. Bee-poison, n. — Formic acid secreted from the blood by the poison-glands, collected in the poison-sac, and ejected through the openings in the lancets of the sting. Bee-seep, or scap. n. (A.-Sax. seep, basket.) — A dome-shaped, or round and flat-topped hive made of straw or osiers; in Sussex, the straw hackle pi iced over the hive to protect it. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT THE ' STONEREIGH ' APIARIES, PORTSLA.DE. We regret to inform the readers of the British Bee Journal that our friend, Mr. Frank Reed, proprietor of the above apiaries, has sustained a severe loss in the de- struction of his bee-house and its contents by fire, the whole being totally consumed. The carelessness of a workman caused the disaster, a lighted match having been incautiou-ly thrown on a quantity of touchwood. We sympathise deeply with Mr. Reed, as he has since informed us that he has lost the whole of his appliances, supers, &c, necessary for the working of an apiary of 150 stocks. Mr. Reed has been an extensive bee-keeper for many years, and lias carried on a very valuable work in a scientific and unobtrusive manner, lie is a 'specialist in Carniolan bees. He was fortunate enough some few years ago in procuring some specially selected, pure, im- ported queens from a remote part of t'arniola, and was so impressed with their good qualities, as regards fecundity of queens and honey - gathering properties, that he "decided to make this variety a speciality ; and from what we have recently seen lie has certainly got (through, care and judicious crossing) the finest samples of Carniolan bees we have yet seen ; they are very evidently superior in colour and disposition to the im- ported Carniolans of the present day and perfectly acclimatised. A few queens we had recently from some supposed respected dealer in Carniolans are anything but what they ought to be. Mr. Reed 1ms had a Carniolan stock of this past summer, the queen of which has kept a large hive of thirty frames crammed with bees, and had a brood-nest of twenty-four frames of the possible thirty which stored sufficient honey in twelve days (Mr. Reed, fortunately, being favoured with a honey ilow of that duration) to winter its own stock, and sufficient left for two others. We were pleased when we saw Mr. Reed, to note that he was not cast down, though his loss is a severe one, nothing being insured; and from his determined and per- severing character we know that he will at once set about repairing his loss and putting everything to rights. We wish the enterprising proprietor every success in his interesting pursuits for the advancement of apiculture. — E. Xf.w, Southwick, Honey at thf. Olympia. — The honey sections on show at the stand of the Irish Dee-keepers' Associ- ation at the Irish Exhibition, Olympia, have been purchased by Mr. A. Courts Smith, of Cambridge Street, Hyde Park. Dirds axd Bees. — As regards sparrows, swallows, and martins taking bees, as mentioned by the Rev. W. E. Burkitt, I am pleased to say such is not my ex- perience, although I have watched them many an hour. On the other hand, I can assure readers that I have scores of times seen both martins and swallows followed by bees on the wing, for what purpose I was never able to satisfy myself, without it is curiosity, as seems to be the case when bees and wasps fly round persons without attempting to sting. — J. Hiam (Journal of Horticulture). Bees in New Zealand. — A considerable quantity of German red clover is annually imported into New- Zealand, where it flourishes, but has not hitherto ripened sufficiently to yield seed for reproduction. This has been explained by the absence of those fructifying in- sects which, it is well known, contribute so much in Europe to the propagation of many kinds of plants. In l&io a parcel of 100 wild bees -was imported from England, and set free in the neighbourhood of Lyttelton. They multiplied greatly, spreading over a considerable district; and already the farmers near Lyttelton were able last season to gather and make use of clover seed from their own fields. — The Field, Oct. 0. 542 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 8, 1888. Corrcspoiibciitc. The Editor docs not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed ?>y his correspondents. No attention will he taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to unite on one side of the pernor only, and gice Hid,- full names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, hi.] On reading so:u" of your hick numbers some time since, I was struck with a remark by one of your experienced correspondsnts that he had known many cases of hives wintering remnrkably well on a fairly large number of frames without any contraction of the hive. Now. this struck ma as being in accordance with nature, and I reflected that bees in their natural state would so winter. What is a more general remark to hear than that straw Bkeps winter better than bar-frame hives 'i They (the straw skeps) cannot be contracted; and, given a reasonably strong and healthy hive, I do not see that there can be any theoretical reason that a bar-frame hive should be treated differently. An in- stance has recently c mi ■ under my observation which conlirms me in this opinion. A friend of mine being overcrowded bad sent a hive or t wo to some little dis- tance during the summer, and had neglected to fetch or look at them in the autumn. When they were brought hack in the spring matters were found to be in the fol- lowing state: — The crate of sections (which were half filled) had been left on, and the stocks were extremely Strong. Other hives at home, which had been nursed, contracted, fed, and fadded after, not being able to ' hold a candle to them.' What could be the reason of this but the following: — 1. The bees had been allowed to keep a proper quantity of food. ;.'. There had been plenty of room for them to breed in the spring. S. There had been access over the frames to the stores, thus preventing the possibility of what sometimes happens, viz., the bees dying off with plenty of stores in the hive. 4. There was a sufficient space left to give ventilation. The deductions I draw from these facts are : — (a.) It is advisable to leave a strong, healthy stock with plenty of room. (6.) If the doubling system is practised, for which purpose a bar-frame hive is most suitable, the whede of the bottom hive should be given to the bees to winter on. (c.) If much honey has been taken the hives should be fed up in autumn to a good weight. I have also come to the conclusion that the fact of free access over the frames is most important to the welfare of the bees, and purpose this next winter to use a board sufficiently large to cover the frames, aud titttd with a strip all around a quarter of an inch thick, to give a bee- space. I shall cut a hole in the centre for the purpose of a feeder, or for candy-cake feeding, if necessary, and think that it will make a warm aud compact covering, of course, with the assistance of quilts, old carpet, and other suitable material. Those who use a hone3"-board with a bee-space over the frames will, of course, have just the thing for the purpose. The excluder-zinc will be most suitable for giving access to the feeder, or candy-cake. The only disadvantage I can see is that such an arrange- ment would necessitate a total uncovering of the top of the frames whenever an examination was made. I think this, however, might have the advantage of preventing over-manipulation. There is no doubt that much harm is done by unnecessarily disturbing the bees in winter, and in summer as well. 546 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 8, 1888. It strikes me too, that a bar-frame hive is much the best for all ordinary purposes. It can most conveniently be used for doubling purposes, if extracted honey is the object. It can, with equal facility, be used for sections, being just the size to take twenty-one section crates. Any number of crates can be piled on each other by using ekes. The body box (even with double walls) can be constructed so that they are exactly square, thus allowing the bars to be either parallel or at right angles (I am always puzzled to distinguish which is which). In fact, I do not see that there is any advantage that can be reaped from any other description of hive that cannot be obtained from bar-frame ones. I have recently made a couple of them, and I am so pleased with them that I think I shall use no other size in the future. One other point as to wintering has struck me as being worthy of consideration. No doubt in many cases it has been necessary to feed very late this year, and there is a corresponding danger of dysentery and wet hives in con- sequence. The point that struck me is that these dangers will, in a great measure, be avoided if a good dry cake of candy is put over the frames of such hives as are subject to the danger I have mentioned. The surplus moisture would be absorbed in the sugar, and the bees enabled by this means to consume it. Further than this, the use of these cakes of candy is equivalent to any device that I have heard of for providing a winter passage over the frames. For this reason it is advisable to use them in all cases, but most especially in thus,. I have alluded to, of late feeding and unsealed food. — II. P.D. WINTERING BEES. _ [18G7\] It is rather strange that we have treated the ' insect ' (the honey bee) in just the diametrically opposite way to the natural life of other insects. Other insects do hibernate either by finding out a place of nearly even temperature near to the freezing point, or on a place where they really freeze, and where they can be kept- frozen for months. When Nordenkjold some years ago doubled the North Cape, a country without human beings, and without woods, his company landed there, and the entomologist saw plenty of bees— Apis melliftca. How is it possible for these bees to winter there, and not hibernate? Certainly they are not packed in chaff. Three years ago, in a severe winter of long duration (six and a half months), the thermometer for weeks showing 303 0., a reverend gentleman in Weren- land (here in Sweden) had a swarm of bees in a single- walled hive of one-inch board. This and some skeps were in the care of a cottager far away, and he forgot to winter those bees until it was too late. Fortunately the entrance was very wide. The skeps, however, as usual, were covered with straw caps, and small entrances, further diminished by the bees propolising them. These bees died, but in the unprotected one-inch board hive they came out in the spring in very good condition. I have used your (the Oowan) hive for years. When the entrance occupies the whole front of the inner hive, generally only A in. by 8 in., it is a very good hive, but previously to this alteration I was not successful. In the British Bee Journal some twelve years back the Carr-Stewarton hive was very much praised. In hives convenient to handle, as well for the bees (these not being disturbed) as for the bee-keeper, you will always get the greatest honey crop, all other conditions being equal. Much troubling the bees is loss of In me;/. I don't care much for sections (they will not pay here, fetching scarcely any price), but shallow frames are always as good when forcing bees to supers provided with frames for extracting. I have used these shallow frames for years. I am satisfied deeper ones are preferable for bees to winter upon. You are quite right when you tell and speak of the necessary conditions for successful wintering being, plenty of bees, plenty of good food, plenty of ventila- tion without draught, and good protection. I, for my part . do not care if it is light or heather honey ; it does not matter, so far as my experience goes, so long as the honey is capped and the stores sufficient. But, above all, successful wintering depends on plenty of ventilation : and in using the shallow frames it is easier to ventilate than in hives with deeper frames, and to be sure plenty of fresh air is indispensable. In November 1883 a bee-keeper of the old style living here at 60°N. latitude lost by theft one of his hives (skeps). In the mouth of March his daughter was going to the pasture ground in the neighbourhood, intending to gather some sticks for burning, when she chanced to tread upon something, and upon examining it she found it was the stolen skep covered up with snmoiat at least three months. The skep was lying bottomless and bottom upwards, full of snow. She lifted it up, got the snow out, and carried the skep home, when it was found the combs were broken, most of them taken away as well as the honey, but still there remained a cluster of living bees. The proprietor, not knowing what to do with the bees (being old-fashioned, as I have told you) killed them, although when entering the warm room they were very lively. . He was not at all interested to find out if the queen was with them, but certainly she was, for if not I don't think they would have lived for so long a time, especially after having been robbed and so carelessly treated. Well, after that, what is one to think about McFadden and the freezing theory, hibernation, &c, ? — Hy. Stalhammah, Guttenberg. BEE -KEEPING IN NATAL. [1868."| Enclosed I forward you specimen of a wild flower growing in great profusion here, and is the best honey-producing plant that I have yet been able to find in the vicinity of Durban. I think it flowers only about once in three years, and has been during the last season growing in enormous quantities, it having been the finest honey season in Natal for many years. If you will, kindly give me name of species through B.B.J. I have about thirty-five colonies, and have done very well with them the last season, taking as much at 60 lbs. from a hive in about five weeks, it being extracted honey, as sections are rather a luxury out here in this part of the world. I have had a few hundred very well filled, and for which I had to pay •'>/. 10s. per 1000 for the ordinary 4| x 4 \ x 2 sections, so that there was far more to be made out of extracting than sections at that price. I am now getting some direct from England, so that this coming season I shall work chiefly for section honey. English bee-keeping is a great failure, I see by B.J., this season. The wet is a thing we are never troubled with out here; three days' continuous rain is the longest we ever get. Our rainy season has just set in, and we generally get a good downpour in a few hours by the style it rain? here. I take a great pleasure in the perusal of Bee Journal. Practical experience and notes from Journal are all we get here, as we can get no one here that can give any practical lessons in bee-keeping. We have a far better, or rather easier, field for bee-keeping than either England or America, as we have to make no special preparations for wintering. An ordinary single- walled hive is all that is necessary, as our temperature is never very low, never any frost ; bees able to fly every day in the year, rainy days excepted. — D. .1. Spenceb, Durban, Port JSlatut. [We are unable to determine the identity of the flower enclosed, as the small portion of inflorescence is insufficient for its botanical characters to be determined with precision. It, however, belongs to the natural order, iMbiata', an order of plants to which many of our best honey-secreting plants belong, viz., catmint, hore- hound, wild sage, thyme, marjoram, motherwort, rose- mary, &c. Could notour correspondent forward a small packet of seeds, in order that its properties as a bee- flower may be tested in this country r — En.] Novembers, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 547 THE QUALITY OF BORGUE HONEY. [1869.] With all due respect to the gentleman named in the communication of 'A. McN.' which ap- peared on page 4'M, I must demur to the assertion that 'A Renfrewshire Bee-keeper' has done more to pro- mote successful bee-culture than any other gentleman in Scotland. What about the veterans, W. Raitt, of Blair- gowrie, W. Thompson, of Blantyre, the late James Anderson, of Dairy, and \V. McNally, of Glenluce, and a host of others" who have done yeoman service in keeping up the good name of the country they belong to, both as practical bee-masters and prize-winners at com- petitions throughout the kingdom? 'A. R, B.' has, no doubt, done good service to the cause of bee-keeping, and we are pleased to have a grateful remembrance of his ser- vices to the good cause, but there are others now who grasp the reins of progress so far as Scotland is concerned. Now to the main point, anent the prevalent delusion that Borgue honey is superior to other districts of Scot- land. As a honey-dealer and one that has handled honey produced from all parts of the globe, 1 am in a position to refute the statement that honey raised in the district of Borgue has any peculiarities from that raised in other parts of Scotland, in fact, it is behind some of our honey- producing localities both in flavour and consistency. But to make a long story short, if 'A. Mc.N.' will forward to you, Mr. Editor, a sample of Borgue honey, I will send samples from three other districts in Scotland and will ask you to kindly submit these samples — without pointing out any particular sample — to one or two of our best honey judges in England, whose decision I shall accept as final in giving their award ; such a test will, in my opinion, settle the point as to the claim of Borgue honey being superior to any other in Scotland. I enclose my card ami shall be pleased to hear, Mr. Editor, if you will kindly undertake the duty of sub- mitting the samples of honey to competent judges. If ' A. Mc.N.' does not accept of this as a fair offer and challenge let us hear no more of the craze of Borgue honey being superior to that produced within a radius of from five to fifty miles from the second city in the empire. — Saint Munoo. [We consider it would be preferable if the samples of honey were submitted to some of the experienced Scotch bee-keepers named in your letter. Southern palates do not always appreciate northern honey. We remember at the dinner at South Kensington that the heather honey liberally given away on the occasion by a Scotch bee- master did not please the palates of some English bee- keepers present. But should our correspondent find a difficulty in accepting our suggestion, we will with pleasure submit the samples to competent judges. — El).] ocs from tbc libcs. South Cornwall, Nov. 'Jnd. — Never before in the memory of bee-keepers — who really keep their bees and do not leave their bees to keep themselves — has a season ended as this has done. Lamentations are general. To be more particular, 1 may say that, on going west a few days ago, I learned that one of our members, who three years ago produced 16 cwt. of honey, had lost half his hives ; while another is reduced to a stock of hybrids (ceteris paribus, in favour of foreigners). In many cottage gardens bees will be extinct. A little feeding is done (worse than useless), but where enthusiasm is lacking, time, and trouble, and expense, are begrudged. It is not so witli all, and those who feed adequately now will deserve their reward next year. Having been absent from home, I began my work late, but with the help of some old stores, and after uniting, I hope it will be satisfactory. — C. R. S. ;i Shakespeare Street, Stratford-on-Auon, Nov. 3rd, — Please accept m}r thanks for the help you have given me in my six years of bee-keeping. I have taken .3000 lbs. of comb-honey in four years. I now count fifty-eight stocks, forty of them are stocks made of driven bees taken in five years. I have sold, or should have had many more. No finished sections this year. Seven hundredweight of sugar, made into 1000 lbs. of syrup, carried in cans to my allotment garden, one-third of a mile, has been my even- ing's work last month. Sir, you will sav, Nil desperandum. — T. B. Soitfhbruok, Great Ayton, Nov. 3rd. — I am sorry to say this year has been a great failure every way. For my own part I have got no honey, and am feeding all my stocks. — John Dixon. 'l'lu- School, Qrampound Road, Cornwall, Nov. 3rd. — My honey crop this }*ear has turned out to be a com- plete failure, and worse than that, I have to feed them for the winter. — A. Hughes. Brondesburg, November 5th. — The past season, though bad, has not been so bad as last year in this locality. The fruit-blossoms yielded a good crop, and though the clover failed the limes yielded a fair quantity- of honey. Lust year the limes failed also. A neighbour took forty sections from one hive, and one of my hives yielded thirty-six sections, although I lost a swarm from it. At the end of May this hive had forty-two sections, nearly all more or less sealed, but the bees used most of them up before the limes came out. In September there was another honey-How, the bees coming home covered with white. Of this they stored in the frames about eight pounds a hive. I observe that hardly any pollen has been stored, and it will probably run shm-t in the spring. — T.E.L. North Wales. — I have only been able to take about •'! lbs. of honey this year from one hive (Baker's A 1), from which I have had a swarm and cast, the latter early in July, and one swarm from a. straw skep. I have been mucli troubled with wasps, but have not seen any enter the skeps and frame-hive with swarm, only the two old stocks, but they have been quickly bowled over by the bees — in about two minutes. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS W. Stevens. — Felt Quilts. — The quilts you propose to use in two or three layers will allow the necessary ventilation; it should not be damp if the roof is water- proof and there is a hole for ventilation. You will find this sufficient for ventilation, more cspeciallv if the entrance be open to nearly full width. Take care not to have it too high, or it will allow the rain to enter. Eight inches by three-eighths of an inch is a good size. . North Wales. — Sugar Cake. — This may be given in the way you suggest, but the more excellent way would be on the top of the frames above the cluster. W. S. — Glass Sections. — The glass sections referred to were exhibited at the Conversazione of the B. B. K. A. held in June last, but we have heard nothing of the exhibitor since that time. We pur- pose to place ourselves in communication with him.' D. II. D. — The book mentioned is sufficiently rare to warrant you in giving the price required, but its rarity, rather than the information it would afford, is its recommendation. B. M. J. — 1. Earliest Time to begin Stimulative Feed- ing.— Beginning of March if the weather is warm. For pollen-feeding as soon as crocuses bloom. 2. Time Drones ought to be Flying. — Towards the end of April. 3. Increase of Colonies without diminishing Honey-yield. — Directly any increase in stocks takes place the honey-yield in proportion diminishes. An increase from six to nine would be a very fair one. 4. Increase of Colonies without providing Queens to Pare?it Stocks. — A reduction of about ten per cent in 548 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 8, 1888. -91 b honey-yield. 5. When can Queen-rearing be started? — As soon as drones are flying. 6. Probability of pure Fertilisation of Queens. — In this country the probability of pure fertilisation by selected drones is very remote, unless the drones are raised before others are so in the same district of at least four miles in extent. There are some isolated places where few bees are kept that true fertilisation can be fairly well assured, but these are quite the exception. J. M. C. — Queen mated. — This queen, being in tolerably fresh coudition, and therefore a fairly good subject for dissection, has been examined without the discovery of any signs of injury or malformation. The spermatheca seemed in normal condition, and was found to contain innumerable spermatozoa in a healthy state, so that your query as to whether she had been mated can be answered, without hesitation, in the affirmative. The tracheal system appeared also to be healthy, but the appearance of the other contents of the abdomen was that of emaciation; the ovaries were greatly atrophied and of a much darker colour than is usually the case in a healthy and fresh specimen, the comparatively few ova which they contained being in a condition suggestive of decomposition or disintegration, giving us the impression that the insect must have been both old and suffering from innutrition. C. K. S. — Singular Deposit in Cells. — The use to which the bees have put the cells is certainly novel. The pieces of comb are well worthy of preservation as curiosities. The composition appears to be a mixture of wax and propolis. But we are lost in conjecture as to the intent of the bees in their deposition. Correction.— P. S35, col. 1, line 30 from bottom, for 14"xl6" read UH- ^Business ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 25Ga Hotwell Koad, Bristol. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Boett, K. J., Stroud Eoad, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hotchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M-, Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Kegent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C. , 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Boad, Beading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Kegent St. & 127 High Holborn. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Kegent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godman, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & 0o.f 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREW, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. DDRRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONOSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBT, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. BlcNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. NEIGHBOUR L SON, 140 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. T„ Wensum Street, Norwich. RDDKLN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHLNSHAW. A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft. TZHIIE British Bee-keepers' Association Established 1874. President: THE BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS. THE Committee appeal to Bee-keepers, Manufacturers of Bee-keeping Appliances, and others desirous of promoting- our Home Industries, to become Annual Subscribers or Donors to any Special Branch of the Association's work. Subscriptions, fis. and upwards per annum. Life Members, £5. The Association carries out its work by — The holding of Annual Exhibitions ; Assisting County Associations ; Sending out Lecturers and Experts ; The publication of Literature relating to the best methods of Bee-culture; The disposal of Bee-produce, &c, &c, &c. Secretary: John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World. THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL Established in 1861. Price 6s. &d. per annum, post free. T. G. Nbwman, 925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A. London Agents: Messrs. GEO. NEIGHBOUB & SONS, 149 Beoent Street, W. London : Printed by Strahgewats & Sons, at their Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., in the Pariah of St. Giles's-in-thc- Fields, in the County of Middlesex ; and Published for the Proprietor by Kekt & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in the same county.— Nov. 8, 1888. I In} OS Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stbanqewaxs' Pbinting Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 334. Vol. XVI.] NOVEMBER 15, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (flfoitartal, Uottas, tit. LANGSTROTH FUND. My Dear Mrt. Cowan, Yours of the 5th insL, with 2-'V. 5«. C,,/. for the Langstroth Fund, is received. It is not neces- sary that I should offer any words of thanks to you and your countrymen for your aid in this worthy work, for the reward comes with the doing ; yet I would do violence to my own feelings did I not express to you my deep feeliug of gratitude that God has prompted you to this act. I am sure I know the bee-keepers of America well enough to say that I am speaking for them when I say, ' Thank you, thank you.' Surely such things bring us nearer together. The ocean is not quite so wide as it was. The bond of friendly feeling between the two countries grows stronger each day ; and if I were ever to stray so far from these ' western wilds ' as to find myself on 'Albion's green isle,' I am quite certain I could sing ' God save the Queen !' as heartily as any of you. Most cordially yours, Marengo, October lith. C. C. Miller. SIMMINS' BEE COMPANY, LIMITED, In Liquidation. We very much regret that the Directors of the above Company, after painfully toiling through a very short existence, have found themselves unable to carry on the business entrusted to them through- out another season, and that they are desirous of being relieved from the responsibility of further representing the interests of the shareholders. They have, therefore, come to the determination of winding- up the Company voluntarily. In the Report issued by the Directors, a copy of which has been forwarded to us, the circumstances which have brought about the above untoward result are stated to have been, — (1), Insufficient Capital. Only about 200 shares have been applied for and allotted, and consequently from the com- mencement of the undertaking the endeavours of the Directors have been hampered and frustrated by the small amount of capital at their disposal. (2.) The Lowfield Apiary. The hopes expected to be derived from the working the business of this apiary have, from various specified causes which it is not desirable to ventilate in our columns, proved delusive. (3.) Foul Brood. The difficulties of the Company have been much complicated, and the expected business considerably reduced, by a very severe epidemic of foul brood in the Lowfield apiary. (4.) The late Bad Season. The abnormally cold season has seriously diminished the business of the Company, and disastrously affected one of the specialties of the Rottingdean branch, namely, queen-rearing. For many weeks it was totally impossible to get any queens fertilised, and the queens raised had to be destroyed, and the work all to be gone over again in hopes of better weather. The brighter weather never arrived ; the destruc- tion had to be repeated several times ; and besides the trouble and expense this occasioned, the appli- cants for queens became wearied out by the delay, demanded the return of their remittances, and in many instances withdrew their support. The honey yield, too, has, like that of the majo- rity of bee-keepers, been extremely small. The Report, however, states that, ' notwithstanding all the adverse circumstances, the business done by the Company has amounted to 500/., clearly proving that, if the season had been good, and the Company had been formed in time to take full advantage of it, a very different complexion would have been put upon the report they are uow unfor- tunately compelled to make.' The Directors consider their failure is due to causes beyond their control, and they deeply regret that their conjoint efforts have not been rewarded with success. The Report concludes with the amount of the liabilities aud assets of the Company. At a meeting which was held at Page's Restau- rant, St. James's Street, Brighton, on November 3rd, the following resolutions were passed : — 'That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the Meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business, and that it is advisable to wind up the same voluntarily.' 'That Mr. William Martin Graham, of Latymer Lodge, Church Street, Lower Edmonton, in the County of Middlesex, be appointed Liquidator.' 550 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 15, 1888. BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY ; Ob, Glossary of Technical and Scientific Words used in Works upon Bee-keeping. See-skip. n. — A bee-hive. (West.) See-space, n. The largest space through -which bees may pass freely and in which they are least liable to build brace combs. It is usually T\ to barely g of an inch. See-stabber. — An insect found in the Southern States of America (Euthyrhi/nclius Floridanus) which pierces the bee and sucks its juices. Bee-stall, n. (A.-Sax. sta-lan, to place.)— A bee- hive. (Provincial and archaic.) Bee-stand, n, {Sax., old Sax. and Goth, standan.)— A bench, framework, or other support on which a hive stands; the place occupied by a hive or hives. Bee-stock, n. — Bees from the time of hiving them to Michaelmas are usually called snarms, after that time they are denominated stocks; and this term includes bees, combs, and the contents of the hives, but not the hives themselves. See-tent. n. (L. tentorium,iromtendere,to stretch.) — An enclosure of tine black netting, within which manip- ulations with live bees take place in public, and lectures arc given by experts; in the outer circle enclosed by canvas the audience witness the manipulations without danger of being stung; tent of netting to cover hive and bee-keeper during- manipulations, to guard against robber bees from other hives. See-trap. /(. (Sax.trappe,trep.) -A device arranged in such a way that the bees can readily leave a hive or super, but are not able to return. Bee-tree. ».— A tree in which bees have taken up their residence. Bee-veil, n {L. velum, from velare, to cover.) — Veil made of netting to cover the face whilst working with bees, to avoid being stung-. Beeves. ?i. ph — A corruption of bee-hives. (Mid- Sussex.) Bee-worm. ».— See Bee-maggot. Bee-yard. n. See Bee-fold and Bee-garden. Bees-play.— The flight of young- lues when they flrst leave and hover about in front of the hive; the first Might of bees after confinement or change of locality. Bees-wax. n. — A secretion of the wax-glands passing through the disks situated on the ventral abdominal plates of the worker to the wax-pockets. It is worked up by the bees, made plastic with saliva, and used for building their combs. See-wine. n. — Nectar of flowers, (Provincial.) Beli-bird. n. — A species of Australian honey-eater (Myzantha melanophrys) whose note resembles the tinkling of a small bell. Bell-glass, re. — See Bee-glass. Bellows-smoker, re.— A small bellows attached to a tin cylinder charged with smouldering fuel, through which, air being forced, a dense volume of smoke is made to issue from the nozzle. Beming- vol. sb., obs. (.1/. F.&nc\ Scotch, Bemvng.)— Humming of bees; buzzing. Bevel, sb. (Fr. Ilircau.) A slope from the right angle ; an obtuse angle ; an instrument for setting off angles. Sovel. v.— To cut away or otherwise bring to a slope. GLEANINGS. In the American Bee Journal, G. Wendelken says he prefers sulphuric to carbolic acid for the cure of fold brood. He says the sulphuric acid is mixed in the proportions of one part acid to 700 parts of syrup, and fed to the bees; and prefers this because it is easier, quicker, and cheaper. An ounce of sulphuric acid only costs from 5 to 10 cents, and the curative effect will go as far as the other acids do. In 1838 he cured his hives in Germany with little labour and thinks he can do so now, because there is no difference between foul brood in Germany and that in America. In the American Apicu/turist, respecting bees swarm- ing out in spring Li. W. Demaree says: Nearly all authors and writers, so far as I have seen, are wide of the mark as to the true cause of swarming-out. They tell us that young queens are lost at mating- time by entering- the wrong hive, and that the swarming-out mania is caused by 'dissatisfaction' with the condition of the hive, iiupenling starvation, &c. Such facts are only apparent. In tact they are not facts at all. Swarming-out is the result of the absence of a sufficient quantity of young bees to keep company with the queen when a general flight of the workers takes place, rind- ing herself so nearly deserted, the queen becomes excited and takes wing witli the workers, and the excited colony may return to their home, and they may not ; in the latter contingency, it is a case of 'swarming-out.' A " desired, and i ha\e had at one time over on i hundred stocks in my apiary, all the progeny of queens supplied by him, and nut one has shown any traces o£ yellow band-. Their quietness, prolificness, and general go id qualities have been amply proved, and 1 may say that dozens of bee-keepers who have visited my apiary during the past two years (you, Mr. Editor, among others) will testify to the truth of the first two named qualities (gentleness and prolificness). I will pa-s witli the contempt it deserves Mr. Benton's ill-mannered remark about my condemnation of the Eastern races of bees, ' never having learned to manipu- late them/ being quite prepared to be judged in this matter by our bee-keepers, to whom I have now been well known for the past few years. Mr. Benton's case mu?t be a bad one when he has to resort to what I Consider abuse. 1 have now to deal with the second-grade queens. I have at times had a demand fur low-priced queens, which demand, as a dealer, I have had to meet. I here state, most clearly and emphatically, that the only second- grade queens I ever imported were supplied to me by Mr. Benton himself, and that I ceased after last season to take any more from him on account of the puur quality and the general dissatisfaction they gave. 1 think that this will close my own ease, but as an attack lias been made on Mr. Dokoupil, and as he does not read English, and will probably never know the chaiges that have been made against him, 1 feel that it is my duty to defend his cause. Mr. Benton has directly charged him with dishonesty, also with making false statements. The latter charge 1 am able, to disprove. Mr. Dokoupil did send me 100 queens in 16^7, and I was perfectly satisfied with them, probably fifty to seventy being retained in my own apiary, and they were thus tested and found satisfactory. The statement, too, that Mr. Dokoupil has not been able to land more than a small percentage of his bees in America is also probably a false one, as I consider he is able to pack bees for shipment by mail quite equal to Mr. Benton. The most serious charge, however, that Benton makes against Dokoupil amounts practically to the obtaining of goods under false pretences — that is, receiving queens alive, and stating that they arrived dead. in the first case, one queen only is sent ; it is reported dead, and then it is insinuated that it arrived alive. Now, in this case Mr. Benton had a perfectly clear remedy. He should have demanded the return of the dead queen or the payment of the money. Nothing would have been more simple, and the case would have been cleared up. Why, too, did he continue to send to him fifteen queens in 1835, and twenty-nine in 1886, if previous dealings had not been satisfactory!-' It is a well-known fact that many of the queens from the East did not travel safely : and when I was at Munich in 1S86 Mr. Benton himself informed me that, had ho known as much of packing bees for mailing purposes during the past two or three years as hi then did (ltiSG), he would have saved himself very serious loss. But now he has turned round and accused the receiver of the queens of fraud when the cause of death of queens might lay at his own door. The case is clearly one of trade rivalry between Benton and Dokoupil. — Thomas B. Blow (cf Welwyn, Herts), Watertown, Wis., U.S.A. COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS. [1873.] With reference to Mr. A. D. Woodley's letter in last week's issue, I shall be much obliged if you will allow me to say, in justice to the other members of the Committee, that I must not be considered in this matter as ' representing the views of the Committee of the British U.K. A.' I do not even know the views of two- thirds of the members. I, and I only, am responsible for what 1 said. My object in opening the debate was to invite discussi in, criticism, and correspondence on a subject that needs ventilating, and iu due time I shall have something more to say on the subject; but mean- while 1 have to thank Mr. Woudlev for attacking me in his own name, instead of manipulating my speech as an 'Amateur Expert,' or sitting upon me as an ' Useful Hint.'— J. LlNGRN Skahkk, The Orange, Stevenage, Nov. 12th. i THE B. B. K. A. AND AFFILIATED ASSOCIATIONS. [1874.] I feel quite sure that Mr. Seager did not intentionally mean to be 'impolite' to the county represent itive who first proposed the resolution re Wind or Show. There is no doubt that in the — shall I call it ;j — excitement of debate the first proposal was overlooked aael a second one substituted. — W. B. Webster. THE FUTURE OF BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATIONS. [1876.] I take it from what has passed as printed in your Journal during the past six or eight mouths that there is a desire amongst some who take an interest in the b.e industry to improve the condition of the British and all other Ass iciations connected with bee-keeping. The sale of honey has unfortunately not been the bete noir this season; and now the British Honey Company ha- had its fling, and not answered the purpose it was formed for, can we do better than look to the wholesale Co-operative Societies to be the means of distributing all surplus honey ? This is a question the Committee of any and every Bee Association might take up. All parties I have come in contact witli want to keep the British B.K.A. on its feet, and I think, though many will .-ay Bee Associations will get on without the British as at present conducted, it would be to the benefit of all if the British was conducted on the lines of a large- minded central authority. Now, would it not tend in this direction if the Presidents of all affiliated Associa- tions were asked to attend the next annual meeting of the British ? Many of the Presidents take no interest in their County Associations ; but if they were shown by attending a meeting of the British what a useful work can he done in the counties, their energies might be aroused ; but I am quite aware the meeting would have to be businesslike, not similar to the last, viz., a lot put on the agenda paper and backed out of without 55G THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 15, 1888. explanation, and in ail probability the meeting would have tu be adjourned, or another called for at a date when more of the county Presidents are in or near town. For near three years I have been travelling each quarter 400 miles to meet the Committee of the British, who have been, to say the least, lax in their attendance, until at last, in October 1338, when important subjects are promised to be brought forward, there are three British Committeemen to meet the Representatives, and one of those unfortunately so deaf that when 10/. is offered to assist to make better prizes at a Royal Show, he gets up and says the British are too poor to listen to increased prizes. I have neither time uor money for a recurrence of such a scene, and if matters cannot be changed at the coming annual meeting, I will put mv energies into another bee channel. I make no mention of suggested alterations in rules of affiliation, as those are under consideration by a duly authorised sub-Committee. — Wjt, Lees McClure, The Lathams, Prescot, November 10th. [We regret that any personal affliction should inter- fere with the capabilities of any, more especially of those who give their services with an earnest desire to benefit their fellow-men, and we also regret that such affliction should have been made the subject of public comment. "\Ve are fully aware of the inconvenience experienced by our correspondent in journeying to and from town, and sincerely hope that his well-meant efforts to benefit bee-keeping will long continue to be in the interests of the B.B.K.A. — Ed.] YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION— JUDGING.— SCHEDULES. [1870.] I fail to gather from Mr. Seager's paper what benefit the North East of Yorkshire, for instance, derives from either its own or the British Association. I do not wish to bring my name forward, but I have been a member of both, and have often been asked, ' What are you doing?' — a very awkward question to answer. I am afraid very little; we get no literatiire.no expert ever visits us; and were it not for the British Bee Journal we would never know what is going on. I am not going to say a wrord against my friend, Mr. Grimshaw; be is full of life and energy, but one man can only do so mm h: and if we do not try to get some one else interested I am afraid we will die out as an Association. Another thing I want to bring forward is the judging of hives at County Shows. If we get south-country judges, they may know the best sort of hives for the south, but do they know the best for a county like York- shire, where most of the hives are regularly shifted to the moors, and extractors are almost unknown P Schedules are also very faulty, and an exhibitor hardly knows what he is required to show. Excuse me, Mr. Editor, if I have said too much, but your valuable paper is the only way that I know that I can ventilate my views. — A YoRKSHIREMAN. [We would refer our correspondent to Mr. Seager's remark, that the benefits derived from affiliation arc more or less in accordance with the efficiency of the local Association itself. Under the present rules of affiliation (1), medals and certificates of more than the value of the affiliation fee are offered for competition at the local shows; (2), members of the local Associations exhibit at the shows of the Central Association at the reduced fees —we are informed, on good authority, that half the en- tries made at the Nottingham Exhibition were made under this bead ; (3), the literature published by the Central Society can be purchased at the ordinary trade rate, in- cluding certificate suitable for offering as prizes at village shows ; and, lastly, but by no means least, there is the privilege of being affiliated with a Society which has for its object the extension of a home industry. We would advise our correspondent to give us his ideas as to the improvement he thinks might be effected in some prac- tical shape. It would require ' Atlantean shoulders' to bear the weight of an Association for a large, unwieldy county like Yorkshire. But it would prove a great alleviation of the burden borne by Mr. Grimshaw, and conduce to the promotion of the industry in which we are interested, if the county could be divided into districts ; and we might suggest that our correspondent should put his shoulder to the wheel, and endeavour to establish a district Association in his locality ; and, further, having a knowledge of his great capabilities as a bee-keeper, we might express a hope that he should take a personal interest in its conduct. — Ed.] THE CHOICE OF A HIVE. [1877.] On arriving in the United States twenty-five years ago, I had never seen shallow hives. In all those that I knew, the Lombard, the Radouau, and even the Debeauvoys, the combs were higher than they were broad. Also the first hives that I made very nearly resembled the Layens, reduced to eight or nine frames. As soon as I was able to translate a little English, with the help of a dictionary, I procured the American Bee Journal, then the Mysteries of Bee-keeping by Crumby.- I bought this book first, instead of Langstroth's, because it only cost one dollar (four shillings) instead of two, for, by emptying my puree, giving' even the lining, its old leather, and the pinchbeck clasp, it would have been impossible for me to find two dollars. Quinby seemed to me unreasonable with such a long frame as he had adopted. Like many other bee-keepers, before comparing another hive with my own, I had made my choice, and I boasted of what I then called my favourite hive. Nevertheless, Quinby obtained honey with his hive. They spoke of a harvest of twenty-two thousand pounds, which he had sold at oneshilling and eight pencea poundin paper money. This was a fortune of which the idea alone turned my head. I then gave up my first favourite in order to try his hive. Two observations had shown me the value of large hives. The friend with whom I stayed on arriving here had seven or eight hives, of which one was enormous, made of planks 00 centimetres high by 40 or 45 broad. The sap of the front plank having rotted, left an opening of 3 or 4 centimetres from the top to the bottom of the hive. The bees of this hive had survived, whilst those of all the others, which were smaller, had died, and had been replaced by swarms. I asked the age of the colony, and Mr. Charpentier's father-in-law, your subscriber, who had sold it, told me that it had existed at least twenty years. One of my neighbours, whose hives were suspended on simple cross sleepers, not closed, the bottom of the boxes being without floor-boards, showed me one day combs that filled the space between the hives, and which contained honey and brood, the queen not having had enough room iii the hive, this being, however, of an ordinary good size. About the same time a bee-keeper called Jasper Hazen stated in the Journal that he was obtaining enormous returns by surrounding the brood-chamber with little boxes placed on the sides, at the back, and above. ' I must try that,' said I to myself. I had bought cheaply some second-hand carpenter's tools. For want of money I pulled up parts of the floor from the granary of the log-house in which we were living to get the boards that I wanted for this purpose. As that was not enough, con- sidering the size of the hives, I bought at a very low price some hard deal planks, which had been sawn from a tree that had not been squared, and which I planed and replaned, sawed and resawed, over and over again to equalise the breadth of the planks in order to make frames of them. In short. 1 succeeded, although my November 15, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 557 hard deal planks warped, becamo unnailed, lengthened or shortened more or less in proportion with the soft pine planks with which they were joined. In spite of all this, however, I succeeded in making thirty-two hives, with Quinby frames, capable of holding, besides the eight frames of the Quiuby hive, such as he described it, boxes on the sides and at the back, as Ilazen advised, without counting the super. But I soon found that the bees preferred to put the honey above the brood. Then I tilled the sides of the hive with frames, and I also placed three at the back, in all seventeen. This waa too many ; my fourteen frames in the front, even reduced to twelve by two division-boards, were also too many, and I therefore reduced the capacity of the hive to eleven frames. However, I had bought an Italian queen for five dollars (£T.) I hesitated for some time before spending 80 much, but I hoped to rear queens and to recoup my- self from the profit that I should make by them. My wife and I were going to live in a hut without doors or windows, in the middle of the woods, for five or six weeks in the summer, to pick berries off shrubs, called here blackberries, and which our son Camilla was to sell in the market. 1 still see my wife's look when I took this sum in order to send him. She said nothing; she loved me too much to make the slightest objection, but I read by her eyes that she could have found plenty of ways of utilising so large a sum of money. My rearing of queens succeeded. My first sale of queens realised nineteen dollars. One day, the following year, a man, rather shabbily dressed, appeared and asked t<> see my Italian bees. Then he selected six or seven queens, which I gave him in small boxes. I still remember my wife's astonishment when I put into her hand the nine- teen greenbacked dollars (they call greenback, in the United States, paper money, of which the back is green.) She coidd not believe her eyes. From that time I began not only to sell queens, but also colonies of Italian My reader will certainly think that I am a long way from my subject, however, it was this rearing of Italians that led me to compare the Quinby hive with that of Langstrotb, in the way I bad already- compared it with my favourite hive, which had now taken the second place in my estimation. The Langstroth hive was very extensively used in the United States, and those who wished to purchase colonies of Italians wanted them in Langstroth hives, and I lost a good many sales. Then, in order to supply the demands of my customers, I made Langstroth hives. It is well that the reader should know that the Quinby hives are nearly five centimetres higher and two or three broader than the Langstroth hives. The result of the comparison was in favour of the Quinby hive, and, although we have kept a certain number of Laugstroths to satisfy the demands of customers our six apiaries are all furnished with Quinby hives. As my readers will see, the comparison between these three kinds of hives was not made with one or two hives of each sort, but with at least fifty, placed on exactly the same footing as to pasturage and attention. It is the result of this comparison on a large scale, and during twenty years, that has made me so positive in the dis- cussions which I have had, and which I regret to have still, on the size of the frames and the capacity of the hives, because for some years in the United States the inclination seems to be turning in favour of small hives. For some other reasons than those supported by facts, some bee-keepers, who have known how to win the public ear by fine phrases, condemn big hives, without even having tried them. But truth, whatever effort is made to hide it, will in the end prevail; do we not see M. de Kauschenfels him- self so opposed to the American hive, say, in the Api- eultore of last March, that as the facts in" favour of the horizontal hive with supers seem more conspicuous, it deserved serious consideration, that he was going to renew his experiments, and, that if the results were in its favour, he would enter, arms and baggage, into the American camp ? The differences in the returns between the three kinds of American hives which I have compared, were not as great as thon or before Monday, December 3rd HIVE SITUATION.— CELLAR WINTERING. The modern bee-keeper must leave no stone unturned that may add to his profits ; and the subject now under consideration has as much to do with his success or failure as many other of the important matters generally brought to the front. Close observation and a general economy in work- ing the material one already has in hand go further towards attaining success than the employment of every new or expensive apparatus brought to public notice. The situation of the hive is of greater import- ance in winter than at any other season, and we take tip the position that so long as the sun can shine upon three out of the four walls of a hive, it matters little which way the entrance faces. We have had them placed all ways, and could find no noticeable difference in the respective results ; but when we come to the question of distance from the ground, situation in bee-houses, or sheds, it is quite a different matter. It has many times been demonstrated that hives reared above the ground on legs, do betterthan those placed just off the earth and resting on a brick or two. The difference is most apparent in wintering; the greater dampness nearer the ground, added to the consequently lower temperature, being detri- mental, arid, of course, placing at a discount any colony so situated, if it does not entirely run out before the summer commences. Standing in a bee-house, and closed in all round, as the sun appears the temperature rises quickly, aud this is of benefit to the whole of the hives : therefore the direct rays of the sun are of little moment. With any house arrangement of the kind, however, the least side will be cold and shaded towards evening, so that the bees returning iu the cool evenings of spring and autumn will Boon strew the ground by the hundreds if hives are placed along that side. The same will occur with open sheds, which have the added disadvantage of draught. In this case, if the hives never feel the rays of the sun, the winter will not lie far advanced before dysentery sets in, soon to be followed by titter ruin of the bees. Cellar wintering is a plan not much followed in this country. However, with a temperature ranging anywhere between 50° and 60°, there being no disturbance from draughts, and no extremes of temperature, the sun is of no benefit, ill fact, must be excluded if we wish the bees to keep quiet during their long night. The admission of fresh air by the most suitable means that will provide it without a through draught is also an important con- sideration. The windows or doors admitting suchjair must, be carefully guarded, according to the varia- tion of temperature outside, and any rapid rise on the inside induced by any excitement among the bees at the approach of warmer weather, or from any other cause. The hives should be placed on staging arranged that lie' lower tier ma] stand some eighteen inches above the floor. Place the hives as far apart as spuee will permit; block each hive up about an inch or more from the floor-board, keep the usual Warm covering on top ; and where they must he Stacked on each other, see that they are not situated in such a manner as to give the respective colonies free access to each other, or so that the free circula- tion of air is impeded. The bees are not to be con- fined, but let the hives be spaced about the width of a hive between, which will prevent any uniting except it be with some queenless lot. In a variable climate like ours, it should certainly be an advantage to be able to place bees in a cellar during winter, as the preservation of life is great where an even, temperate atmosphere is secured, and no flights occur for several months. Why is it English apiarists have not adopted this method? Possibly many have not the place suitable ; but, without a doubt, the great reason has been the very inconvenient hives iu general use, which are both too large and awkward to permit of ready handling. We are now experimenting with some forty colonies placed in a commodious cellar, ami will from tirne to time report their progress, as well as give the special conditions under which the said stceks have been treated. 561 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 22, 1888. GLEANINGS. In the American /lee Journal, L. J. Abbott in a paper oti division-boards says, how to properly construct a division-board is of some importance. Solid boards answer very well, but such are liable to warp, and make their use not quite so handy as those that are true. Those made of thin material and the interior tilled with chaff have advantages. Whatever kinds are used, it is of importance that the ends have some material of a yielding nature tacked to them, so as to allow this board slight friction to hold it when crowded into place. In the Southern Cultivator, J. M. Jenkins says that to guard against robbing we must be particular in opening hives during a dearth of honey-flow, and not let it commence. There must be no cracks where a robber-bee may sneak in to get the coveted treasure. Keep the entrance contracted to correspond with the strength of the colony, so that they may be able to guard it. The man that has one real good case of wholesale robbing' on his hands will never forget it, and for the time being, at least, he will wish he never saw a bee. In the American Bee Journal, J. A. Green, writing on the theories of the first cause of foul brood, says that the credence given to them is no doubt largely because they are in accord with what is known as the ' germ theory ' of disease. This is a very convenient pair of shoulders on which to lay the burden of most of the diseases that afflict the inhabitants of this mundane sphere. He does not intend to attack this theory, but says that the whisper, though it is not unheard in scientific circles, that over-zealous investigators have sometimes mistaken effect for cause in concluding that because bacilli ac- company a disease they necessarily produce the disease. There are objections to the bacillus theory in the case of foul brood. One is that Cheshire declared himself unable to detect either bacilli or spores in honey, and gave it as his opinion that the disease was never, or at least but seldom, transmitted by means of honey — so far as he knows no microscopist has had any better success in detecting either bacilli or spores in honey. Yet the almost uniform testimony of all who have had practical experience with it is, that it is through the medium of honey that il is most frequently and surely trans- mitted. The most practical ami successful methods of cure are based on this assumption, while those which ignore it have in practice proven uncertain and unreliable. In the Prairie Farmer, Mrs. L. Harrison says in respect to balling the queen : In looking after a swarm that had just issued she found the queen balled in front of the hive near by. Now in releasing the queen thus balled, if the bees are pricked off, she is apt to be stung to death in the operation, but when the ball is thrown into water, then every follow is for himself. Life- preservation is the firsl law of nature, and the queen is no longer thought of, and when the queen is released she can be taken from the water and secured. When she threw this ball into the water the bees swam away from her, but the poor thing was already dead. In the Revue Internationale we find from M. Spiihler, that at the meeting at Schaffhausen, the questions re- specting' the importation of foreign bees was discussed, also how to secure a better guarantee than that given by certain unscrupulous dealers. The trade in Carniolan bees has become large, and during the year loOO colonies have been imported. The expectations which were based on the purchase of these colonies were in almost all cases not fulfilled. Sometimes they arrived late, containing few bees and often no honey. In one district, that of Val-de-Travers, twenty-four foul-broody colonies of Carniolans were supplied ; and M. Bertrand says this is not the only case which has been mentioned, and that in future he will publish the names of any negligent or unscrupulous dealers who are shown to have delivered diseased bees. M. Kramer asked bee-keepers to report in the Journal and drew up the statistics which included •100 colonies. The result was a thorough condemnation of these men, more especially of Mordic and Ambrozic. The details were related at the meeting at Schaffhausen, and have entirely shaken confidence in the Carniolan dealers. At the same time he stated : ice must talce the Carniolan trade into our men hands. Actually this idea is about to be carried out, and M. A. Biichi has visited Carniola during the beginning of .September and has purchased 210 good colonies. Some of these will be sold this autumn, and the remainder next spring. BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY ; On, Glossary of Technical and Scientific Words used in Works upon Bee-keeping. Bhootea-bee, or Bhootan-bee. — This bee is kept in Bhootan, and is believed, by Mr. Douglas, to be specifically distinct from Apis indica, being larger, and in size between this species and Apis mellijieu. The worker combs have o^ cells and drone combs 4i cells to the inch. The bees are very dark, almost black, with light hair, and are exceedingly mild in temper, in fact, cowardly. Bifid, a. (fr. L. hi, two and fid, stem of findere, to cleave.) — Applied to the poison-glands which divide a1 some distance from the poison-sac; any structure di\ ided into two parts by a deep cleft. Bifurcate, v. (L. bifurcatus, two-forked.) — To di- vide into two branches or forks. Bike. n. — A nest of wild 1 s. (Northern dialect.) Biliary tubes. (L. bids, bile, and tubus, a pipe.) — Long narrow tubes which enter the walls of the upper end of the small intestine and are supposed to be secretory in function. They are usually called Malpig- hian vessels or ducts, and sometimes urinary tubes. They were formerly erroneously held to be biliary organs, but they are undoubtedly urinary organs. Bilobed. ppl. a. (fr. L. his, two, and mod. L. lobus, a lobe.)— Having two lobes. The brain of the bee is bi- lobed, having two convoluted lobes borne upon short stalks and called by Dujardin 'pedunculated bodies.' Binocular, a. (fr. I,, bini, two each, and oeuli, eyes.) -Performed by or adapted to both eyes. Biology. (Or. bios, life, and logos, discourse.) — The science of life. In its widest sense it includes life in all its forms in earth, whether animal or vegetable. Black-bees, or Blacks. — The common hone}' bees, also called German bees and hrown bees. Blastoderm, a. (dr. blustos, germ, and derma, skin.) The superficial layer of the einbryo in its earliest condition. Bleached wax. — Bees-wax from which the colour has been removed either by exposure to the sun or by some chemical process. Blood, n. [Sa.e. blod.) — A colourless liquid circu- lating in the body of the her, by which the tissues are constantly nourished and renewed. Blood circulation.— Tin' blood enters the dorsal . vessel by valves, called dorsal valves at the sides of chambers which are connected with each other by simi- lar valves. As the chambers expand and contract the blood is forced forward to the openinj near the brain, whence it soaks through the body to the posterior part, where it again enters the dorsal vessel. Blood-royal. — Applied by old writers to virgin queens. Blue-tit or Titmouse. — Sub-family of birds (Paras cceruleus, I'arus major) which feed on insects and larvae, and frequently in winter on bees. November 22, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 56 USEFUL HINTS. Weather. — November has this year maintained its character, fog prevailing everywhere, but the tempera- ture is high, and during the few hours of sunshine vouch- safed bees have been merrily disporting themselves in the open air. We hear that ' rooks commenced building their nests at Eastburn, near Driffield, East Yorkshire, during a spell of mild weather last month, and there are now eggs in the nests. These birds have also hern at work in a rookery at Driffield.' If the mild weather continues, we fear some of our queen- will imitate the example set by the rooks. We hive just gathered fine blooms of geraniums and ruses on this 17th day of November. Hive-stores are being rapidly consumed, and cottagers' bees, we regrel to add, are rapidly dying. That ' bees will be bees next spring,' according to the terse, pithy saying of the knowing ones, we have no manner of doubt, and we fear the losses amongst more advanced bee-keepers will be far beyond the average. In all probability the sale of 1 B will be more remunerative next season than the sale of honey. MlNOBCA Bees. — Our Editor, writing under date of the 7th inst., says, — ' Yesterday I examined a hive of Minorca bees. They are very black, and dreadful stingers, and there are some very peculiar points about them; for instance, they have built barricades in front of entrance, so that only one bee can pass through, and there are from twenty to twenty-live holes. They ha\e no doubt inherited the habit, and have done it, I think, as a protection against the Rose beetle, which is common in Minorca. Other bees do not do this, but where the death's-head moth is common they build long barricades inside, so that the moth cannot enter.' Some years ago a colony of Syrian bees, located in one of our houses, whose next-door neighbour — a hive of Cyprians — was fiercely attacking it, evidently intent on robbing, built a similar barricade to that described above across the entire entrance, of (i inches wide by j an inch deep. This took place in the month of September, and the material used was a mixture of wax and pro- polis. We have no experience of English bees ever acting thus. Propolis astd Enamel Cloth. — Years ago Mr. A.I. Root, editor of the American Gleanings, made the following remarks on propolis and wintering: — 'Much discussion has arisen in regard to the habit of bees of making all openings tight with propolis. Theory says, if allowed to follow its bent, or instinct, the bee will smother itself to death. 1'irir/iie s iys it docs, at least at times, so prevent the escape of moisture, that its home becomes damp and wet, and filled with icicles, so that it suffers, or at least such is the case in the hives we have provided for it. Who is right ? the bee, or the enlightened bee-keeper ? I think the greater part of the fault lies in the hive we have given it. The enamelled cloth, which I have lately been using for covering bees, is as impervious to air and moisture as the propolis collected with so much pains and trouble. If the outside of this is allowed to get frosty, it will, most assuredly, condense the breath of the bees on the inside; and if the outside is but thinly protected from the weather, icicles will certainly form on the inside and freeze the bees all fast in a lump. Now I should have no fear at all in allowing the bees to wax up everything as tight as they wished, if I could have their winter apartment made so small that they completely filled it — filled it so full indeed as to be crowded out at the entrance, unless in very cold weather — and have the entire outside pro- tected with some non-conductor that would enable the bees to keep the inner walls warm at all times, and I think we should have no dampness. With chaff-packing and chaff-cushions I have succeeded so well, that I am perfectly willing that, the bees should fix up as snug for winter as their instinct prompts them to do.' Here we have laid down all the requisites for safe wintering — impervious quilts covered with chaff-cushions; thick, double-walled, or chaff-hives, and bees crowded into a small space. We have only to add, plenty of bottom ventilation and all modern requirements arc preen!, sufficiency of good and wholesome food being implied, of course. Removing Hives. — The winter months are the best time for removing hives to different positions in the apiary. If this is done during cold weather, when bees are unable to fly for several weeks, there will be no loss, ami it is best to gel the work finished in suitable weather. Care should be taken neither to jar nor shake the hives, nor in any way to disturb the bees dining the removal. Let a spirit-level be used, so that the hives may stand perfectly level, but where the frames ranee from back tu front the hives should be raised an inch at the back. If the hives are placed in their new position early in the winter the bees will have opportunity, when gleams of sunshine occur, of marking the change of locality, and confusion, when spring Mights begin, will be avoided. Bees have a very acute sense of smell, and unpleasant odours arouse their anger. So long ago as the time of Aristotle it was remarked t hat lues would st ing furiously those who were scented with odours unpleasant to them. No nuisance, therefore, such as foul drainage, manure- heaps, &C, should be allowed near the hives. A dry, sheltered position lying open toward- lie- south and well sheltered from the north, is mosl desirable. The outer cases and roofs of our hives are all painted with Carson's black varnish, which we find especially useful during winter, a- it absorbs the heat of the suns rays, ami is highly advantageous to the bees; while in summer any ill effects of excessive heal are remedi id bj slightly raising the covers and providing ventilation below. But many of our hives have partial shade from overhanging deciduous trees —a decided advantage where it can be had. Entrances should be constantly examin id, and kept clear of dead bees and other refuse, and while snow lies on the ground, particularly in bright weather, should be protected from the sun's rays bj I ds placed in front. If this precaution is neglected large numbers or beeswdl perish by alighting on the snow, and instantaneously becoming chilled. On numerous occasions ii has I n to us a piteous sight to behold the -now covered with dead and 'lying bees in the gardens of careless and ignorant bee-keepers. In such weather beware also of the blue- tit, whose depredations are much to he dreaded. Sparrows should not be allowed to roost or to congre- gate in the neighbourhood of the hives. Field-mice are also great enemies of the bees, burrowing into the crowns of straw skeps, and eating their way in at the entrance-. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Purchasing Dees. — To those about to commence bee-keeping, purchasing bees in the winter months is not recommended. In the main we agree with Mr. Simmins, that April is the best month. His remarks in a ' Modern Dee Farm ' are much to the point : — ' When you have decided to make a start, purchase your bees about the middle of April, and have them removed to your apiary at once. If you begin at any other season the first great mistake is made. Bees moved in April undergo just that excitement which indu ea a healthy activity at exactly the right time ; the queens become energetic under the consequent stimulation (of removal), and better progress is made than if they had not been disturbed. If moved in February or March the sam • excitement causes the loss of thousands of the older bees, through flying for what they cannot obtain at that early period; the large patches of brood lose the warmth hitherto given by such workers, and the hive deteriorates to such an extent that the whole season is unprofitable. By purchasing in April there are plenty of young bees to fall back upon ; you get only good stocks which have 364 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 22, 1888. passed the ordeal of winter ; there is no further risk, and the whole season is before you. If obtained at a later date, the first year is lost, and the excitement caused by late packing and travelling is not simply injurious, but absolutely ruinous. These statements are based upon hard facts and experience, and the reader will do well to be guided thereby.' All this is very true, but who will have stocks for sale in April next ? Alas ! we fear that such will be few and far between. From all quarters we hear the ■same cry — ' The cottagers have already lost their bees.' But to such keen, enterprising apiarists as Mr. Walton, who tells us, in our last issue, that he has no fear of his bees coming to grief for want of food, since he has supplied them with more than half a ton of sugar (in syrup, we suppose), and that they are all in fair order, and packed for winter ; to such men, we say, the reward is sure. Knowing that Mr. Walton is an ' old apiarian hand,' and a very successful one, we should be pleased to see a full statement of his modus operandi of winter preparation, feeding, &c, published in the Journal for the benefit of others. In last ' Hints ' for ' Troglodyte ' read ' Kapnodyte.' The error arose from a ' slip of the pen.' To Mr. Seager's implied censure (1873, p. 555) we can only reply that we have never ' sat upon ' him, as he is pleased to put it. Our veil — to him, at least, and, we think, to the majority of our readers — is thoroughly trans- parent, and has been assumed for no sinister motive. On the repeated misrepresentations of 'Amateur Expert' we decline to make further comment. As a useful hint to Committee, if we may be allowed to advise (since there are certain concionatores turbato- resrjue at work, whose calling would seem to be — ' . . . Spargere voces In vulgum ambiguas ') we would say, observe the maxim contained in the Leonine verse, — 'Audi, vide, tace, si vis vivere in pace.' The time for action will come ere long ; until it arrives — moramini. THE POLLINATION AND PERFORATION OF FLOWERS. {Continued from p. 551.) Fertility of Perforated Flowers. — The opinion is current that perforated flowers are not as productive as imperforated ones. Delpino has shown that some perforated dowers are absolutely sterile. Ogle states that many Bowers oiPJuneolus multijtorus fail to produce seed because of perforations. I doubt whether there are many flowers in which one can find more perforations than in Symphytum officinale. In stocks which have several thousand flowers, hardly one can be found which is not perforated. Several stocks in the Botanic Garden gave me ample opportunity of seeing the results from perforated flowers. I did not undertake to count the ripened fruits, but the greater number of (lowers developed some nutlets. At this time I had not seen Loew's experiments on this plant. His results are so striking and conclusive that I give them somewhat in detail. On the 11th of June, 1885, lie took several branches which had passed anthesis. On these he had seventy- three flowers, and was careful to remove later flowers; on the 4th of August forty-six flowers were dry, while the remaining twenty-seven flowers had matured fifty- one nutlets, so that thirty-seven per cent of the flowers were more or less fertile. The full fertility of many plants, as Darwin has shown, depends largely upon cross-pollination. Insects do not commonly visit flowers unless they get nectar or pollen in return, so that, when a flower is constantly robbed, the regular pollinators do not receive their due share of nectar or pollen, their visits are fewer, and consequently there is less chance for cross-pollination. If the plant is capable of self-pollination, seeds may be developed, and often in great abundance; yet Darwin has shown that the progeny of self-fertilised flowers is less vigorous than from cross-fertilised flowers. If the structure of a flower is such that self-fertilisa- tion is prevented, and insects do not go to it in the regular way, sterility may result. But in most of the flowers perforated there is an abundance of nectar, and insects which perforate flowers are very hasty in their visits, and therefore always leave some nectar, as can be seen in many cases where the perforator first robs the flowers, after which numerous other insects use the per- forations to get nectar, while others again visit the flowers in a normal way. On the whole, I am inclined to think that sterility results more from the disharmonic action of perforating insects than is usually supposed. Insects certainly show considerable intelligence in making perforations, or using those made by other insects. One of the most remarkable cases is that ob- served by Francis Darwin, in a cultivated variety of the everlasting pea ; where the nectar is enclosed within a tube formed by the united stamens, at the base of which are two natural openings, one on each side, the left being the larger. Humble-bees, which bite holes through the standard petal, always operated on the left-hand side, so as to reach the larger passage. Muller records an interesting case where a female of Bombus terrestris entered a flower of Vicia Ftiba in the normal way. Being unable to get the nectar, the insect forced its head under the banner, and stretched its tongue as much as possible, but, being still unable to reach the nectar, it withdrew its head from the flower, and after cleaning its tongue with its forelegs, flew to another flower, where the same performances were repeated ; but in the fourth she bit a hole in the corolla above the calyx. Humble-bees show preferences in the flowers they per- forate. Dr. Wm. Ogle states that in Switzerland he collected 100 flower-stems of a blue variety of Aconitum tiapellus without finding a single flower perforated, while on 100 stems of the white variety, growing near by, every one of the open flowers had been perforated. This difference, Darwin thinks, may be due to different amounts of acrid matter contained in the flowers, the blue variety being distasteful to bees. Why should insects perforate flowers ? Darwin believes that, as a general rule, flowers are only per- forated when they grow in large quantities close togei her .... Flowers grown in large masses are conspicuous, and therefore attract many insects; and as the perforated flowers usually contain considerable nectar, the number of insects visiting the flowers at any one time is very large, and, as Darwin has shown, some of the nectaries are sucked dry; now, in order to .save time, for the flowers would have to be probed for their nectar, the insect makes perforations. To this rule there are excep- tions, as has been shown in some of the cases cited, where an insect, unable to get the nectar in a normal way, takes to perforating flowers. Muller, Loew, and others, have shown that there is a certain correlation between the length of the tongues of Hymenoptera and the flowers they perforate, as can be seen by consulting their tables on flowers and their visitors. To summarise: — It has been shown that flowers with deep-seated nectar are often perforated, and that in most cases the perforations are made by insects which are unable to get. at the nectar in a normal way; that Bombus mastrucat us is more addicted to this habit than any other European humble-bee; that there is a, certain correlation in the length of the tongues of Apidee and November 22, 1888. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 505 the (lowers tiny visit in a normal way, but when this limit is reached Bowers are often perforated; that con- spicuousness of plants may account for some of the per- forations, but most of them are attributable to the non-adaptability of the insect to the flower; that the insect uses considerable ingenuity in perforating flowers, attacking them in close proximity to the nectar, that this is individual experience, and not inheritance on the part of insects; and that perforated flowers are not necessarily sterile, but are often quite productive. — L. II. I'a.mmel," Shaw School of Botamy, St. Louis, Mo. — (American Bee Journal.) BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Committee Meeting held at 10o Jermvn Street on Thursday, November 15th. Present : The Hon. and Rev. H" Bligh (in the chair), Dr. Barfrum, Captain Bush, II. N., Captain Campbell, Rev, J. L. Seager, II. Jonas, W. O'B. Glennie (Treasurer), and the Secretary. Letters were read from the Rev. R. Errington and Rev. G. Raynor regretting their inability to be present. The minutes of the last Committee meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence from the Berkshire Association and the Royal Agricultural Society in reference to the Windsor Show of 1**0 was read and considered, the prize list being finally approved. On the recommendation of the Educational Sub-Com- mittee, it was resolved to hold the second-class examination on Saturday, the L5th day of December, tile annual general meeting of the Association being fixed, subject to the approval of the President,f or Thursday, February 2 1st. In reference to the letter which appeared in our last issue from Mr. McClure respecting the attendance of the Committee at the Quarterly Conference, we are desired to state that, on the day in question, full Sub-Committees, 'Finance' and 'Exhibitions' (the latter being fully engaged in the revision of the prize schedule of the bee department for the Windsor Exhibition), had been sitting from 2 to 4 o'clock. At the close of these meetings one member of the Committee was compelled to return home, and another was temporarily absent from the Conference owing- to indisposition. .foreign. AMERICA. We have just received the Report of the proceedings of the Nineteenth Annual Convention of the North American Bee Association, which is henceforward to be called the International American Bee Association. The Convention was held at Columbus, Ohio, on the :Jrd, 4th, and oth of October last ; but, owing to the poor season, there were only between fifty and sixty members present, of whom thirteen were ladies. The proceedings, under the presidency of Dr. A. li. Mason, was opened by an experience meeting, at which .some of those present gave their experience on different matters. Miss Derna Bennett had received many reports, and nearly all reported failure. Dr. Tinker reported almost no honey from white clover, but some from yellow poplar, dark in colour, and which many mi-took for honey-dew. Prof. Cook had received some heartsease honey from Iowa of strong flavour. It. L. Taylor's story was like that of others, and he only had five pounds per colony of surplus. If he had moved his bees twenty miles he might have secured 35,000 to 40,000 lbs. R. F. Ilolter- maun reported that bees had wintered poorly in Canada, and the early honey-flow had been light, but the fall flow was fair. Mrs. Mary McPherson made her living by keeping bees, poultry, &c, and supported her chil- dren. From thirty-two colonies she had secured only SOU lbs. of comb-honey, J. Y. Detwiller spoke of the troubles of bee-keepers in Florida. This year he had had 1200 lbs. from forty colonics. Alter this, at the reassembly of the members in the afternoon, a change in the usual proceedings was intro- duced by the singing of ' The Bee-keepers' Reunion Song,' the words being by Eugene Secor, ably set to music by Dr. C. 0. Miller, many of the members joining in the song. The American bee-keepers are to be congratu- lated that they have amongst their number members who are able and willing to write and set to music such lively songs, and we should have much liked to have In. nil Dr. Miller leading with his fine voice. After the singing, the first subject discussed was ' The best Age of Bies to go into Winter Quarters.' Dr. Tinker preferred young bees, those that had had one flight, and to put them into winter quarters as early as November 10th, as they then remain quiet. Dr. C. C. Miller thought, as amongst human beings so amongst bees, the old and the youug suffered most from winter. Although not disagreeing with Dr. Tinker, he- was not sure that he wauled very young I s. In the fall there are bees of all ages, Some die early, some late*; and if it were p i-sioje, he thinks it would be an advantage to have sifted out all the. bees that would die before ttie spring, li. I.. Taylor had fed hi- bees late in a warm October, and there was brood iu the hives early In November, and the j ig bees did not harm but. wintered unusually well. K. R. Rojt said they had wintered, in 186B-87, -0 > colonies without loss, and ill. \ had almost all old bees. Dr. A. li. .Mason preferred bees that ha.l done a little work, and k'roE. Cook thought there should be brood up to the end of September. A discussion then ensued as to h iw so in b les should begin bleeding in spring. About half the me ub is thought two mouths befoie the clover blooming was soon enough, the others preferred to have them begin sooner. Professor J. W. Webster next read an interesting e say on the •Honey-plant of Florida,' and pointed our the superiority of palmetto and mangrove honey. Several spoke in favour of this honey, and it was re- ived to ask the editors of bee-papers to quote these under their proper names so as to distinguish them from 'Southern honey.' Afterashort interval another song was sung, called' Dot Happy Bee-man,' also by E. Secor and Dr. Miller. The members were amused and set to 1 nulling by Dr. Miller singing this and imitating the German dialect. In the discussion on the time of putting bees into winter quarters, Dr. Mason said he put his bees into cellars on October 19, and the consump- tion of food was six to seven pounds per colony. E. 1!. K >ot said their cob, in.-, consumed, on an average, 12 lbs. per colony. Professor Cook, who had done considerable Weighing of bees, found the consumption out-of-doors v, ,, I 5 His. and in cellars 8 lbs. It. L. Taylor, as well as Professor Cook, had noticed bees wintered best in the ■ new lleddou Hive,' and thinks that it is caused by the space between the two hives, which enables the bees to pa-s from one comb to another in cold weather. Re- specting sections open on all sides Dr. Tinker thought they afforded better ventilation, the combs an- built out square and true to the edges anil the section filled full. F. A. Eaton said the objection to them was that in crating the corners catch and tear the combs. Dr. Miller found no fault with ordinary close-sided section-. lie had produced thousands and thousands of pounds of comb-honey, and the sections were well filled and bore transportation without loss from leakage, in thediscilssiou on chaff-hives, E. It. Boot said they afforded protection from cold, also from the direct heat of the sun's rays. The bees are always ready for winter, so far as protec- tion is concerned, and in tiie cool nights of late Bumpier do not drive the bees from supers. With chaff-hives there is no laborious carrying of bees in and out of the cellar. Dr. Tinker thought there were less stores con- sumed, but R. L. Taylor did not think so, although there 5C0 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 22, 1888. might be some early in the year. He did not like this limited capacity, as only fifty sections can be used on one hive at a time, and it was desirable sometimes to put on 100. Only one set of extracting combs can be used, and it is desirable sometimes to use several. Dr. Mason pointed out that eighty sections could be placed in a chaff-hive, but Mr. Taylor objected as they could not be all placed on the top, but some must be put iu frames. Mr. Chase pointed out that Mr. Shane had two apiaries, in the one the bees are protected in spring by packing, and the other they are not. The packed bees always give the best results. At this stage of the proceedings a letter from the Rev. L. L. Langstroth was read, regret- ting that, owing to his having taken a severe cold, he was unable to be present. Respecting the width of sections, it was the experience of several that they made and sold ten thousand lg to one thousand of any other width. Prof. Cook then gave an address on •' Experiments in Apiculture,' and said that, with one or two exceptions, the Michigan Agricultural College is the only one that has experimented in apiculture. Of the experiments in- tended to be made will be that of crossing different varieties of bees ; another, that of determining 'tile value of special planting for honey; and the third will be in regard to the adulteration of honey.' At present the bees at the College are a cross between Syrians and Carnio- lans, and they seem to possess the good qualities of both. He feels sure that bee-keepers do not adulterate honey, neither does he believe that it is done by grocers, lie does not believe the chemist can tell positively in regard to adulteration, and experiments are to be made to de- termine, if possible, whether adulteration can be detected. After an address by Mr. Newman on the ' Importance of Experiments in Apiculture,' he spoke on bee pasturage, and he hailed the prospect of experiments on a large scale. He also said it will not pay to adulterate honey at the present very low price, and hence it is not prac- tised, and does not believe advanced prices would bring it forward. Mr. Root mentioned that Dr. Miller had secured large quantities of honey from 200 acres of cucumbers raised near him. li. E. Holtermann next read an interesting paper on ' The Value of United Experiments iu Apiculture,' in which he said one of the greatest failures has been in coming to conclusions too rapidly in adopting new, and (as far as theory goes) grand ideas which impress us. Sometimes the result of one season's experience leads us to believe we have made a discovery which will immor- talise our names, and we advance and defend the dis- covery only to lead ourselves and others astray. To be of the greatest use these sanguine and selfish dispositions should be kept under, and all should unite and decide on some line of experiment. Let a line of work be decided upon for the coming year, and in one year, in certain directions, more progress can be made by this method than before in ten. The Constitution and Bye-Laws for the Society were then taken into consideration, and the report of the Committee appointed last year was adopted. It will be remembered that Mr. Newman introduced the subject at the meeting last year, and the Constitution has been founded in the main upou the line of our British Bee- keepers' Association. It is proposed, amongst other things, to award diplomas to experts who have passed an examination, each diploma to be of three classes on the principle originated and adopted by our Association. A Honey Company, to be composed of a committee of five, is also to be formed to ' inaugurate places for the mar- keting and sale of the products of the apiary.' The recon- stituted Association is to be called ' The International American Bee Association,' and is to hold its next meeting at Brantford, in Ontario, Canada, with Dr. A. B. Mason as President, and Mr. E. It. Holtermann as Secretary. ^0tTesponbc!UC. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Eciiocs, Queries, Books for Review, £c, must be addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British Bue Journal," cfo Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, IV. C All business communications relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Berts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). *m* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or .] I am ex;eedingly sorry if Mr. Seagor imagines that in my letter published in your issue of the Sthinst. 1 am attacking him, permit me to take the earliest oppor- tunity of disclaiming any such intention, my attack was directed not against men but against a system. I do not think it was an unfair inference that his paper, to some extent, represented the views of the Committee, of which he is one of the most active members ; however, I readily accept his disclaimer. But my object was to draw public attention to a fact which has been recognised by must observers, namely, that the British B.K.A. lacks the cordial support of the bee-keepers of this country, and, in consequence, its efforts have fallen off. This want of vitality affects not only the parent, but is spreading among the affiliated Associations, as it most assuredly will. If the head is sick the whole body suffers, and I feel that it is urgently necessary that something should be done to arrest this state of things, especially is this so after the disastrous season just closed, when our favourite hobby is, to say the least, under a cloud. I feel sure that if the British and County Associations are to con- tinue a successful existence, something more will have to be done to bring the advantages of membership to many actual or intending bee-keepers who are now outside. In these days when a person is applied to for subscriptions to any Society they generally ascertain if they are likely to receive any tangible return for money spent before they consent to ' part.' Now, of all others, is the time to take the matter in hand and discuss it. I hope some of our men of light and leading will favour us with their views on the subject, from past experience. The fact is the Animal Meeting of the B.B.K.A. is a purely formal affair, and what is wanted is a special meeting called, and a repre- sentative Committee of members formed to revise the constitution of the Association with the view to its being placed on a more popular basis, and to be brought into more active and direct contact with the County Asso- ciations, who shall have direct representation on the Committee. The British B. K. A. is supposed to be the represen- tative bodj- of the national bee-keeping industry. Now take the Committee as last elected. I find it consists of ten clergymen of (I believe) Church of England, two military, and three private gentlemen. Those are drawn from the' following counties: — Herts, 5; Middlesex, •'! ; Essex,!'; and Berks, Bucks, Kent, Surrey, and Sussex, 1 each. I must again repeat that I am throwing no re- flection whatever upon any of these gentlemen, all of whom I fully believe to be animated with the best in- tentions ; but I submit that they are not a representative body. I think the B. B.K.A. have made a great mistake in separating themselves so much from the County Associa- tions. They should have treated the smaller bodies as a part of the greater, not of necessity curtailing their powers of self-management, but calling upon them to actively assist in the management of the central body, and by so doing to throw upon them their fair shai f responsibility. Were such a state of things brought about I fully believe that the County Associations would loyally accept that responsibility, and rail} to the support of the parent, and in so doing infuse new life into the whole. Fancy our friends .Mr. M'Clure and Mr. Grimshaw travelling the hundreds of miles they do to attend quarterly meetings and to have no power of supporting their opinions and the wishes of their respective associations by a single vote! The tiling is absurd ! — A. 1) .Wi.hjih.kv, Expert and Associate Secretary Berks B.K.A., Donnington Road, Reading. CARNIOLANS, &c. [1834.] I have little more to say on this subject at present, but allow me to assure 'Amateur Expert' that I have no recollection of an old scora against him to be paid off, neither am I in the habit of owing a grudge to any one. When I give an opinion on any subject it is done in the interests of truth, and not with any personal bias. I shall ever be as ready to defend any point he may himself bring forward, as I shall to condemn any action of Mr. Benton or others, and vice versa, where my own experience or observation shows me I am serving the cause of right. Where my opinion does happen to differ from ' A. E.'s ' I am quite open to conviction — not by light banter, but when he can support his case by presenting solid fact. — S. SlitMINS. MR. BENTON AND CARNIOLANS. | 1 385.] I was glad to read the letters of Mr. Simmins and Mr. Howe- in the last Journal. I have much pleasure in adding my testimony to the excellence and purity of six Carniolan queens which I have received from Mr. Benton direct during the past season. The queens were sent promptly on receipt of order, and all arrived in splendid condition, and were everything I could wish. The date of birth of each queen was noti- fied. Mr. Benton, too, was very exact in the matter of discount, returning me a shilling more than I had de- ducted. A more straightforward and business-like man I have never had dealings with, and I have every confi- dence that lie will supply the best article that can be obtained. 508 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 22, 1888. I also had some home-reared Carniolan queens from Mr. Simtnins, and though I had to wait some time for them in consequence of the unfavourable weather, when they did come they gave me entire satisfaction. I have introduced fifteen queens during the past season by Sirnniins' direct method with only one failure — that was a queen received from Mr. Simmins, which he replaced without a word, the second trial being successful. — Granville R. Bailey, Madeley, Staff's., November 10th. [188G.] With regard to Mr. Frank Benton's Carniolan queens may I he allowed to record my own small expe- rience in the B.B.J, as to the kinds of progeny they have produced in my hands, and which are as follows ? —In August, 1887, I received a first-grade Carniolan qneen direct from Mr. Benton, which I introduced in accord- ance with Mr. Simmins' process, to a nucleus of two frames of English bees. She was at once accepted, and was very prolific considering the late time of the year, and in this stock not the slightest indication of yellow, or rather orange, appeared in any one of it. On June Kith of the present year I received another first-grade Carniolan queen direct from Mr. Benton, and which was introduced by the direct method alluded to ; the nucleus was also of the same size as the former one, and the bees English. The queen was duly accepted, and at the present moment her progeny well covers seven frames of standard dimensions, and I am unable to dis- cover, after close examination, the slightest sign or indi- cation of any yellow or orange band on any bee of the whole colony. The progeny are rather larger than the ordinary brown English bee, having the light-grey band peculiar to the Carniolan variety, are very quiet and docile, and are excellent workers, often flying in great quantities while other varieties are at rest. They have about 30 lbs. of wintering stores well sealed at the present time in their hive, about 1"> lbs. of which were procured by themselves, the other 15 lbs. having been fed to the colony during the last two months. [We have received also letters from Mr. F. Hirst, Small Heath, Birmingham; Mr. James Saddler, Forfar; Mr. Q. Gordon Samson, Bournemouth; Mr. G. Monday, Leicester, to the same effect as the above, but the space at our disposal will not permit us to reproduce them. As we have now given a full opportunity to both sides of ventilating their views, we are of opinion that this discussion may close. — Ed.] SCOTCH BEE-KEEPERS AND THE BMTIH1I BEE JOURNAL, [188/.] I well remember the time when Scotland could boast of her bee-keepers endowed with their literary talent in the columns of our B.E.J. ; but, alas ! the enthusiasm lias gradually died away, and week after week tin' Journal appears without a sentence or echo to remind us that bees are now being kept in Scotland. This is a matter to be deplored when it is a well-known fact that in Scotland there is quite an army of full- Hedged bee-men (not amateurs) whose writings would adorn the pages of any weekly. Scotchmen should re- member that the B.B.J. exists for their good, and is kept up by voluntary contributions. Why, then, should the bee-keepers of Scotland take so little interest in writing in the pages of so worthy a periodical as the B.B.J.! I must add a word of comment in favour of our brethren across the Border, whose frequent contributions are worthy the name of bee-keepers. I jot these lines in good grace in the hope that I have struck the key- note of some of our veteran Scots, who will from time to time give us a yarn (not Jack's yam) through the columns of the Journal. I have no fear the Editor will give the same courtesy to Scotchmen that other cone spi indents receive ; at least, this is the desire of one who lives not a day's journey from the auld ancient city of Saint Muxgo. INTRODUCING QUEENS. [1888.] In your issue of November 1st, Mr. 'Amateur Expert ' states that he successfully introduced a Carni- olan queen on the loth ultimo, and gives the particulars. I introduced a Carniolan on the :Mth successfully by similar means, but used a slightly different stage, which perhaps some of 3'our readers would like to copy during the winter months in readiness for another year. The queen arrived in a cage made out of a piece f" x H" x 4", containing three holes, two lj", one J", the J" filled with Good candy, and on each side a board ,'„" thick was nailed to keep the bees in. Having found the old queen and removed her, I put the quilts on, with the feed-hole open. I poured a few drops of scented syrup on the hole, and put on a stage made as follows : — Two pieces of |" wood (crossed to prevent warping) 5" square, with a L'" hole in centre, covered with perforated zinc, in the centre of which was a hole f" x 1", under which was a piece of plain zinc 1" x 0", with hole to correspond with the hole in the perforated, but 1" nearer one end than the other (so as to be opened or closed at will), on the top of which I fastened pieces of wood having h" rabbets taken out of the underneath side, so as to form a slide for the queen-stage, so that it could not be knocked on one side. I now took the queen-cage, unnailed one of the i1,," boards, and slid a piece of glass in its place to examine the queen. I then slid the cage under the rabbet, the 1]" holes first, leaving the hole containing the candy on the woodwork, the others going over the L'" hole, and crossways of the hole in the zinc. I now wrapped them up for two days, and then after dark pushed the plain zinc through, which opened the hole, and let them to go down at pleasure without at all disturbing the bees with any smoke. — Alpha. NOTES ON BEE HIVES. Size and Appearance of Queens. [1889.] Every one has heard how certain animals display peculiar habits in order that they may not rush headlong into the power of the enemy, and that even man is deceived by appearances. It is very easy to deal with the white and the black, but the difficulty is to deal with the grey. It is perfectly easy to pronounce judg- ment upon, or recognise, single or individual queens and ordinary workers, when placed separately by themselves, but the difficulty is to recognise a queen from an ordinary worker when we are hurried or pressed for a decision, or to do so in a given time without injuring the bees, &C, of the hive ; and we might include awkward positions, imperfect light, large populations, and hives containing a queen no larger than an ordinary worker bee. Supposing a hive contained a nine-pound lot of bees, how many per cent of the bee-keepers of average experience and capa- bilities could readily or eventually tell whether a hive contained a queen, and how many of them could pick the queen out if she was the size of an ordinary worker and no larger. It has been granted that queens may be of various sizes, so that we have no dispute re size; there is not, I need hardly say, any dispute about their being different races of bees, and that the colour and markings of queens vary in appearance or reality ; but I will say that just as a bird, or other animal, or insect, has habits to enable it to be not recognisable to its enemies, so I have observed in the mother bee some such appearances. Is there one who can say they are acquainted with nil the habits and appearances of a queen-bee throughout its life history, or even while searching for it in a hive, and are able to at once distinguish and pick up any queen ? November 22, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 560 and is it possible that there is such a person, find that he will never overlook just sufficient to not distinguish or pick out any queen 'i Without detracting one atom from my statement made on page 439, to which attention has been called, I wish to state that I really meant it to be understood what I still maintain, that in some cases, unless the most skilful, elaborate, and painstaking search is pursued, it is im- possible to say whether a hive contains a queen, as it may be overlooked on account of its size and appearance, or similarity to that of an ordinary worker bee. — T. Bonner Chambers, 1*'. L.S., Tref Eglwys, Caersws, Montgomeryshire, October %)th. WATERPROOFING HIVES.— ICEING SUGAR. [1890.] In your 'Editorial' of November 8th, you recommend hot tar for waterproofing cotton cloth or canvas ; any one who has used tar knows you must use more than one coat to make it thoroughly waterproof. 1 send you the following simple receipt for rendering such substances impervious to wet, and much cleaner in application, thinking it may be of some use to your readers. Take pale linseed oil, three pints; sugar of lead, one ounce ; white resin, four ounces ; grind the sugar of lead with a little of the oil, then add the rest aud the resin. Stir the whole well together in a large iron pot over a gentle fire. Apply the mixture with a large brush. ' Useful Hints' in the same number, in tin- receipt for Good's candy, says the best BOgar for tie' purpose is that termed ' Confectioner's Dust Sugar: ' as some nf your readers may wish to get some of the same, the trade name of tin' sugar he refers to is iceing sugar. — Amateur Bar-Fraidb. CONTRIBUTION TO THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HONEY-BEE. The Stomach-mouth. [1801.] If we carefully examine the honey-stomach of a bee, we shall see on the lower part, somewhat side- wards, a small body about as large as a half poppy- A is the honey-stoinaeh, B the true stomach, C the stouiach-month. grain. This body is the organ which Schonfeld named the stomach-mouth. This organ has been known many years, but its functions were not correctly explained. Tin- cut is no true picture of the organ. The opening p is closed by four three-cornered lips which, together', form over the round tub1, n, m, p, a pyramid. Tin- bee can open these four lips arbitrarily by muscles. The tube p in ii is prolonged into the true stomach till o (n o is about one millimetre long) here turns up and goes back to n, where it is in connexion with the wall of the true stomach. Around the throat :n a are a great number of muscles. It is easy to see that the throat m n can be prolonged by turning out the pieces u " inside of tin' true stomach. This organ is very important; without the same the bees could not store honey at all. We shall Bee this if we explain HOW THE BEES EAT HONEY. It is well known that the bees take honey or nectar from the cell or from flowers by their tongues. How this is done I will not explain here. This fluid goes through the pharynx into the honey-stomach. If the stomach-mouth mp had a round opening only, as repre- sented in the cut, the food brought into the honey- stomach would at once pass into the true stomach, but the four lips close this opening, and so it is possible that the honey-stomach can be tilled, and by contraction of of the same (arbitrary again) the bees can empty this honey-stomach again through pharynx and outer mouth. But necessarily the four lips arc to lie closed and opened arbitrarily. If the bee wants to gel some honey into the true stomach, 1 he four lips are opened, and some honey goes from the honey-stomach into the true stomach ; so ties,, four lips are closed and opened, if the bee wants to eat or not. We see now how it is possible that bees can winter ami take no honey from the cells for some time. A swarm can be confined for some days, while a I with empty honey-stomach will starve in thirty-six hours. We can say this organ is the true mouth of the bee, and the true alimentary canal commences here. The outer mouth and the tongue are merely the hands by which the bees eat, and the honey-stomach is the store- room. HOW Till: I'.KES EAT POLLEN, Somewhat different is the function if the bees eat pollen. The pollen comes into the honey-stomach through the (alter mouth and floats here in a fluid. This fluid is honey and /cuter. The stomach-mouth can take those pollen-grains only which float quite neirthe opening p. But here are some hairs ; as soon as a pollen- grain touches these hairs the four lips are opened, and so the pollen-grain is caught ; the same cannot go back into the honey-stomach when the mouth is opened again, because other hairs hold it back. If a few pollen- grains only are in the honey-stomach, the function is a little different: the honey-stomach is contracted, and this is done by pushes; hereby the piece mp mores differently, sideways, and so the pollen-grains can be caught. Here comes the turned-up part n o in function. If the honey-stomach is contracted, it moves in the direc- tion to the head of the bee, and the part n o slides out of the true stomach. -Mori' important is this if the bee vomits the honey, when the honey-stomach is very quickly moved against the head ; this would be dan- gerous for the fine tube without the turned-up part. Around the part m n are muscles which save the organ from moving too far from the true stomach, and pull the honey-stomach back after the contraction is finished. We have further to explain for what purpose the bees eat pollen. It is known that larvae, as well as bees, need a certain amount of nitrogenous food like other animals. Honey contains a very small amount of nitrogen (about 01 7 in 100 parts), so we have pollen only for this purpose. In the first three months of the winter, as long as the bees are very quiet and their vitality is lowered, the bees eat very little honey, and they may need no pollen at all; more than this, they may, to their advantage, spontaneously dispense with pollen. But as soon as 570 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,. [November 22, 1888. they become uneasy and desire to breed, they need some polien. It is impossible at all to prepare the jelly for larvae without pollen (more about this later). That bees need pollen is proved by the energy in carry- ing pollen in early spring and the great amount of pollen consumed at this time, when breeding goes on rapidly. This breeding is stopped when, from unfavourable weather, they cease bringing in pollen for some time, and, finally, disease and death of the nurse-bees are the result if they are forced to breed for some time without pollen, as man)' experiments have proved. Further, the bees need pollen to keep their own bod}' healthy and to preserve their vitalit}'. It is very difficult to prove by experiment how long worker-bees can live without albuminous food, because we cannot keep them confined as long. Queens and drones do not eat pollen, but honey only. To get the necessary albuminous food, they are fed with jelly or chyle of the worker-bees. To find out how long drones can live on honey only, Schbnfeld experimented in the following manner: — Two combs, each one con- taining 200-300 gramms of freshly gathered honey, were each surrounded by a wire screen, so that drones could move on the combs. One of the combs received a single wire screen, the other was surrounded by a second wire- screen, so the drones could not have been fed by the outside bees. In a cold, rainy week, 200 drones were caught, and to each of the combs 100 drones were introduced. The.-'' combs were hung in the centre of the brood-nest. On the evening of the fourth day the drones in the double screen were very weak; on the fifth day all the drones were dead but four. The drones in the other screen were as lively as ever, and flew away when a few days later they were released. Both were in the same con- dition : the want of albuminous food only could be fatal to these poor fellows. Worker-bees would surely live longer ; but, nevertheless, this experiment is a proof of bow necessary the pollen food is for the bees. — L. Sta- Chelhausen, Helma, Texas {American Apiculturist). (To be continued.) BORGUE HONEY. [1892.] ' Saint Mungo' writes in your issue of this week, ' 1 much demur to the assertion that " A Ren- frewshire Bee-keeper " has done more to promote success- ful bee-culture than any other gentleman in Scotland.' I have no objection to 'Saint Mungo' or any cither correspondent quoting what I write, provided they do it accurately. What I wrote in the article you reproduced, and your readers can verify it by referring to your issue of 11th October, was, 'that most accomplished apiarian who has perhaps done more to promote successful bee- culture than any other gentleman in Scotland.' By leaving out the word 'perhaps,' 'Saint Mungo' makes me dogmatise. No one who knows the history of bee- keeping in Scotland need ' demur ' to what I wrote, and I readily recognise the names of those quoted by 'Saint M.' as having done much to advance b culture in Scotland to the high position it now occupies. I dismiss this point by asking ' Saint Mungo 'to read the advice given to ' Amateur Expert ' on page 5.38. The article I contributed to the Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser was the sequel to something that went before, and as reproduced by you was not in its entire! 3*. Some of it had more of a local reference, and another part of it could only be clearly appreciated in the light of what bad already occurred. Briefly, Borgue honey from time immemorial has enjoyed an extraordinary reputation, and practically the ■whole amount produced is bought by county and other wealthy families at high prices direct from the bee- keepers. In the spring uf 18^0 a controversy arose in the Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser regarding the merits of Borgue honey, as apiarians from other districts questioned the superiority of the famous Borgue pro- duct. To induce competition I offered to add half a guinea to the first prize at Borgue show in the open class for dropped honey. This increased the value of the first prize to one guinea. The otter was accepted, and for three successive seasons wonderful displays of heme)' were made, competitors coming from Ayrshire, Wigtonshire, and Kirkcudbrightshire, and in each year the first and second, the only prizes, were gained by the Borgue product. ' Improved Bar Frame,' in paper above mentioned, put the position of Borgue very clearly when he wrote no outsider has ever gained a prize against Borgue at their show. Borgue apiarians have nothing to gain by going outside, as they already occupy the premier place, that there is already sufficient demand for the product at high prices, that Borgue honey is much prized by Her Majesty the Queen, by John Ruskin, and many other less notable persons. I may mention that one of the judges arranged for last show was Mr. McNally, of Glenluce, but unfortunately he was unable to be present. I have rather a delicate palate for honey when granulated or candied, and Borgue honey imparts to that organ a peculiar and agreeable flavour that no other honey that I have ever tasted does. I have offered a guinea prize for the best answer to the query, To what is the peculiar excellence of Borgue honey due '( The Borgue Society has accepted the otter, and are at present drawing out conditions of competition. Next season we may therefore look for something new and interesting on the subject. I am not a bee-keeper, and cannot enter into any con- troversy on the subject. What I have now written is necessary information in view of ' Saint Mungo's ' letter. — A. McN., Greenock. AN EXPERIMENT. [1893.] I this year successfully tried an experiment which 1 have no doubt will be of interest to your readers. Hoping against hope from week to week during our sunless summer that brighter days were coming, which, alas ! they did not, I found myself in the month of August with no honey, and my hopes for the year blighted. I determined, therefore, as I could not get honey, I would increase my stock of bees. Having four stocks, I determined to divide two of them, bin here came my difficulty. The bees had some time before given the drones notice to quit, and the period of grace had almost expired; indeed, in all but one instance, their homes knew them 110 more, and corpses were more plentiful than the living. The only hive with any drones was one which I did not desire to divide, inasmuch as it was one from which I had hoped of getting' a little honey. I therefore selected two stocks which were driven bees last autumn, and which were moderately strong on ten-frames each. I am not sufficiently an ' expert,' but rather too much of an ' amateur,' to find the queen. 1 tried, but failed to do so, or I should, when dividing, have placed that half without the queen oil the stand of original stock. However, I had to trust to luck. I placed empty hives close to each of the two hives I intended to divide, and took live alternate frames from each stock, and placed them in the empty hives, taking care to observe that there were ' fresh-laid eggs' in each lot. I then drew the frames of the old hives together, adjusted the division-boards in all four lots, wrapped all up nice and snug, and put a slow feeder in each, giving three holes, and waited results. In the course of three or four days I made an ex- amination of all four lots, with the result that 1 ascer- tained at once which halves had got the queen, those that had not having made numbers of queen-cells. November 22, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 571 Those that had the queen I simply gave a frame each of comb, continuing the feeding with rather a more plentiful supply of syrup. I found that fortunately I had got one of the lots without the queen on the old stand. The other one, however, was not so. My next care was to provide drones for the two queenless lots. I first inserted a piece of wood under the division-boards of each at the back, giving sufficient space for bees to pass under. Then I went to the hive with the drones, having a tumbler with a piece of glass over the top. I captured as many young drones as possible, putting them in the tumbler, and keeping them there with the piece of glass. I took these (about twenty), placed the tumbler on the floor-board of one of the queenless lots, just behind the divisinn-board, and waiting for a quiet moment among drones, I quietly removed the glass, and quickly shut the lid of the hive. This operation I repeated with the second lot. Not, however, feeling quite safe, as I feared I might have been deceived in the age of many of the drone-, and that they might return to their own hives, I determined to beg some drones from a friend at a distance of a few miles, who happened to have a queenless lot with plenty of them. I repeated my operation with the tumbler, and waited results. The queen duly hatched out, and 1 found a dead one in the front of one of the hives. I took hope from this, judging that there was a fertile queen, who had killed the young princess immediately on her putting in an appearance. I understand that it is only in case one queen gets fertilised that the workers allow these fratricidal battles. On making an examination a few days later, I was pleased to find e^jis and brood in each 'hive. As this was getting well into September, I considered myself fortunate. I had been told that I was too late in the season to make a successful division, and felt pro- portionately elated. It is possible that I might have succeeded without manipulating the drones as I did, because there might have been some within measurable distance of me; but the great probabilities are that 1 should have failed, as it was so very late in the season. However, I consider that my plan ensured success, and that my experience may be of use to others. — II. 1'. D. SIIALLOAV FRAMES. [1894.] I have been much interested in the controversy as to the size of shallow frames, which some short time ago took place in your Journal, and was especially struck with the letter of one correspondent who advocated frames just half the standard depth. This seems to me to be the most sensible size of all. There are many ad- vantages attaching to it, as set forth by your corre- spondent. Two frames will just go in the extractor ; in doubling, too much space is not given at one lime, too much space being one of the great disadvantages of ordinary doubling; there is no necessity for wiring the foundation, there being comparatively no risk of the foundation on these shallow frames breaking on ex- tracting honey. I have tried them this year, and have every reason to be pleased with them. In using them I have put them in what are practically crates, 4J in. high front and back, and 4}. in. high at the sides. This, with metal ends, leaves a" bee-space of | in. at the bottom (I left § in. space in the first one I used, and found that the bees built in this width.) These crates can be worked just like section crates. Any number may be employed by using ekes to the hives. They may be made by a novice, and cost very little. Extracted honey may be easily obtained from step hives, especially from inverted ones, and they are easily carried about and packed away. I don't see any difficulty in the fact that a great number of 6-in. frames are in use. it only necessitates a larger or smaller crate, as the case maybe. Both sizes may he used on the same hive. A ten-frame hive, with ten-frame shallow crates, for half-standard size frames, cannot, in my opinion, be beaten, if extracted honey is the object aimed at. I would suggest that these shallow frames he numbered, and kept in the same order whenever used. How often are bee-keepers troubled when reducing a hive to find that when part of the combs are removed, on drawing the remainder together, some of the combs touch one another ! This, I fear, cannot be avoided in the breeding compartment, because it is usually contracted in winter and expanded in summer to meet the varying strength of the stock ; but with these crates of shallow frames their order need never be varied, and there is no reason why, after being extracted, they should not be returned to their crates in the same order that they were taken out. One result of using these shallow frames is that the bees in the brood-chamber use the cells quite up to the top-bar of the frames for breeding1. An advantage of using these nates instead of using shallow body-boxes is that they can so easily be removed from the hive for extracting purposes. A knife can be inserted between the top of the breeding frames and the crate ; and even if the bees should have joined the bottoms of the shallow frames to the tops of the larger ones, they will by this means be easily loosened. On the other hand, when body-boxes are used, the flanges prevent this being done ; and, in using force, you are likely to have an unpleasant spill. I should like to hear again from your correspondent who advocated the half-standard size frames. — II. 1". I). ABSENCE OF WASPS LAST SUMMER. [1895.] As a set-off against the number of insect plagues we have not had a wasp of any of the specimens which eat fruit and rob bees; and during the whole summer in all my walks I have only met with two soli- tary wasps. It will be curious to see if the race is actually extinct. It must take years to produce or establish these insects again if there are any left in other districts.— J. Hiam, Redditch (J. of Horticulture). NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Letters or queries asking for addresses oj manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to presx 171 adoanee of the it"/.' of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt OJ their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and tli-ose only of personal interest will be answered in this column. V alter Chitty.— The Uses of Honey.— The para- graph to which you allude as ' copied word for word' from a contribution of yours to the Housewife was culled by us from an American paper with the authority stated as nTe have given it. We had an idea that we had seen the substance of it before, but the source to which we mentally attributed it was one of the former annual reports of the Berkshire B. K. A., evidently from the pen of the Rev. V. II. Movie. We are very pleased to hear that your pen is so usefully employed in behalf of bee-culture, and we trust you may be long spared to use it to such good purpose. R. Auld. — Sugar Cake or Candy. — The sample of cake forwarded is too bard for the purpose. The syrup when ready for stirring to convert it into candy should not be much stiller in consistency than honey, and the finished candy should not be much harder than the hardest setting honey becomes in cold weather. There must have been some divergency in your attempt to follow the operation as in recipe. E. A. Fry. — The sample of sugar forwarded ivould be found suitable for making syrup, but the time for syrup- feeding is past, and sugar-cake should now be used. 572 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 22, 1888. T.M.D. — 1. The substance in the cells is pollen; there is no reason why the combs should not be of service in the coming; season, and the pollen of the late summer may be returned to the bees next year. 2. The sugar would make serviceable syrup, but sugar-cake now is desirable. H. K. — It has not been our privilege to have the neces- sary leisure to enable us to ascertain the number of journeys made by the honey-bee in one day in a good honey-How in the midst of a white clover held. I. C. — 1. Hers. — The bees forwarded were fair samples of English black bees. 2. More than one egg in a cell. — This arises from a want of balance between the fecundity of the queen and the size of the colony. When the brood-nest is circumscribed, the paucity of the cells for receiving the eggs obliges a prolific queen to deposit more than one egg in a cell. There is no danger to be apprehended from this, as it probably has arisen from the fecundity of the queen. K. W. — Questions and Replies by a Girl eleven gears old- — We have been miwli gratified by the perusal of the replies given by your adopted daughter. They evince a singular precocity in so young a girl. The answers are generally correct, and sometimes very interesting and naive, e.g.. the definition of a drone: 'It is a gentleman's bee, and the queen's sweetheart." The best thing to be done if a bee shows signs of anger: 'Stare it straight in the face and stand still,' &e. We are much pleased to hear that she is also very quick in the manipulation of bees. We trust that her love to bees may strengthen with her yeaTS, and that her future may fully realise her early promise. James Holme. — 1. Fertile Verier. — No fertile worker can lay an egg which will become anything besides a drone, and it is a moot point if those drones have any virility. 2. Arerage Honey Yield. — In a fair season and good location at least twice as much honey may be obtained from a frame-hive as from a skep, provided your management is right. The autumn, winter, and spring management constitutes an im- portant factor in the success of the homy harvest. '.i. Number of Bees in a Pound. — About 3000. Your other question has no value. ^Business ^fDirectory. » ♦ t HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Bubtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C. , 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodlet & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour cfe Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godjian, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent k Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may bo obtained of all Local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents :— ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. McNALLY, R., Glenluee, N.I). NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., WenBum Street, Norwich. RDDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHINSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 130 High street, Lowestoft. THE British Bee-keepers' Association Established 1874. President: THE BARONESS BURDETT-C0U1TS; THE Committee appeal to Bee-keepers, Manufacturers of Bee-keeping Appliances, and others desirous of promoting- our Home Industries, to become Annual Subscribers or Donors to any Special Branch of the Association's work. Subscriptions, 5s. and upwards per annum. Life Members, £5. The Association carries out its work by — The holding of Annual Exhibitions; Assisting County Associations ; Sending out Lecturers and Experts ; The publication of Literature relating to the best methods of Bee-culture; The disposal of Bee-produce, &c, &c, &c. Secretary : John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. London : Printed by Ptranhewats & Sons, at their Printing Office. Fields, in the Comity of Middlesex; and Published for the Proprietor Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., in the Parish of St. Qiles's-in-the- by Rest & Co., 28 Paternoster Row, in the same connty.— Nov. 22, 1888, British the; ^AAA^-^ Communications to the Editor to be addrtiud ' Stbanoeways' Priutinq Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.O. [No. 33G. Vol. XVI.] NOVEMBER 29, 1888. [Published Weekly.] €iatiaxmlf ^otxm, &t. MINORCAN BEES. In July last wo announced that, through the kind- ness of Mr. P. 0. Andreu, there was a probability that the qualities of Minorcan bees would be tested in England. The queen, which was transmitted to Mr. Abbott, was safely introduced, and we have a further report from him in August that the queen had done well, and that he had been able to raise a number of young queens ; but, owing to the bad season, there had been a difficulty in getting them fertilised, only one out of fourteen raised proving fertile ; also, owing to the weather, although Mr. Abbott had induced the queen to lay a large number of eggs in drone-cells, he could not per- Buade the worker-bees to rear the larva?, although they were well supplied with food. Mr. Abbott does not enter into the merits or demerits of the Minorcan race, as they have had no chance at present of showing what they are. Our correspond- ent, Mr. F. C. Andreu, had stated they resembled Carniolans, but it will be seen from a letter in our columns this week (to which we direct attention) that he corrects his former statement. He also alludes to what M. Bertrand says in respect to these bees in the Revue Internationale. We have had an opportunity of seeing these bees and found them different in appearance to Carniolans, re- sembling more closely our common bees, except that they are much darker, almost black, and appear to have a more glossy surface. We cannot say much for their temper, which appears very different from that of Carniolans. They seem much more irritable and inclined to sting. Of course there will be a difference in various colonies in this respect, and, like Cyprians and other stinging- races, those hives containing the youngest bees will be the quietest. That they are very free with their stings we have abundant evidence, although we have not ourselves felt the sting is a mild one like that of Carniolans, or a virulent one like that of Cyprians and Syrians. Mr. Andreu assures us they are mild in disposition and easily handled. When we examined the bees a short time ago, it was on a cool day, and as soon as the quilts were removed we found that, whilst the other races of bees were all snugly and compactly clustered, and that they were hardly stirred by the disturbance, the Minorcan bees were spread over the combs, were much more vivacious, and flew out to resent the intrusion. Numbers of bees ran out at the en- trance, whilst with the other bees not one was seen to leave that way. A smoker was not used in cither case, so that all had the same treatment. We were much interested in the peculiar barri- cade constructed in front of the entrance, and which wo found quite different in appearance to anything we had seen before. The barricades were built up apparently of the usual materials, viz., propolis and wax, and extended the whole length of the entrance, which was about 8 inches long. We have seen bees build barricades to protect them- selves against robbers and also the death's-head moth, but in such cases the inside of the entrance is filled up with propolis and wax, and a hole left here and there just as the bees seem inclined. In these barricades there is a regularity that is most beautiful, and has called forth the remark from one correspondent that 'they seem for all the world the work of engineers learned in the art of self- defence.' In this case the barricades form a regular trellis, each hole being nearly \ of an inch wide, or just large enough to allow a bee to pass, and having an upright bar of about \ of an inch wide between each hole. The illustration will give an idea of the structure. When wo first heard of nm niHimm \ these barricades the idea at once occurred to us that they were probably intended to keep out the rose-beetle (Cetonia aurata), very common in the South of Europe, and that the habit was probably inherited. We are told that in Minorca the practice is common for the bees to systematically and scienti- fically barricade the entrance in the autumn. It is very interesting to find that the bees when first transported to another land cany on the same practice, for this was the only hive in the apiary that had built barricades. We think it shows that the habit is inherited and transmitted from one generation to another, because there is a use and necessity for it. As the bees are possessed of a certain amount of intelligence we shall expect to 574 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 29, 1888. find that they will drop this habit when they find they have not the same need for their barricades in their new circumstances. With us the rose-beetle is not so plentiful that it should be reckoned as an enemy of bees, and therefore shall expect that the bees in time will abandon the barricading. They will not probably do so at once, but may take several generations before they entirely give it up. Of course, if the race is crossed the habit would probably be bred out very rapidly. We should be glad to hear whether the Minorcan bees reared by Mr. Abbott and other gentlemen have been noticed to possess this peculiar characteristic. We do not think the bees have been tried long enough out of their native country to speak positively as to their good or bad qualities ; at any rate the past season was too bad to give them a fair chance. WITH THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPERS. By Thomas B. Blow, Welwyn, Heuts. Watertown, Wisconsin, U.S.A., Nov. -1. You very kindly notified that I was going over to this side of the water by the S.S. City of Rome, and the same fact was mentioned by the bee-papers over here — the American Bee Journal and Gleaning* especially. I think also that I am indebted to the kindness of ' Ama- teur Expert' for some of the very cordial invites that I got from some prominent bee-men with whom he corre- sponds, and to whom I imagine he had written about mv visit. However, on my arrival here I got a big pile of letters of invite, to the senders of which I here accord my hearty thanks, and did time allow I would visit all. But six weeks have passed, and I have made but few visits ; and as I am bound to be back again in England before Christmas, I must soon again turn my steps to- wards the rising sun. My journey was begun under good auspices. At any time it is depressing to start ou a very long journey with no friend to say a parting word, but especially it is so on an ocean trip among a crowd of over a thousand, all strangers. My delight, therefore, was great when I saw the face of my old friend,',W. B. Caw, to welcome me at Lime Street Station, Liverpool. He had come to see me off, and we went on board together, and he remained till the cry was heard, ' Any more for the shore!' and witli a hearty shake of the "hand, and best wishes for the success and pleasure of the journey, he bade me good-bye. The voyage across was not a pleasant one. Two days of fine weather, andjthe remainder a succession of storms ; added to which a breakdown of the machinery and three deaths, did not tend to enliven our spirits. The view on entering New York Harbour is beautiful in the extreme, well-wooded hills all around, with tine mansions and villas dotted here and there among the trees. We arrived quite early in the morning, before the electric lights were extinguished ; and the view of the big Brooklyn Bridge, with its hundreds of lamps, and the gigantic electric torch borne aloft by the hand of the statue of Liberty, were very striking. Having a few hours to spare before train time, I spent, it in seeing the sights of New York, under the guidance of Dr. Waxhain, a Chicago physician, whose acquaintance I had made on board. We journeyed together to Rochester, where was my first stop. Here I had to visit some relatives that I had'never seen, an uncle and aunt who had been out here fifty-nine years, and a family of nine cousins; so you can well imagine the hearty welcome I got from all these, who were assembled at the station to meet me, the first relative they had seen for fifty-nine years ! While staying here two or three weeks I drove round to look up the various local bee- keepers. They were principally farmers, who were not very advanced men, but the foremost among them was Mr. A. H. Gridley, of North Chilli. I may say that all this county (Monroe) is a perfect garden — fruit, flowers, and vegetables in profusion eveiywhere, peaches, grapes, apples, pears, in the greatest plenty. Mr. Gridley's place was in a charming spot surrounded by orchards, and I found him busily harvesting his apples and packing them in barrels, some of them, such as Baldwins and New Town pippins, to go to Europe. He had some fifty stocks of bees, all in the ordinary Langstroth frame-hives that an' in such general use here, severely plain and simple in all their details, everything for use, nothing for orna- ment, not even paint in some cases; and I ventured to remark that we would beep our hives better painted, and Mr. Gridley said he would when he got time, but as labour is so dear here he had to do all he could him- self, and so the bees got a bit left, especially in a season when they did not pay. He had nothing to show in the way of honey, as this season had been a complete failure, the same as with us in England. All the hives were supered, but Mr. G\ had not troubled to remove the partly tilled sections — he would let the bees take the noney down and save the feeding. We looked through a few hives and found the stocks were simply grand, but all in need of food to take them through winter. I mentioned the price we paid for sugar, and found that here it was 8 or !• cents the pound — Ad. to -ihd. of our money. This I Learned was the result of the Protective tariff, ll seems that sugar i> heavily protected, and as a result in nearly all the industries that are thus shielded gigantic trusts are formed, and the price kept up to the highest possible price by agreement. The sugar trust, Mr. G. said, was a ureal monopoly, and every consumer was thus compelled to pay to the support of a wealthy body of capitalists, and on the bee-keeper in a bad season it presses with great hardship. There are many other branches of trade controlled in the same way, and the "Teat question at the coming election (Tuesday next) is Protection v. Free Trade, and the people here seem determined to put an end to what has become simply a shameful oppression. Colonol Waterson, one of the prominent Democrats, spoke here last night to an immense audience, and brought forward some of the most unanswerable argu- ments in favour of Free Trade I ever heard, and they were well received. My host being a well-known Democrat here we were courteously invited to seats on the platform, and thus had the pleasure of hearing a really fine address. Owing to the hot weather which prevails in the summer, Mr. Gridley lifts all the bodies from the floor- boards all round by four little wedges, so that the venti- lation is very ample. Two devices of his may interest. 1, His method to prevent increase of stocks by swarm- ing, and this is what many wish to do in England. He allows one stock to swarm (of course it is well known that if the swarm was returned it would issue again next day). When the next swarm issues he unites this swarm to the stock that has already thrown the swarm, of course first cutting out the queen-cells that may be there. By adopting this plan he finds that with certainty the swarm will not re-issue, and so he goes ou the whole season, and the only increase in his apiary for the present year has been the one first swarm. 2, To prevent second swarnis or casts. Take the first swarm and hive it, and place this swarm and hive on the spot that the stock from which it issued stood, and remove stock any- where within twenty or thirty yards. This stock so removed will not send out any second swarm. These plans, be states, invariably answer well, and I therefore November 29, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 575 mention them. lie was inclinuil to favour Italian bees, but had heard much about the Carnh dan and would like to try them, but it was so dillieult to net the real, genuine article over here. Talking (if the disposal of honey, he said he never had any difficulty in disposing of it at fair paying' prices. (To be continued.) GLEANINGS. The Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society, says M. L. Cuenot, after some remarks on the general com- position and function of blood, gives a. brief account of his observations on various groups. In insects the liquid of the coelom contains a dissolved albuminoid, varying in colour, which has both respiratory and nutrient functions. In the blood there are a number of typical amcebocytes, which are produced by a large gland which completely surrounds the heart, and even extends over the alasform muscles; this gland is formed of a connec- tive stroma tilled with nuclei and tine granulations. These nuclei gradually surround the albuminogenous ferment and escape from the gland. This lymphatic gland is found in the larvae as well as in the imagines of all orders of insects, with one single exception. In his Observations on the Embryology of Insects and Arachnids, A. T. Bruce finds that the antennas of insects are shown by their innervation to correspond to the first pair of crustacean antennae; the bilobed upper lip of insects is innervated from the second division of the supra-casophageal ganglion which forms part of the cir- cumcesophageal commissure. He regards the antennas of insects and Crustacea as probably homologous structures which ally the two groups. In the American Apiculturist .1. S. Iiiddle says: — 'Buckwheat affords a honey harvest when all other honey blossoms have appeared in their season and vanished away. This cereal can be sown at different dates, affording a successive honey resource until the frost of autumn asserts its sway. A peculiarity of its blossom is, that bees can only gather from it not later than the middle of the day, unless the weather is damp and no sunshine. Some seasons it yields an immense quantity of honey, other seasons it yields but very little; its honey is a darkish colour, but its peculiar and very rich flavour makes it a favourite of very many persons who are not won by appearance alone; not always is the lightest -coloured honey the best. Many experienced bee-men claim that buckwheat honey is the best on which to winter bees. This is my experience. Along the base of the Alleghany mountains, in this country, I learn from men who have paid attention to bees, that they experience very little trouble in wintering their bees. In that same locality there is always an extensive crop of buckwheat sown.' In the Bienenioirthschaftlicltes Centratblatt Dr. Souder says that there are move colonies of bees in Seldeswig- Holstein than in any other pro\ iuce, there being one hive for every eight or nine of the inhabitants. In Switzer- land there is one hive to every thirteen or fourteen inhabitants. In the Farmer's Advocate it. F. Holtermann does not recommend feeding the bees on syrup in the autumn, but says they must be got ready for winter early — in fact, the preparation should commence in summer, and as the brood will often not permit the storing of suffi- cient honey below, reserve two or three combs of good honey well capped, and have these to fall back upon in every hive, if they do not have the proper quantity on October 1st. Take out combs free from brood and with the least honey, and put in the combs of sealed honey. He says it is a bad plan to feed as it wears the bees out. as a honey flow does, and leaves them aged for winter ; there is also a great waste by the bees in placing their stores in the hive, to say nothing of the bad impression that your neighbours get, if you bring home sugar to feed your bees, and they, of course, at once say that you are 'making honey.' In the ( 'anadidn Bee Journal GAY. 1 lemaree says he has discovered a new plan to so strengthen sheets of founda- tion that they will hold up swarms without the assistance of the wire nuisance. If you cut a sheet of foundation in two and then lap the edge about one quarter of an inch and weld the edges together with a stiff putty knife in the same way that the sheets are secured to the top bars by the mashing process, the thick rib in the centre will prevent the sheet from stretching or sagging, and the bees will work right on over the rib and make the combs as perfect as if no thick rib was in the way. He sees no reason why the rolls of a machine could not be fluted in the middle so as to forge the ribs in the cent re up the whole sheets: of course, this would require long rolls, as the sheets would have to pass through the mill lengthwise instead of the narrow way as now practised. In tlie Heme Internationale d' Apiculture M. Bertrand says: — 'It is well known that bees gather aphidian honey, although all honey-dews are not the produce of aphides. But the sweet substances produced by the aphides are not, properly speaking, evacuations, in the sense that this word is usually understood : that is to say, that they pass out of the body of the insect b}r special organs, situated on oa> h side of the abdomen, and not at the extremity. They are a sort of conduit which extend more or less according to the species, beyond the exterior of the body, and are nit a continuation of the intestine. .Many scientists believe these organs to be prolonged spiracles, that is to say. according to them, they would form part of the respiratory system. Aphidian hoiiey- dew, therefore, is the sap of plants which has undergone a slight modification in passing through their body. somewhat like bees' honey (if it is not wicked to suggest such a comparison), and it is not fseca] matter. Aphides are winged insects, which, like the bees, hare the light to make honey to feed their young, as some b ilieve, or for some other reason not yet known. In ( vmptes Rendus, Mr. Gr. Carlet continues his notes on the poison of rlymenopteva. In those with a smooth sting, like Philartthus, Pompilus, and others, the alkaline gland, like that which the author has already shown to be well developed in the bee and others, ill these is rudimentary. In these hymenoptera the incomplete poison does not kill the insects with which they pro- vision their nests. He has already shown that the poison of bees consists of an alkali and an acid, and it is his opinion that it is the presence of two liquids or of one only which produces respectively the mortal poison or the anaesthetic, and not t lie asserted power to select the part of the body at which the insect will sting its victim. In the Mellifera only is found a poison-chamber which furnishes poison, while it protects the poison from the air, which would alter it. It is correlated with the parts which form the stinging apparatus of these insects. In the Heme Internationale M, Woiblet recom- mended honey as a remedy for warts on the hand. He noticed that a person Inning warts, after washing the hands for several consecutive days in honey and water, tos1 these excrescences'. To assure himself of the efficacy of this new remedy, M. Woiblet tried it on a child who had a large wart in the palm of the hand. He applied pure hone}' several times, and in a few days it had entirely disappeared Since then M. Desquartiers has tried the same remedy on a child whose hands were covered with these warts, which were very disagreeable both to the sight and touch. Although the remedy was applied very irregularly, in a few weeks they entirely disappeared. He says the treatment is very simple: at night the hands are rubbed with honey, and then gloves are put on for the night. This remedy is less costly than the drugs hitherto employed. 576 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 29, 1888. THIRTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES. By Henry Alley. introduction. Had any one predicted thirty years ago that the rearing of queen-bees coidd have been made a special and profitable business b}r any number of people, he would have been considered insane ; perhaps so much so as the one who dares predict anything concerning the possibilities of future bee-keeping. Nevertheless, there are at the present time more than a score of people who devote nearly all of their time to the production of queen-bees. Thirty years ago but few bee-keepers understood the art of queen-rearing by artificial methods. No one had written a book upon this interesting branch of apiculture, nor could but few bee-keepers be found who had had even the most limited experience in the art of rearing queens. The fact that there never had been any demand for queen- bees is the reason why queen-rearing was so little understood in days gone by. It may seem strange to the younger bee-keepers for me to say that there has been no greater advancement made in queen-rearing than there has been in the methods for the production of honey, either comb or extracted ; also in hives, and, in fact, in all branches of bee-culture. If the same ad- vancement continues for thirty years to come that has been made in the past thirty years, no one can predict what is possible in apiculture. Queen-rearing is a subject in which all bee-keepers are more or less interested. How to produce queens, first- class in all respects, by artificial means, is a question that has long attracted the attention of the prominent apiarists of the world. Having made queen- rearing a special study, and my sole business for more than a quarter of a century, I hope to be able to throw some new light upon the subject, as the result of my long experience in this particular branch of apiculture. In order that we may be successful in the production of honey it is of vital importance that our queens are first-class in every respect. To rear queens by the ' forced or artificial ' methods, as it is called, requires many years of practical experience. It is true that one, even with limited experience with bees, can give a piece of comb containing brood or eggs to a queenless colony, and thus rear queens ; but this is not queen-rearing by correct, practical, or by proper methods. He who can rear queens to equal those produced under the swarming impulse has much to boast of. Nearly thirty years ago the writer began to rear queen-bees and ship them to bee-keepers in all parts of the country. With each year of active and practical work in the bee-yard, 1 have gained a fund of knowledge and experience in bee-keeping, and especially of queen- rearing, that but few people are likely to attain ; certainly such as few people will ever achieve without first devoting years of labour and hard study to accom- plish. Queen-rearing, and bee-keeping generally, is a most fascinating pursuit, and when a person once en- gages in it he seldom gives it up wholly. The reader must not suppose that the writer is an old man because he has had so many years' experience in queen-rearing. Though well advanced in life, lie hopes to be with you for many years to come. I began bee- keeping at the age of twenty-three years, and queen- rearing on a small scale was one of my first hobbies. I had kept bees but a few years when the introduction of the Italian bee created so much excitement throughout the world. At that time a demand for Italian queen- bees sprang up, and several parties beside myself com- menced rearing them to supply the trade. Since that time — somewhat over twenty-nine years ago — I have given my whole time to this branch of bee-keeping. With the above brief introduction, I will try to explain the several methods for rearing queens that have been practised in the Bay State Apiary since its establishment. Any of the methods given will be found practical, and may be relied upon by those who use them for producing queens that are equal to those reared in full colonies under the swarming impulse. How to Rear Queens. — We will now suppose that the reader lias had a proper amount of practical ex- perience in the early branches of bee-keeping to fit him for queen-rearing and is ready to take up this branch of bee-culture and attempt to make it a success. Those who intend to make the rearing of queens a business will find it necessary to commence early in the spring, to prepare the colonies for cell-building. Here let me say, that unless one can have queens ready to ship as early as May 20th, or certainly by June 1st, he should not attempt queen -rearing as a means of livelihood. In the north there is but one way to get colonies in the swarming condition as early in the season as is desirable, and that is, by liberal feeding. This will, of course, stimulate the bees to brood-rearing. The proper timi* to begin feeding is when the bees commence to carry in pollen. I have found that the best way to feed in the spring is to use a wire-cloth honey-board (described on another page), and have also discovered that powdered sugar — the same as confectioners use to frost cake — and honey mixed, say twenty-four ounces of honey to five pounds of sugar, is an excellent food for stimulative feeding. The mixture should be thoroughly kneaded and worked about the same as a good bread-maker prepares the sponge for a batch of bread. When the food is ready, raise the cushion and place it on the wirecloth directly over the cluster, and cover up warm. The bees will soon take all the food through the wire and place it in the combs. About one pound of such food should be used each week.* I am partial to the double-walled hive for obtaining large colonies and rapid increase early in the spring. Those colonies that have wintered in the best condition should be selected to rear the first queens. When the bees begin to gather honey from natural sources, any further feeding will be unnecessary and should be discontinued. By May 5th to the 10th, the colonies fed should be strong, and have the appearance of being ready to swarm. The winter packing should not be removed, however, until the sections are placed on the hive, and that should not be done until there is plenty of forage for the bees and the weather is quite warm. The entrance to the hive should be kept con- tracted to about two inches for the largest colonies. This will prevent the escape of heat from the brood- chamber. I like to keep the interior of the hive as warm as possible. If the combs of a colony that has been treated as above for several weeks are examined, they will be found full of brood in all stages. There should be more or less capped drone-brood, and perhaps some drones. This is just the condition in which a colony should be before it is used for cell-building. The Selection op a Queen-mother. — Now we have reached a point where all is ready to commence queen-rearing, and I will mention some of the qualities and give some of the points that a queen should possess * If queens are not to be reared until after the honey harvest has commenced, no such preparation as given above will be necessary, and the method for rearing queens in full colonies without removing, or caging the queen, will be found the most practical one to use after the 20th of May and up to the end of the honey harvest. This method will not be given here nor will it be made public. It is my intention to publish it in pamphlet form and present a copy to each purchaser of this book, and to each subscriber to the American Apiculturist, November 29, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 577 that is to be used as a queen-mother. All experienced bee-keepers know the importance of having a strong, vigorous mother-bee. It will be understood, of cour.se, that the breeding queen should be carefully selected, and thoroughly tested the previous season, in order to deter- mine her qualities regarding purity and other desirable points. In selecting a mother-bee, I make it a point to Belect the largest and finest formed, as well as the brightest coloured queen in the apiary. Special regard is paid to selecting for gentleness, prolificness, and good working qualities. Purity is determined by selecting only those queens whose worker progeny is uniformly marked. Such queens can be depended upon to duplicate themselves in handsome, golden-coloured, royal progeny every time. Never select a queen whose workers are poor honey- gatherers, as queens from such mothers will not be first- class in any respect. How TO OnTAIN THE EciGS FOIl CeI.I.-IU'ILDIXG. — I cannot rear queens on a large scale and draw the eggs from full colonies as most queen-dealers do, and advise others to do. There are many disadvantages and ob- jections to such a practice. The life of a queen is endangered every time a hive is opened and any of the combs are removed. Even if the queen is not killed by being jammed between the combs, she is liable to be ' balled ' to death. When a hive is opened, the bees, and more especially the queen, is more or less excited, and at such times the bees are apt to destroy their own queen. Then, again, it is a difficult matter to find eggs in a full colony, in any desired quantity, and in the right condition for cell- building at any time one desires to start cells. The plan recommended by most breeders of queens is to insert a clean, new comb in the centre of the brood-nest of a full colony, and in the course of a few days the eomb is removed, and after cutting more or less holes in it, it is placed in a queenless colony, when a number of cells will be built about the apertures thus made. While such a plan may do for rearing a few queens, I think it very objectionable if one hundred or more queens are to be reared. To obviate all danger of killing any valuable breeding queens, I find it the best plan to keep the mother-bee in a small hive, similar to the one illus- trated in Fig. 1. The dimensions of such a hive as I have used for many years are as follow : — Depth, six inches : width from side to side, eight inches ; and from front to rear, six inches. This is inside measure. Five frames are used in the hive. These hives are made of seven-eighth-inch thick boards for durability. When the colony is made up, two combs of honey, two of brood, and one empty comb, are used. The frames of honey are placed at the sides, then the brood, and, lastly, the empty comb is placed in the centre. About three pints of bees and a queen are then put in the hive. The queen will deposit her first eggs in the empty comb. Ihree days later those eggs will be at the proper age for cell-building. A comb that has been used for brood once or twice is rather the best to use for cell-building, though most any comb will do when prepared as described further on. About one week previous to the time of commencing queen-rearing is the proper time to prepare a hive for the breeding queen, as she should be in the hive several days before any eggs are taken from the colony, and the bees allowed time to get the hive in order for the work of the season. After one or two combs have been filled and removed, the colony will be in condition to furnish one comb of eggs each day during the season. If the queen is what she should be, every cell in the frame will have an egg in it. I make it a rule to remove that comb Fig. l. Hive for breeding every night, and insert another one in its place. After marking the date of the month on the top bar, it is then placed in a queenless colony specially prepared for the reception of such eggs. Here the eggs are nursed and cared for until they are wanted for cell-building. It would not do to place such combs iu a colony having a fertile queen, as she might find a few cells that had no eggs in them, and at once deposit some. Under such circumstances there would be an uncertainty as to which queen the cells when built would belong. Advantages of using such Hive.s. — The advan- tages of using such small hives from which to obtain the eggs will be seen at a glanc>. Some of them are these : 1. It is not necessary to open a full hive when eggs are wanted. 2. The exact age of the eggs is positively known, and one may know when to prepare his bees for cell-building, aud the exact time when the young queens will appear. This is one of the most important features of my method of rearing queens. Every movement con- nected with queen-rearing should be so systematical that no mistakes can occur. By my system of getting eggs for cell-building and rearing queens, it is impossible for the bees to build cells from anything but eggs or very young larvaj. There is no guess-work or loop-holes left open for mistakes of any nature. Piikpabing the Bees for Cei.i.-bi-ii.ding. — At this point every preparation is complete for queen-rearing. The colonies have been forced up to the swarming-point and the eggs are at the right age from which to start cells. The next move is to select the colony for the work and remove the hive to the bee-room, where every- thing has been made convenient and comfortable for doing the work that must be done to tit a colony of bees for cell-building. Just at this point not only is there needed a convenient room in which to do the work, but several other articles should be at hand ; among them a wire-screen, used for fastening the bees in the hive. A small broom, for brushing the bees from the combs, is one of the most convenient things in the apiary ; also a box that will hold three pecks at least, aud having a top and bottom of wire-clotli. For convenience, this box will be called the swarm-box. It is used merely to confine the bees, for a few hours, while they are being put iu condition for cell-building.* When the bees have been removed from the combs they are placed in the swarm-box to remain from one to two hours or until they are in a proper condition to accept eggs from which to rear queens. In the previous editions of the Bee-keeper's Handy Book I gave directions and advised keeping bees intended for cell-building in a queenless state and confined in the swarm-box ten to twelve hours. Experience has shown that bees that have been in a queenless state but a few hours will destroy eggs prepared for them for rearing queens by my former method. Hence the necessity for keeping a colony queenless so long a time before eggs are given them ; but, after practising this method for several years, it occurred to me that it would be an easy matter to obviate the necessity of the long confinement of the bees in such small quarters and so long a time as ten hours, and I was prompted to test the following experiments. (To be continued.) — The American Apiculturist. REV. L. L. LAXGSTROTH. Lorenzo Lorraine Laiigstroth had his birth in Phila- delphia, the 25th of December, 1810. Born in the 'City of Brotherly Love,' how worthily he has acted to main- tain the reputation of his natal city ! How few men •All the articles used in my methods, and in the Bay State Apiary, will be described farther on. Also a room in which to handle bees as I think one should be arranged, 578 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 29, 1888. exemplify more of brotherly love in their everyday life ! As a child, Lorenzo was passionately fond of insects. Even now lie grows eloquent as he tells of the pleasure he had when a boy in watching ant-hills, and in search- ing out other insects and studying their wondrous habits. His parents, though intelligent, well-to-do people, did not encourage this seeming ' waste of time,' and so, in- stead of encouraging his thirst for study from the grand Book of Nature by a show of interest or words of ap- proval, and by supplying books devoted to natural his- tory, they repressed this desire to know God by the study of His handiwork. It seems strange to us now how parents can see that anything but good can come from a study of the pure and true, as Nature writes it on all her pages. At the age of seventeen Mr. Langstrotli entered Yale College, from which institution he graduated four years later. Those of us who have admired the classic diction of his great work, the Koney Bee, have listened to his reading from Virgil and Columella in Latin, and have heard him eloquently explain his invention and methods of work, need not be told how industriously these college years were spent. Neither are we surprised to know that he was thought competent to teach in the great college from which he had received his education. lie was two years Tutor of Mathematics at Vale, and en- tirely sustained the expense requisite to a theological course which he took at his alma mater. In May, 1836, he was ordained pastor of the Old South, or Second Congregational Church, at Andover, Mass. Eloquent, learned, studious, devout, full of that love which 'esteemeth others better than oneself,' it goes without saying that Mr. Langstroth was a successful pastor in the best sense of that word. In the same year. he married Miss Anna M. Tucker, of New Haven, L't., by whom he had one sou and two daughters. Many of us remember what a faithful helpmeet he secured. During the severe illnesses of her husband she carried on his very arduous and extensive correspondence as only an unusually competent, dutiful, and loving wife could do. The beauty and painstaking accuracy of the business letters written by Mrs. Langstroth showed full well that her husband had secured that best of life's blessings — a good wife. Mr. Langstroth often says that he owed more than he could tell to his devoted and ac- complished wife. A year after Mr. Langstroth's settlement in Andover he was incited, by the sight of some exquisite comb honey in a glass globe, on the table of a friend whom he was visiting, to investigate the latter's bees, which were kept in the attic. His delight was exceedingly great, and nothing could stay his ardour and enthusiasm, now at white heat, till he had secured two colonies of bees, which, of course, were in box hives. His only bee-books were Virgil and an American work, whose author, at this time, doubted the existence of a queen-bee. Two years later, 1839, Mr. Langstroth's health became so impaired that he was obliged to relinquish his pulpit. He then removed to Greenfield, Mass., where he gave his attention more and more to bees. His thirst for knowledge on this subject led him to seek light every- where. Soon the works of Bevan and Huber fell into his hands, and there was opened a new world before him. From this time on he gathered industriously the works of foreign and American writers on bees and bee- culture, till now he has one of the finest apiarian libraries. Soon after relinquishing his pastorate in Andover Mr. Langstroth was chosen principal of the Abbott Female Academy in that place. Subsequently he was elected principal of the Greenfield High School for young ladies, and was for five years pastor of the Second Congrega- tional Church in Greenfield. His health again compelled him, in 1848, to resign his pastoral charge. In 1848 Mr. Langstroth opened a school for young ladies in Philadelphia, where he began more earnestly to investigate the habits of bees, and to experiment with hives, which led to his great invention, the Langstroth moveable frame /tin', which was devised in 1851. Mr. Langstroth has shown me this important sentence from his journal of October 30th, 18-31 (recorded on the very day that he devised his plan for using a moveable frame): — 'The use of these frames will, I am persuaded, give a new impetus to the easj' and profitable manage- ment of bees.' In regard to this invention, which was to bee-keeping what the gin was to the cotton industry, I quote from my Manual, ninth thousand, page 283: — 'In 1831, our own Langstroth, without any knowledge of what foreign apiarian inventors had done, save what he could find in Huber, and the edition of 1838 of Bevan, invented the hive now in common use among the advanced apiarists of America. It is this hive, the greatest apiarian inven- tion ever made, that has placed American apiculture in advance of that of all other countries.' Mr. S. Wagner, than whom, from his wide knowledge of all apiarian literature, no one was better able to judge, in speaking of this invention, says, ' When Mr. Langstroth took up this subject, he well knew what Huber had done, and saw wherein he had failed — failing, possibly, only be- cause he aimed at nothing more than constructing an observatory hive suitable for his purpose. Mr. Lang- stroth's object was other and higher. He aimed at making frames moveable, interchangeable, and practically serviceable in bee-culture ; nobody, before Mr. Lang- stroth, ever succeeded in devising a mode of making and using a moveable frame that u-cis of any practical value in bee-culture.' Probably no one was more conversant with this whole subject than Mr. Wagner. He was thoroughly informed as to German, French, and English bee literature and methods. His statement should then and there have set at rest all question and controversy; and it would, had not greed, selfishness, and dishonesty, prompted men to reap where they had not sown. Langstroth on the Honey Bee was first published at Northampton, Mass., in May, 1852, and in its prepara- tion for the press, our American Huber, like the other Huber, wa-i greatly assisted by his wife. It was revised in the year 18J7, and again in 1859, since which time it has not been revised, though many thousands of volumes have been published and sold. This work is really a classic. Its admirable style, clear and accurate descrip- tions, exceeding thoroughness and completeness, and its perfect candour, honesty, and ingenuousness, made it a favourite with all who studied its pages. Had apicul- ture stood still, and science slumbered, no second work would have been needed. Every bee-keeper will rejoice that persons having such wide knowledge and practical skill as Messrs. Charles Dadant & Son are revising this great work. In 1858 Mr. Langstroth removed to Ox- ford, 0., where with his son he engaged in the rearing for sale of Italian queens. His apiary was large, and his sales in a single year reached the sum of !j>-!000, which at that time was something astonishing. The death of his only son in 1870, and of his wife in 1873, a severe form of head trouble, which often wholly incapacitates him for mental or bodily exertion (one attack having lasted for two years), together with a serious railroad accident, compelled Mr. Langstroth to sell his apiary in 1874; but he has seldom been wholly without bees. We regret to say that Mr. Langstroth never received any considerable reward from his great invention. Its great value was at once recognised, but, through infringe- ments, others reaped the reward which rightfully was his. These infringements led to litigation which swal- lowed up even the gains that had been received. This whole matter is the dark page in American bee-keeping history, and we gladly pass it by without further comment. November 2ft, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 579 Those personally acquainted with Mr. Langstroth are aware, that he is a very superior-looking- man. His physique is large and fine, his face kindly and intelli- gent, while his broad culture, pleasing manners, arid delightful social characteristics, make him a charming companion. He is loved and venerated by American bee-keepers, not only for what he has done for them, but also for his beautiful character and genuine personal worth. Happy are we that he who is both our Iluber and Dzierzon is not only worthy of all respect and admiration for what he lias done, but even more for what he is. In 1887 Mr. Langstroth removed to Dayton, Ohio. His home is with Mr. II. C. Cowan, who married Mr. Langst roth's eldest daughter, and their seven children add much to the comfort and enjoyment of his declining years. — A. J. Cook, Agricultural College, Michigan, ( American Gleanings). KENT BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The October Meeting of the Council of the Association was held, by kind permission, at the rooms of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Jermyn Street, London, on Wednesday, the "1st ult., at four o'clock in the afternoon. The attendance of mem- bers in more numbers than of late showed that the experiment of holding meetings in London was likely to be more successful. Mr. Hooker was voted to the chair. Letters were read from members who were unable, from various causes, to be present. The Secretary informed the meeting that no meeting of the Council had been held since that at Siltingbourn on February 29th, and therefore the executive officers had become responsible for the work done as well as for that which had been left undone. The usual notices were sent out for the April meeting, fixed to be held at Ash- ford, but, as the Treasurer and Secretary were the only members present, the result was abortive. The work of the Association had been carried on on the lines pre- viously laid down. The spring tour of the Expert had been carried out; the bee tent had fulfilled two engagements, one of which was on entirely new ground, namely, at Minster, in Thanet : the other being at Staplehurst. Prizes for honey had been given at the Lydd Horticultural Show, and the Cottagers' Apiary Competition at Hawkliurst had been repeated. The lion, treasurer, in forwarding his financial account, which showed an available balance of 21/. 18s. 7rf., took the opportunity of announcing his intention of resigning his office at the end of the year. This intima- tion was received with very great regret by all the members present, and the Secretary was directed to urge a reconsideration of a step which, if taken, would be greatly injurious to the Association. The Apiary Competition at Hawkliurst attracted seven cottager members to a friendly rivalry, and in spite of the disappointing character of the season, their efforts to secure the honours were maintained with full energy to the end. The competitors were John Collins, to whom the first prize was awarded; Frederick Reed and James Hicks, equal second ; W. Blake, third ; \V. Campany, J. Marchant, and J. Humphreys. The yield of honey was remarkably small, the maximum quantity in any instance not exceeding nine pounds, whereas last year it exceeded in several instances fifty pounds per hive. The judges, of whom Mr. Hooker was one, found much pleasure in carrying out the duty entrusted to them, and bestowed much praise upon the admirable manner in which the apiaries, with one exception, were managed. It was decided that the next meeting of the Council should again be held in London ou December 5th. €axxt8$avfomtt. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by Jits correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, £c, must be addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.* All business communications relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J. Hucelk, Kings Langley, Herts {see 2nd paye of Advertisements). *»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS. [1896.] From the perusal of many of the late issues of the B.B.J. , it will have been evident even to a casual reader that there is something wrong in the management of County Associations to account for the decease of some and the apathetic state of others, and also with regard to the connexion of British and County Associaions. That all County Associations are not in as flourishing a condition as might be wished will he generally con- ceiled, and the question arises, Why do tiiey not work well, and what suggestions can be given for their im- provement ? I quite agree with Mr. Seager and Mr. Grimshaw that affiliated Associations should not necessarily be County Associations. 1 have several times recommended the amalgamation of Hunts and Cauibs, because I believe that under existing circumstances there would be mure probability of success than there now is with each a separate Association. The secretaryship of Hunts Association has gone begging nearly a year, and while in Cambs the Secretary sticks to office, the members ate falling off. Recently I had a request to give advice in forming a branch of the B.B.K.A. at Willingham, and I have promised to give them a lecture and advice re affiliation to-morrow. Too much space would be taken up to fully explain suggestions for the improvement of the Associations, but I believe failure in several cases must be attributed to the fact that, what at starting has been named as one of their main objects, assisting in the disposal of members' produce, has been persistently neglected, and until Associations individually take up the question as Berks B.K.A. has done, and deal with it a^ they think best for the benefit of the members, they will lack the sympathy of those they profess being desirous to benefit. Briefly, the first requirement is a good energetic Secretary, and if a gentleman of means and position, with time at his command, so much the better. Secondly, there should be a good Committee, and it should be thoroughly representative, and might be apportioned as follows : — One quarter, representative lion, members, because among them are often not only our best friends, but our best workers ; another quarter, cottager members, and the remaining half the most practical bee-keepers in the county. Now, with regard to the work of the Committee, I should place their work in order of importance as follows : — (They should first ascertain what can be done for members as far as possible. If a hive, &c., could be adopted for the county, uniformity would be secured, and work rendered easier for lecturers and expert.) First, the bee-keepers should be visited by competent local experts, or paid experts, whose duty should be mainly to advise, though certain manipulations must be carried out to instruct the member in the art of bee- keepiner. Only those desirous of adding to their incomes would then benefit by the visit of the expert. 580 THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 29, 1888. Secondly, a certain proportion of the members will require assistance in the disposal of their produce, and how this assistance shall he given will depend much upon local circumstances, though the first attempt in this direction I think should be to find a home- niarket, and then provide means for the disposal of any surplus. Thirdly, the annual show. This is frequently a great expense without the corresponding advantage, and if the county were divided into districts, there might be by arrangement district exhibits at some good local flower nhow. Of course lectures and manipulations could be provided by the Committee if funds permitted. The district shows or county show to be thought of only when the first and second duties had been provided for. There is without doubt room for improvement in the relations of the British and County Associations, for there does not at present seem to be a ' union of hearts.' The B.B.K.A. give great assistance when an Association is being established, but afterwards, if they do give back 18*. of the guinea subscription in the form of medals, they do not do as much as they might to foster the growth and promote the success of the County Associa- tions. It has been suggested that the county repre- sentatives should have a vote at the B.B.K.A. meetings, and I certainly think they should in everything con- nected with County Associations. I see by the balance- sheet of theB.B.K.A. thatCounty Associations contributed a little over one sixth of the income from subscriptions and donations, and while it might consequently be said that they should have a corresponding share of voting power, I think that as the object of the B.B.K.A., to encourage, improve, and advance bee-culture in the United Kingdom, must be carried out through the County Associations, half the B.B.K.A. Committee should consist of the Secretaries or other representatives of the County Associations, and whether every such representative should be a member of the Committee, or a moiety of the B.B.K.A. Committee be elected from their number, is a matter of detail, though I think the latter would be a more workable plan. — C. N. White, Somersham, Hunts, November 22nd. B. B. K. A. AND COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS. [1697.] The two weakest points in the constitution of the B.B. K. A. are, I think,— 1. Members of County Associations are not ipso/acta members of the B. B. K. A., and vice versa. 2. Subscribers of 6s. are ineligible for membership of the managing Committee. May I offer the following suggestions, hoping that some of them may be useful in solving the problem, ' How shall the B. B. K. A. best advance the interests of bee-keepers, and so secure greater support ? ' 1. The B. B. K. A. should consist of District Asso- ciations. 2. No person should be a member of B.B.K.A. except through a District Association. 3. A District Association may consist oijice or more members. 4. Each District Association be affiliated to the B. B. K. A., providing that — (1.) It is open to every bee-keeper in the district. (2.) A copy of its rules (of which the above should be one) shall be sent to headquarters, and must be in general accord with those of the B. B. K. A. (3.) An uniform subscription (say 2s. Gd.) shall be paid for each member to the General Fund. (4.) A short report, list of members (whose subscrip- tions are paid), and balance-sheet (with cash, if not before paid), shall be sent up to headquarters on or before December 31st in each year. (N.B. — Larger subscriptions not to be refused.) 5. The management of the B, B, K, A, be vested in an Executive of twenty-four members, who shall retire annually, but be eligible for re-election. G. Each District Association may nominate one can- didate for a place on the Committee. 7. Lists of nominations and retiring members be sent to each District Secretary on a certain date ; the votinn- thereon shall be by ballot, and the result shall be entered on the form and returned within fourteen days. 8. No member whose subscription is unpaid on previous 31st of December will be entitled to vote. 9. As an alternative an annual Conference might bo held, each District Association sending one delegate (who shall he entitled to the number of votes belonging to the Association) for every twenty or thirty members. One Association may, if not entitled by its numbers to a delegate from among its own members, entrust its votes to a delegate sent by another Association. 10. The travelling expenses of members of the Execu- tive to be paid. 11. No special rate of subscription should be neces- sary to enable a candidate to get a seat on the Executive. 12. Each District Association to settle the rate of subscription to be paid by its members, the amount to include subscription to be sent to the General Fund, plus expense of local management. If the above or some similar scheme were adopted, the interests of the B.B.K.A. (as a whole), the District Associations, and individual members, would, to a great extent, be identical. In considering the above the matter of shows should, I think, be kept out of the question, Let us get a strong (in numbers) B.B.K.A,, with a more representative Committee (not three !), and then the matter of arranging for shows can be dis- cussed. I hope, Mr. Editor, you will freely open your columns for a full discussion, using the waste-paper basket and editorial scissors for personal abuse (which is not argu- ment) only. Whatever scheme is adopted let it be done quickly.— Thomas BAPCOCK, Southfeet, Kent, MINOBCAN BEES. [1898.] I must beg pardon of the readers of the B. B. Journal for having therein stated a year ago, that our bees and the Carniolans were as like as two peas. When Mr. Simmins sent us a Carniolan queen, accompanied by a dozen workers, I never having seen a Carniolan natu- rally supposed the workers were such also. That gentleman has since informed me that was not the case. We lost that- queen through mismanagement and want of practice on our part, and two more queens have since been lost through that of the Post-office authorities, probably. So that our race is still unmixed, which I do not regret ; wishing to know, before any further trials, the good and bad qualities of our bees through the capable gentlemen possessing them, which will doubtless be made public in due time. Apropos, I suppose you have read what our friend M. Bertrand says in his Reuue Internationale in regard to his Minorca queen. He seems to consider her very prolific, keeping two frames of brood after all his other hives had left off breeding. But the most singular part is, that while her progeny are all born in Switzerland, they keep up the practice so common here, of systemati- cally and scientifically barricading the entrance with propolis in the fall. I say scientifically, because some of these fortifications and bastions seem for all the world the work of engineers learned in the art of self-defence. M. Bertrand says this art must have been transmitted ' through the egg as an immaterial quality,' according to Vogel, editor of the Bienen Zeitung, for none of his other colonies have done so. Is it not a remarkable fact ? Ever since the middle of September, our apple, pear, and cherry trees, have been in bloom as the result of the November 29, i888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 581 autumn rains after so dry a summer. However, the bees do not seem to visit them much, probably rinding pastur- age more to their taste in the rosemary and cirrhosa now in bloom, besides the numerous aromatic and medicinal plants now covering the fields. Since the rains again set vegetation in motion, our bee3 havo been very busy storing pollen in large quantities. They seem to gather a superabundance of the article, which is an incentive to the wax-moth. But don't they look pretty when return- ing with their heavy red, and yellow, and orange-coloured loads, under which they seem to stagger ? For my part I can say that, next to extracting the precious nectar — ■which in Minorca is precious — nothing gives me more pleasure during the leisure hours spent in the apiary, than this busy pollen-gathering. Have you noticed what a German writer (probably Dr. Maximo Herding) living about Granada, says of our climate and flora? It is in L' Apiculture of Milan, for November. Let me see whether I am good at trans- lating from memory. The gentleman has an apiary (old- fashioned, I think, from a letter he wrote us, but yielding largely) in Sierra Nevada, of which he says : — ' No other chain of mountains in Europe can boast such rich and varied flora. It, in itself, contains all that the northern and southern countries of this hemisphere possess. It is a perfect garden from spring to autumn. ... I inteud when winter comes to move down the southern slope, where grows the sugar-cane, and where the ther- mometer never goes down to zero (32° Fahr.), and the weather the most constant, you can imagine.' What think yon, English apiculturists, of this realistic sketch ? Our World's Exposition at Barcelona is drawing to a close. It has been far more successful than any one could imagine, thanks to the energy and unflagging perseverance of the Catalan character. By the way, Signor Sartoii, the Italian apiculturist, paid a visit to it, and gives his impressions in the same number of L'Apicoltore as to the.apicultural department, composed of our house and a bare baker's dozen of other gentlemen, mostly our followers. My eldest son, Frank, had put up a pretty, stylish instalation, as it is here called, con- taining all the modern fashions — an observatory hive with live bees, after Simmins ; sections of various classes, among others some diamond-shaped invented by him, and which, combined in glass cases, formed a beautiful crown or a star ; designs in glass, letters, &c. Mr. Sartori has hardly done us justice, giving the most credit to Mr. Belloch, your translator, which judg- ment the international jury havo certainly reversed, by unanimously awarding us not only the only one of the gold medals (ten in all) in the Spanish department of all industries, but the still higher award of diploma de honor. I should add the praises sung by Signor Sartori of our Minorca honey, but fear you will think I am fishing for a free advertisement, as the Americans say. He adds that Italian apiculturists did not send their products because it would have been ' sending coals to Newcastle ' (literally, water to the ocean). But even had they done so, I incline to the opinion that they could not have ' taken the rag off ' your humble servant and pupils, who have persistently, and in part successfully, tried to profit by your counsels and those of the British Bee Journal. As to Mr. Belloch, I doubt whether he gets any kind of a diploma, for he made a poor show. — F. C. Andheu. [We have seen the remarks you allude to by a German writer translated into Italian in L'Apicoltore of Milan. We do not know to whom allusion is made, as it is only in an editorial note of M. de Rauschenfels, called forth by a remark in M. Sartori's letter respecting the climate of your country. What an El Dorado for bee-keepers, and what a splendid chance to establish the industry there ! We are also pleased to hear about the exhibition, and hope that it will give an impulse to bee-keeping, and result in making honey more plentiful, and not only a luxury, as it seems to be at present, but an article of common use. We see M. Sartori speaks well of your exhibit, and says you had, besides appliances, forty jars of beautiful {bellissimo ed ottimo) honey, and all was arranged with good taste and intelligence. We are pleased if in any way we have been instrumental in propagating improved methods in Spain. — Ei>.] OUR SCHEDULES AGAIN. [1890.] I am very pleased to think the suggestions I made in a previous hsue of the B.B.J, re schedules have not fallen to the ground quite unobserved. When the Committee of Associations, or those delegated to revise the prize list of 1880 meet, I do hope that more considera- tion will be given to smaller bee-keepers. It is a well- known fact that owners of eighty or a hundred stocks have matters all their own way, while those with their ten or fifteen stocks are quite down in spirits to see tha prizes all going to one or two individuals. I quite agree with Mr. Woodleigh (1870) that a large display of honey and honey-comb attracts the public attention; and well do I remember the large displays my brother William made in the years '86-87, the former at Dum- fries, when his stand contained 17 cwt., the latter at JPerth, when he staged 1 \ tons ; the sight of seeing so much honey on one solid stand is a recollection never to be forgotten. As might be expected my brother was awarded premier honours for those displays ; but I should like to know how many bee-keepers could stage a similar quantity, while, if the weight had been speci- fied on the schedule, the competition, in all likelihood, would havo been very keen. In order to give small bee-keepers a chance of gaining a prize a class was introduced during season 1887 at Perth in connexion with our 'Caledonian;' this was for the best display under 100 pound competitors, in the large class debarred. This resulted in being the best- couipeted-for entr}- in the show, your humble servant on the said occasion gaining first honours. I consider that ten entries in a class, when a given weight is men- tioned, has a more attractive appearance than a class where only three or four entries are staged, no matter how much they coutain. Compilers of schedules should try the suggestion, — have two classes for displays, the one under 100 pounds, the other any weight ; this will then give small owners a chance of a prize that hitherto they could not compete for with any prospect to win. If Mr. Woodleigh comes North to try his mettle against Scotchmen, I shall be very, pleased to give him a hearty shake of the hand and a Scotch welcome. Our shows are numerous, and fairly good prizes are offered : the inducements are such as might tempt many of our brethren across the Border. Next season the ' Caledonian ' show will be held at Melrose, one of our historic towns of fame. Let us hope the season will be a good one, and such as will induce many of our Scotch bee-keepers to visit the ' Royal Windsor Show ' and the Co-operative Fete. — John D. McNally. EXPERIENCES— 1888. [1900.] The past season in England has been one full of experiences to all bee-keepers. Never before within the memory of modern apiarists has such a disastrous season been experienced. It is true that in isolated cases a small surplus has been obtained, but in by far the majority, not only has there been an absence of surplus, but the bees have been unable to gain even sufficient for their winter consumption. In my own apiary, upon ex- amination at end of season, four colonies only had sufficient stores for their winter's consumption, in each of these cases they were Italian hybrids first cross ; next in order of meritcame the Carniolan hybrids. The pure races were the worst off, many of them at beginning of Sep. 582 THE BEITISH BEE JOUENAL. [November 29, 1888. tember having less than a pound of lioney in the hive. In this district there will not he above a dozen or so stocks of bees survive the approaching winter, as the straw skeppists will not feed, no matter how strongly you im- press upon them the necessity of so doing, though the poorer ones must not be blamed for this want of fore- thought ; in many, very many, cases the reason is a want of funds to provide the necessary sugar. I have this fall driven just over 140 stocks, and in not one of them have I found over five pounds of honey. Many stocks have already succumbed. Although this condition of things to the old-fashioned bee-keeper appears so disastrous, it has its merits — it proves to him in the most marked manner the superiority of modern apiculture over that of our forefathers ; this will dawn upon him next spring when he sees that by the necessary attention the modern bee-keeper has saved his charges without loss, then he asks himself the question, If he can, cannot I ? He will have gained experience by the bad season of 1888. Feeders. — Another experience of 1883 proves the superiority of wood in the manufacture of feeders over that of. metal and glass. On days when, owing to the cold, wet, unseasonable weather, the metal or glass feeders were partially or wholly deserted, but those of wood were crowded with bees. A fault has been found with the wood feeder, that of leakage ; this need not be. The failure is entirely owing to the manner in which they are manufactured. Even in cases where the manu- facture is bad it can easily be rectified by running wax along the joints inside. Obtain a table-spoon or small ladle, fill this with some common wax which, after melt- ing, pour down each comer and allow it to run in the angle of same, treat each corner in the same manner, ami no leakage will occur. The 'feeder must be perfectly dry. Feeding Swarms. — The condition of swarms that have been fed and those which have not is totally differ- ent, the latter being mostly found upon four orfive combs partially built, whilst the former are in a condition to make splendid stocks next season. Unfed swarms in many straw skeps do not number more than about two thousand or so bees (| lb. ), while those that have been fed are full both of bees and combs. The contents in bees of eight colonies, this year's swarms, driven by me in the fall, weighed just under four pounds, and these colonies were in fair condition in comparison to some. The)- had not been fed at time of swarming. Queen Rearing. — This has been almost a failure. I have lost dozens through non-fertilisation, having had to destroy them. Many have been lost on their wedding flights, whilst often the weather was so bad that they had to be entirely neglected, and when warm weather did set in it was too late for our attentions, racking- bees and queens in a hailstorm, with the wind blowing 'great guns,' is not anything to ' hanker after.' The crowding of drones in a given area at time of queen-fertilisation, and also the fertilisation of a queen, was observed by me very successfully. I was informed by a breathless boy that there was a swarm of bees in a field about a quarter of a mile from the apiary, so I, with swarm-catcher in hand, made for them. Upon arrival I recognised at once that the loud hum wavering from here to thereabouts and high up over the field was that of a concourse of drones; while standing listening to them, down, like a meteor from above, came about a dozen drones, surrounding t he queen and her consort ; they touched the ground just three yards in front of me, and in an instant rose again, the pair having separated. The drone did not die at once, as I searched for yards around for a dead drone, in fact I spent a whole afternoon at this occupation, causing a remark to be made that I must be daft, hunting around in the sun lil«e that for just a dead bee. Secretion of Nectar. — My hives are placed in the middle of about forty acres of Dutch clover, yet for days and weeks not a bee was to be seen working upon it. Upon tasting it one could not detect the slightest trace of nectar, which in ordinary seasons is so perceptible. No sun, but a plentiful supply of rain, means no nectar, and so no honey. Even borage was deserted, though so well protected from the rain entering the nectaries. — W. 13. "Webster. CONTRIBUTION TO THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HONEY BEE.— II. The Food for the Larv.e, How Prepared. [1901.] It is a well-known fact that all young bee- larvaj receive a whitish jelly prepared by the bees. The worker larvae are fed by this jelly till the fourth day; after this their food is very different. The queen larvie get this jelly in abundance all the time. The jelly in queen-cells seems to be more thick and yellow, while the food of the worker ami drone larvae is more watery ; this is caused by evaporation, because the royal jelly is longer in the cell than that for worker bees. Not only this, the larval food for queen, drones, and wrorker bees, is of different chemical composition. The question is now, how is this jelly prepared 'i V. Berlepsch affirmed long ago that this jelly is the same fluid found in the true stomach of the breeding bee — chyle. About 1872, Professor v. Siebold affirmed that this royal jelly is secreted by glands (salivary glands), and that the true stomach is closed against the honey stomach by a valve, so it is an impossibility that the contents of the true stomach should be vomited by the bees. He meant hereby the piece n, o (see p. 509), of the stomach mouth prolonged in the true stomach. These glands were ex- amined and described by Siebold, and later Leuckart had the same opinion, that the royal jelly is secreted by glands. There are several different reasons against this theory. Sclninfeld still believes that the royal jelly is prepared in the true or chyle stomach of the breeding bees. To prove this he examined this named organ very carefully. We have seen that the piece, n, o, is by no means a valve, but has quite other functions. If the royal jelly is prepared in the true stomach, and should be vomited, this organ is no hindrance. First, the true stomach is compressed, and a moment later the honey stomach, so that the four lips spring into the honey stomach even to the opening of the pharynx. Now the true stomach is moi'e compressed, and its contents are emptied directly through the four lips into the pharynx and outer mouth without being mixed with the contents of the honey stomach. I called the royal jelly chyle. This may seem strange, because, with higher animals, the fluid in the stomach is called chyme, while chyle is a more digested chyme in that time when it is assimilated with the blood. But with bees it is quite different. Here all the digestion is done in the stomach, and the fluid goes through the walls of the stomach directly into the blood, while the intestines receive the indigestible part of the food only. So we see, if with higher animals the chyle is prepared in a lower part of the alimentary canal, with bees this is done in the true stomach, and the same, is called very correctly chyle stomach. So this chyle is the royal jelly ; to prepare it the bees eat honey, pollen, and water (water for the purpose to eat the pollen). The composition of this fluid is a quite fixed one, and this composition is different in preparing the food for queens, drones, or worker larva?. This food goes into the true stomach in the manner described. Here it is digested, at first to chyme and then to chvle ; the difference' in both is caused by the time only, how long the fluid is in the stomach. The fluid is again vomited into the cell in the above described manner. The queen and young worker larvas receive, we will November 29, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOUKNAL. 583 say, well-digested chyle, while the older the worker larvse growj'the shorter time will the Huid remain in the true stomach, or, in other word8, these lame receive chyme after the four days.— L. Stachelhavsen, Selma, Texas {American Apiculturist). (&fyai$ front tin gibes. Bramford Mills, Ipswich.— WM weather has caused bees to fly about a great deal. I notice fourteen stocks where bees were camping in pollen just as if it were spring-time. Early honey-flow in this season good from Trifulium incarnatum, more than 100 acres within four miles. This lasted up to about June 8th; since that time not more than a week in which bees brought home any surplus. My ten hives averaged 27 lbs. — C. E. Hitchcock. Longhor.tlet/, Northumberland, Nor. lWi. — As regard- ing the Morpeth Association, I do not think there has ever been one on foot, but there might be an Association started, as there is a large number of bee-keepers round about. I, however, hope that some of the Morpeth people will have given you all information required, and I trust that such a thing will be started to encourage our fancy. — Chas. Bell. Bury St. Edmunds, Nov. 26th. — I am glad to Bay I have a large garden, so am devoting a good space to bee- plants. I am wintering thirteen stocks which have been well fed, and none have less than :20 lbs. of stores, so that I hope to see them safe and well in the spring. I drove twenty-two condemned sleeps at the end of Sep- tember, and made them into seven strong stocks, and the weather of last month gave a grand opportunity for feeding them up. — W. St. Ct. O. Eallinacurra , Co. Cork, Xor. 19th. — The echoes from the hives are for the, time of year extraordinary. Bees are working on the ivy with ceaseless energy every favourable opportunity, and have continued to do so since my last almost without intermission. All the hives still contain a large amount of brood due to natural stimulation, and all my colonies that were weak enough in September are now quite populous. The temperature of the air is very high, and quite spring-like. Thrushes are in full song, that for November is most unusual. \ln following out your ' Hints for the doubling of colo- nies ' in Oct. 11th I had perfect success without the loss of a bee ; all my previous attempts in that way had been a signal failure, and was often disgusted at seeing a hive that I had attempted to strengthen nothing stronger, and thousands of bees killed through fighting. Heretofore I had not the ' know how.' — Johx J. Smyth. The Mall House, Lismore, Nov. 23rd. — Now the si :asi i) i . a bad one enough, is over, I think it time to send you an ' echo,' and 1 wish it were a somewhat more lively one. Still, with me, things might easily have been worse. I began badly, losing three stocks, in spite of all my care, in the spring. This left me with eleven bar- hives which increased by swarming to fourteen; but of these, I am sorry to say, two have perished from queen- lessness within the last few weeks and during my absence from home. This leaves me now with twelve bar-frame hives, of which I am sure one will not survive the winter, and five skeps. I had only two skeps at the beginning of the season. So much for hives. With regard to honey we began well. At end of May a couple of stocks had mounted to the second storey and filled a good many sections, but after that things went very slowly. Still I got lyO perfect sections, and 61 lbs. of extracted honey, from my eleven hives ; roughly speak- ing, an average of about 19 lbs. per hive. As a matter of fact I got the bulk of this honey from about six or seven hives, the others doing little more than keeping themselves going owing to swarming. The weather is extraordinarily mild for the time of year, and to-day all the hives were very busy carrying in lots of pollen. We have not had a single touch of frost ; in my garden I have purple and lavender clematis in bloom, polyanthus, wallflowers, carnations, roses of all sorts, Christmas roses, pentstemons, violets, poppies, and many other flowers. But of course any night may see the end of all this. I noticed this season in some of my hives that the bees were miserably small; in one particularly they were almost like flies. I suspect your correspondents who attribute small bees to badly nourished grubs are in the right, as it was certainly not due to old combs with con- tracted cells. I never much believed the latter theory, as 1 have seen swarms of splendid-sized bees out of horrid black old combs in skeps. I have had more work this season than in a good year, and have fed liberally, but still 1 shall think myself very lucky if I bring nine bar- frame hives and three skeps through the winter. 1 hear already of numbers of colonies dying out. Here, where the idea of feeding is altogether too much of a new- fangled notion to be believed in, the loss will be immense. — 1e attended to. and those only of personal interest nil! be answered in this column. John Sitart. — Honey-yielding Plants. — 1 . The names of plants inclosed are many of them useless as bee-flowers. The best are borage, limnanthes, mignonette, corn- flower, and sunflower, the remainder are valueless to the bee-keeper. 2. Excluder-zinc, when placed in the body of the hive, very much impedes the work of the bees. It is a proper ambition of the bee-keeper to discover the queen when necessary, and we should recommend you not to consider this operation as im- possible. 3. We see no reason why your stocks, having four frames covered with bees, should not pass through the winter, provided they have a sufficiency of stores. The mildness of the weather induces your bees to take occasional flights. J. W. Harrison. — Wasps. — In ordinary seasons, in the month of October, a change seems to come over the spirit of wasps; they appear, then, to change their nature and to be less savage and spiteful. About that time they are evidently affected with the approach of the cold seasou, when their instinct teaches them that their further attention to their young will be of no service. Upon the first attack of frost they all perish, except the few females reserved to the following spring for the reproduction of the species. The wasps you have noted in the tree-trunk, protected by their position from the inclemency of the weather, have not yet been touched by the cold ; but it is unusual to 534 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [November 29, 1888. find a wasps' nest in full working order so late in the season. U. P. 0. — Making Sugar-cake. — Instructions for making- ■sugar-cake will be found in Modern Bee-keeping and in Mr. Cowan's Guide-book. Treacle is not a desirable wintering food for bees. E. G. — The sugar-cake forwarded is too hard for the bees to use. When properly made it should, when rubbed between the finger and thumb, be as yielding as granulated honey. The moisture has been driven out of it. The sugar forwarded, if made in accordance with the recipe in Mr. Cowan's Guide-book, should have produced a serviceable sugar-cake. C. S. T. — Moving Hires from England to Scotland. — In moving hives great distances three principal points are to be attended to : 1 , the rigidity of the frames ; 2, sufficiency of ventilation to prevent the suffocation of the bees; and, o, a watchful eye over them through- out the transit, more especially during the changes of conveyance. The first may be attained by screwing strips of wood across the frames, the second by cover- ing the tops of the hives with perforated zinc or canvas, and we may trust you for the third. T. M. D. — Uniting. — The bees shoidd not be disturbed at the present time ; uniting should have been done a month ago, it must now be postponed to next season. See that your stocks have a sufficiency of food to last them well through the winter. Received from Mr. James Saddler, confectioner, For- far, a sample of the cream candy for feeding bees manu- factured by him, The sample weighs about 4J lbs., and is 10 x 6 inches ; and this size is recommended by him as it will cover the ordinary winter nest. In using it two sticks § inch square should be laid across the frames under the slab : this will enable the bees to consume it rapidly, as they can get to the whole face at once. If any other size is preferred, put the slab into a clean pan and make it as hot as you can hold the finger in ; it can then be poured into any form of mould, and it will again become firm. If a small piece is worked between finger and thumb it will be seen how similar it is to granulated honey. We consider that this candy is equal in merit to Good's candy, and it is sold at a very reasonable price. business ^Directory. f-*H HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 25Ga Hotwell Boad, Bristol. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. BrjRTT, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Boad, Beading. Wben & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin, Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Camiola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sonb, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godman, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Keht * Co., 23 Paternoster Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents : — ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Malion, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BALDWIN, S. J.. Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford, EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon, MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wlgston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Wensuni Street, Norwich. RUDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail' way Bookstalls. WITHLNSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L., 130 High Street, Lowestoft. THE British Bee-keepers' Association Established 1874. President: THE BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS THE Committee appeal to Bee-keepers, Manufacturers of Bee-keeping Appliances, and others desirous of promoting' our Home Industries, to hecome Annual Subscribers or Donors to any Special Branch of the Association's work. Subscriptions, 5s. and upwards per annum. Life Members, £5. The Association carries out its work by — The holding of Annual Exhibitions ; Assisting County Associations ; Sending out Lecturers and Experts ; The publication of Literature relating to the best methods of Bee-culture; The disposal of Bee-produce, &c, &c, &c. Secretary: John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. London : Printed by Strangewats & Sons, at their Printing Office, Fields, in the County of Middlesex i and Published for the Proprietor Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., in the Parish of St. Giles's-in-the- by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in the same county.— Not. 29, 1888. Communication* to the Editor to be addrested ' Stranoewavb' Pbintinq Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 337. Vol. XVI.] DECEMBER 6, 1888. [Published Weekly.] ^fcitnrial, jjofes, &t, IN THE DARK AGES. It is with bee-keeping- as with many other arts; a study of its early history shows its exponents and votaries were believed to possess some peculiar power by the aid of which they practised their craft. The high - priests of every idolatry, from Baal-worship to Mumbo-jumboism, have been ever eager to assume the garb indicative of the possession of uncanny power, which an ignorant people were but too ready to clothe them. Given ignorance, groping along in the dark, the mind, prone enough to give a dreadful superstitious shape to every strange thing it stumbles across, and im- posture is, by this state of things, almost courted. You have, indeed, a highly charged soil ready for the first charlatan who chooses to assert the possession of super- natural gifts, to drop his seeds in. Here, at this day, near the dawn of the twentieth century of civilising Christianity, a man needs but to claim the holding of some secret power, to be at once surrounded by a crowd of believers who present him with a earie blanche of credulity. Be he a quack doctor in the market-place with a special pill, a spirit-rapper in the drawing-room, or a thought-reader in the palace, he shall not lack followers, who even persist in believing him endowed with superhuman gifts in spite of his denying protesta- tions, supposing him honest enough to discard, or modest enough to decline, the idea that he is not as other men. Ignorance, credulity, and rank superstition, are an inter- weaving trinity which have pervaded the dark ages of civilisation — and of bee-keeping. They still stalk about amongst us. Old notions cling with such wonderfid pertinacity to our art, even to this day, that it is difficult to shake them off. We have skeppists who ' won't have no science ' using section-crates on Hat-topped skeps ; we have, too, educated men who don't believe any good is got from contemporary bee-literature, after having learnt what little they know of it as a science from bee periodicals (but who are not slow to profit by the science of the past). Then there are sundry survivors of the Kmabto race. These show that such old men of the sea would throttle scientific bee-keeping, if light were not its mainstay and truth its sheet-anchor. Bee-keepers of long standing, who ought to know better — Heaven help them !— still adhere to the tradition that a start in bee-keeping must be made by a gift of bees, if one is to succeed with them (we can conceive of the proposed recipient holding this view) ; or that gold must be the price of a swarm (shrewd old bee-keeper !). Ting, tang, with kettle and pan, is to him not a claim to ownership, but a mystery handed down from his fore- elders, therefore not to be called in question. The bees also recognise in him the true bee-master, indeed, and will not sting when he is nigh ; but let the unsuspecting stranger enter within his gates in his absence, and, nous avom change tout cela, a sentinel instantly proceeds to welcome him by administering its customary subcu- taneous tribute. Should there be a death in the family, the bit of black crape must be fastened to the skep, the sad news must be whispered to the bees at night, or they will surely pine and die. If the affection of the bees for the defunct have been of a lively nature, perchance they may dispatch a delegation to accompany the dear de- parted and bring back a token that all passed off well, in the shape of a resinous exudation from the coffin, surely if — ' Imperial Cassar, dead, and turned to clay, Might stop a hole to keep the wind away,' a souvenir may serve to stop up a slit in a skep ? Francois Burnens, the assistant of Huher, is reported to have compelled his bees to show sympathy with a bereaved family by turning the hives topsy-turvy. Hobbs, seated in his ingle-neuk, reads his marvelful bee-book to his sleepy wife till Homer himself nods ; what wonder if he takes all he reads as fact without metaphor, and believes his bees weird little things possessed of powers far beyond the realms of reason? Maraldi's slug is stung to death, whereupon poet Evans informs us — ' The indignant host Lay the pierced monster breathless on the ground, And clap in joy their victor pinions round,' — poetic license run riot. The fact is, we really know so little of absolute truth about our favourites, that active imagination surrounds them, in which many theories (absurd and otherwise) find a sweet sustaining medium. Tell the enlightened bee-keeper of to-day that by holding the breath one becomes sting - proof, and in- stantly a credulity takes possession of the mind, which only semi-suffocation and sharp stings can displace. An American writer — Miner — coolly disposes of the whole question of scientific research, by evidently concluding that ni ithing further is needed after reading his book : — ' The curtain has been raised,' says he, ' and man has be- held enough for man to know. As the wisdom of God is past finding out, so is the instructive wisdom of the little bee — a direct attribute of the Architect and Creator of all animate and inanimate nature — beyond the pale of human knowledge.' Further on in his bee-book we are informed, that ' a thousand years hence darkness and mystery will hang over this subject, aud man will behold and wonder, but to fathom the secrets of their intuitive wisdom he never will be able ; ' and, almost immediately, in order to allay a natural curiosity, Mr. Miner presents us with the dogma that the sex of workers is neither male nor female ! This blind leader of the blind, this 586 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [December 6, 1888. spreader of error, has the audacity to again venture into tlie regions of prophecy, and tells us ' there hare been so many tinkers at work of late years in forcing bees out of their natural habits, that it would not be surprising if ihe whole race should become extinct before the be- ginning of the next century.' We have thus only about a decade in which we may indulge in our hobby. In his day no two kinds of pollen were stored in the same cell, and he places beyond our pale of knowledge the why and wherefore of bees being able to distinguish one kind of pollen from another. His book, as a whole, intended as ' a light shining in a dark place,' is a parcel of egotistical errors enunciated with all the assumption and self -opinion of a Dogberry. It is pleasing, in passing, to read that Father Langstroth said, thirty years ago, ' How many superstitions, believed in by intelligent persons, might be easily explained if it were possible to ascertain all the facts connected with them.' These superstitions, however, in many cases hold the field. We have Virgil with his queen-bee — ■ ' God-like to behold, Her royal body shines with specks of gold And ruddy scales.' We have Shakespeare with his ' king and officers of sorts ; ' and Bagster (' what a falling off was there ! ') next giving us the queen and her high state officials. To-day we have a hive-government not unlike our own constitu- tion. Truly, the history of bee-keeping is highly ^sym- bolical of progressive political government. We have had the erroneous teaching that the queen is a despotic ruler, always attended by the twelve apostles, the chain uniting her to her subjects being linked by affection ; and again, in storing, we are told, ' If the cells are already half-filled, they are covered with a kind of cream, which always rises to the top, and pre- vents the honey from running out of the combs; which, as I have told you, are placed horizontally in the hive.' Cannot you perceive a bee busy with her mandibles, boring a small hole through the cream ? Huber has discovered the ears to be in the mouth, for he stopped the mouths of several bees with paste and set them at liberty, after which he found that ' they were insensible of every odour.' Of swarming, ' some people say the noise is occasioned by the queen, who makes a speech to her subjects before she leads them out. Others say that she rouses them with a land of trumpet, to give them courage for the undertaking.' Spies bring to the queen ' a report of the results of their search, whereupon her majesty sends some of her officers of state to prepare the place for her reception.' The queen only lays royal eggs every third day. The aforesaid Bagster tells us in his book that ' there are two descriptions of males — one not bigger than the workers, supposed to be produced from a male egg laid in a worker-cell ; ' and that ' the Homeric maxim, that " the government of many is not good," is fully adopted and vigorously adhered to in these societies.' What was written by Bagster in 1834 holds good in our time, and is pertinent: — 'I have universally found the lower classes of people adverse to all instruction in the management of their bees ; their fathers, grand- fathers, and so on up to Noah, followed this or that method, and therefore it must be good. All innovation is dangerous, and considered as infringing the sanctity of antiquated customs.' Nutt tells us on no account are we to drive our bees, it is a ruinous practice, and he demurs to the dictum that the old queen invariably goes with a first swann, but now and then, at her royal pleasure, she sends out a junior queen, herself remaining regnant at home. So it is, romance and absolute invention of detail (to call it by no other and stronger term) have taken the place of a plain narrative of facts as observed by the early writers. Some of their works are intensely amusing reading, such as the Female Monarchy of the Rev. John Thorley, who states that a princess is not only proclaimed queen but crowned, The dark ages of bee-keeping have been prolonged. The gloom has been intensified by the child-like imagery and babble of some of those we are pleased to call the ' early fathers.' For a whole century — up to the time of Langstroth, in point of fact — the bee-keeper has had to feed his mind on literature not at all unlike the contem- poraneous rubbish the science of chemistry had foisted upon it — an olla-podrida of astrology, witchcraft, and fraud. Is it then a marvel, as regards bee-keeping, that crass ignorance and^superstition still lurk in dark corners of the mind; but foolish prejudices and beliefs still obtain as the heirlooms and traditions of the rustic bee- keeper, when we reflect on the pabulum of their ancestors' mind - searches after the mysteries of the craft ? USEFUL HINTS. Weatheb. — Reports from most parts of the count rj- speak of mild weather — of cowslips, primroses, geraniums, roses, mignonette, all in bloom and perfuming the air. And now we are in December and our 'bedding plants' are still blooming unprotected in the open air. Still there has been an almost entire absence of sunshine, plenty of fog, heavy raiu, and high winds. Our bees nave kept within their hives and we have kept within ours also. The weather has not been such as to entice either them or ourselves to wander forth over the green meadows and flowery fields. No doubt a change will soon come over our dream. In this climate of ours those who anticipate a perpetual spring will soon fiud out their mistake. Meanwhile we may well feel thankful that the winter is advancing and our bees are healthy and well provided with weather-proof hives and plentiful stores, so that when the cold blast comes, be it short or long, they and we have little to fear. The improvident, thoughtless, and careless ones will be the sufferers, or, rather, have been so already, for their bees, in too many instances, alas ! have crossed the Lethean river. Hives and Stands. — Hives, whether skep or frame, should be carefully looked over to see that all is sound, staunch, and rain-proof. Colonies saturated with moisture, from ill-fitting, chinky roofs or covers, can hardly be expected to live and flourish, and the rough winds, which have caused havoc amongst the ships on our coasts, will have tried to the utmost the soundness of many a hive-stand. Stands on four good stout legs we consider a necessity in this country, and hives should stand at a distance of 18 inches, at least, from the ground. Hives placed near the ground, whether on bricks or otherwise, absorb moisture, and too often the bees perish from this cause alone. Dryness is essential to safe wintering. Skeps may stand on bricks, four deep, and between the bricks and the floor-board strips of wood should be laid, the whole being protected by a cover I sufficiently large to carry off the drip. Food. — ' Amateur Bar-frame ' (1890, p. 509) sends us a correction. The ' confectioners' dust sugar,' which we advised for making Good's candy, is, he tells us, the ' iceing sugar ' of the trade. No doubt he is right, and we thank him for the hint. We have found it at our confectioner's under the name of ' dust sugar.' In case of starving colonies there is no better food for the winter months, and none more easily assimilated by the bees than this, viz., a mixture of iceing sugar and warm liquid honey, well kneaded together, to the con- sistency of stiff dough. We repeat this because it is very important that colonies short of food should not be allowed to perish. The prospective dearth of bees is likely to be sufficiently large without further additions. The plasticity of the food is one of its greatest merits, as it can be packed between the combs, in close proximity to the bees, or pushed down above the cluster. We have December P, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 587 no experience of the ' cream candy ' manufactured by- Mr. Saddler, and recommended in the last issue of the Journal, p. 584, but, from the description there given, we imagine that it is similar to ' Good's candy,' and is no doubt nn excellent food. Dysentery generally attacks colonies in ill-ven- tilated hives. The internal temperature becomes too high, breeding ensues, undue excitement and increased consumption of food follow; then comes severe weather — perhaps long-continued frost — the brood is deserted and perishes ; the abdomen, overcharged with food and distended to bursting, produces death in the adult bees ; the hive becomes indescribably foul by the evolution of injurious gases from decaying larvae and the putri- fyiug bodies of the defunct bees; and finally the colony perishes. Upward, or over-ventilation, is also a great evil ; the bees become cold, condensing vapours bedew the combs, rendering the temperature of the hive still colder ; the bees are compelled to consume large quantities of food for heat -producing purposes ; cold weather prevents their exit from the hive for cleansing flights, and with distended, bursting abdomen they perish miserably. Alas ! alas ! if only bees and men could maintain the happy medium and keep in the via media. Upward ventilation, if any, should be insensible ; plenty of warm covering above, open entrances and ventilation below, no disturbance, weather-proof and well -protected hives, abundance of wholesome food, a fair amount of popula- tion on few combs, young queens, and all will be well. Snow. Enemies. — Brush snow from the hives ; shade entrances from the sun's rays while snow is on the ground ; be on your guard against the bees' enemies, and — Rest and be thankful. Diplomas. — The American Bee-keepers' Association has decided to issue diplomas to experts in apiculture, after due examination, on a similar plan to that estab- lished in England, finding it desirable that those who aspire to the charge of apiaries should possess a public guarantee of proficiency in all things appertaining to apiculture. We sincerely congratulate our Canadian (for Canada is to be included) and American brethren on their decision. Nothing, according to our belief, has tended more towards the popularising and extension of apiculture in these realms than the sending forth of qualified men to the remotest parts of the country to teach the art of bee-keeping to the sons of toil as well as to other classes. The work of the American expert will, however, differ in some respects from that of the British. Its object, we apprehend, will not be so much philan- thropic as utilitarian, and advantageous to the already established apiarist. Skill and ability in the management of large apiaries, with an eye to profit, will be the chief desiderata. Cyprians and Syrians v. Italians. — Five years ago, in delivering an opening address to the ' Eastern Bee- keepers' Convention ' (U.S.A.), Mr. Thompson, its Presi- dent, reported that, ' His daughter, who had manipu- lated his bees, was greatly in favour of the Cyprian and Syrian bees. She finds them,' said he, 'much gentler to handle, and more easy to get off the combs. She can manipulate at the rate of ten colonies of these races to seven of the Italians. Four Cyprian colonies yielded 297 lbs. of honey ; four Syrian. 247 lbs. ; four Italians, 142 lbs.' What would be said now to any one who should thus report ? And yet we believe, with gentle and proper management, the manipulation of one race ia as easy and practicable as that of another. Not that some races, and even colonies, are not more gentle and less easily provoked than others, but so much depends on the manner of doing the thing, and on surrounding circumstances, that we believe, and we do not speak without experience, Syrians and Cyprians can be as easily handled by those who understand them as blacks and Italians ; and we further believe that had either of these sadly-maligned races been the indigenous bees of this country, we should have heard glad pseans — songs of triumph — chanted in their praise. How many have given these beautiful races a full and fair trial ? How many have condemned them on hearsay evidence alone ? How many on a simple excited trial of one colony only? Yes, both in America and in England these beautiful and excellent races have been condemned almost without a trial. How many hybrid colonies have been mistaken for the pure races, and reported as possessing the vilest of tempers ? And we refuse to take the word of such men as Benton — men who have given their lives to the cause — because, forsooth, we think they speak from interested motives; or, in American phraseology, ' have an axe to grind.' Truly we English are a suspicious race. He woidd be a wise man who should forecast the future of the present much-vaunted race of Carniolana — yellow- banded or grey-banded — a decade hence ! Now they are more gentle, now they are more prolific, noio they are better honey-gatherers than any other race, now they are the ladies' bees, but what will they be ten, or even five, years hence ? Shall we venture a guess ? Either forgotten, or so thoroughly hybridised as to be termed the best stingers in existence. Or it may be so entirely absorbed into the English race as to be indistinguishable. >SVe transit gloria mundi. Probably they will have fulfilled one purpose — that of lining the purses of some, and depleting those of others. "Was it for this latter purpose that bees were created? We are told by the immortal Virgil that, ' from intense love of their king (queen), they will expose their bodies iu war and seek a glorious death by wounds ; ' also, that ' some, being led by these appearances, have said that the bees are endowed with a part of the Divine mind.' And this, that we may ' grind our axes,' and feather our nests. Truly, this is a realistic age, an age in which the 'main chance' must be looked to, an a^e in which the 'almighty dollar' must and will prevail. Already we have lived long enough to doubt the truth of that saying of Seneca, 'Si ad opinionem ii:as nunquam eris dives.' All experience tends to prove the contrary. So let us at once strike out the ' nunquam.' Politics. — We have no desire to enter upon tho ' politics ' of bee-keeping, but we commend to the notice of our readers an excellent article entitled ' County Associations and the B. B. K. A.' in the pea-keepers' Record for December, just to hand. Without inter- fering, we may perhaps ask the question, 'What would happen if the B. B. K. A. were to remodel itself on the lines of the Royal Agricultural Society of England ? ' Surely County Associations are sufficiently established to be able to stand by themselves P There in no affiliation of County Agricultural Associations to the ' Royal.' The Honey"-Bee and its Work. — Professor Miall opened in the Leeds Philosophical Hall, on Saturday, a series of lectures in which various scientific subjects are to be treated from a scientific standpoint, by a most in- teresting address on ' The Structure of the Honey-Bee. ' The topic coidd not have been more timely, for in the library of the Museum the Leeds Naturalists' Society was holding an exhibition of bees, honey, hives, and many other things calculated to instruct and to please apiarians. The lecture theatre was well filled by natu- ralists and others concerned in bee-culture. With the assistance of illustrations in great variety, Professor Miall described in detail all that the microscope has revealed as to the structure of the honey bee, whose life and work were concisely sketched, the review receiving additional point from the introduction of some highly suggestive incidents drawn from the eventful career of the humble bee. 588 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [December 6, 1888. THE ANATOMY OF THE HONEY-BEE. Prof. Cook gives us a Talk on Bees' Legs. Bee'* hind l«g, magnified Fiff. 1. In the following articles, giving with accurate illustrations the anatomy of the honey-bee, I shall spare no pains to secure accuracy, both in description and illustra- tions. I will first give attention to the legs of bees ; and in the present article to the posterior legs, prefacing my article with the remark that no author or writer, so far as I know, has done the subject complete justice, either with pen or pencil. All students of natural history now believe that organs of animals have been modified to adapt them to the uses to which they are put . Thus in all animals organs most aged are most modified, and so most useful in describing and classifying the animals. Hence the bee - keeper, knowing how important the hind - legs of the worker-bees are in the bee economy, would expect them to be greatly modified ; while the scientist, noting the extreme modification, would feel as certain that they had important and varied uses in the life-work of the bee. The leg of the worker-bee, like that of many other insects, consists of nine joints. The first joint next to the body (Fig. 1*) is triangular, or, rather, sub-conical, in form ; short, and covered with compound or pollen- gathering hairs, and is called the coxa. This fits into a similarly shaped cavity on the under side of the bee's thorax — the coxal cavity — and thus forms the articu- lation of the leg with the body. The second joint is in the form of a truncated cone ; is about as long as the coxa, but smaller, and is also covered with compound hairs. This is the trochanter. The third joint is known as the femur, is much the same in form as the tro- chanter, but, is nearly three times as long, and is also beset with the pollen-gathering hairs. The fourth joint, known as the tibia, is flat, and triangular in outline, broadening greatly as it extends from the body. On the outside this has a smooth shallow cavity (Fig. 2) * We are indebted to the kindness of Mr. A. I. Root for the use of these illustrations.— Ed. which forms the upper part of the pollen-basket. This cavity is margined with stiff simple hairs, which ex- tend out and toward the end of the leg. They help to deepen the cavity. Those on the front edge of the leg curve toward the opposite edge. A few of these hairs at the end of the tibia are quite long, and curve so as to nearly reach the opposite edge of the leg. As will be noticed in the figure there are also a few compound hairs on the front edge of the tibia. On the inside, at the outer end of the tibia, is a row of spines which help to form the curious jaw- like apparatus seen at the joint, or articulation, between the tibia and next segment, or basal tarsus. In describing the jointed part of an insect, as leg, antenna, or body, we speak of one piece of each part as a joint, ring, or segment. The fifth joint, or first or basal tarsus, is very broad, and really sub-rectangular, as seen in Fig. 1. This broad form is peculiar to the higher genera of the family Apidcc, or bees. On the outside (Fig. 2), espe- cially on the superior back corner, the pollen-basket is continued, and also deepened by stiff hairs. Above, on the inside, is a sort of toothless jaw, which completes the in- teresting apparatus already referred to. On the inside, are nine rows of bright yellow stiff hairs. These act as so many combs to collect the pollen from the pollen-gather- ing hairs. We seldom catch and examine a bee in the working season that does not show some pollen -grains ad- hering to these beautiful combs. The four remaining tarsi are much as usual, as are the two claws and intervening pulvillus at the end of the foot. The claws are toothed, and the pulvillus is broad. The claws not only enable the bees to hold on to any rough substance, but also to hang in clusters, as seen when the bees swarm. The intervening pulvillus secretes a viscid substance which enables the bee to walk on a vertical sheet of glass. As often seen, bees find this difficult if the glass is powdered with dust. As already stated, the higher genera have the broad basal tarsus ; and the highest — notably Apis and Botnbus — the pollen-cavities. In the carpenter bees the basal tarsus is narrower, and alone possesses the cavity. In the cuckoo bees, which steal into other bees' nests, the basal tarsi are wide, but the pollen-baskets are wholly wanting. In the lower bees, those with short tongues, like Aiulreme, the first tarsus is narrow, as in other insects. The pollen-gathering, or compound hairs, are quite common among bees, often covering much of the Bee's HndUegj magnified. Fir- 2. December 6, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 589 tody, especially on the lower side. The peculiar jaw- like arrangement between the tibia and tarsus I find only in the worker-bee of the genus Apis, and in the queens and workers of the genus Bombus. This is as we should expect, if the function of these forceps is to grasp and convey the wax-scales to the mouth. The beautiful pollen-combs on the inside of the basal tarsus (Fig. 1) are peculiar to the hive bees, or bees of the genus Apis. Such bees need much pollen, and so are well provided with organs to collect it. While the stingless bees of Mexico have well-developed pollen- baskets, they are without the pollen-combs. The absence of the stiff spur — tibial spur — at the end of the posterior tibia is also peculiar to our honey-bees, or bees of the genus Apis. The compound hairs are peculiarly fitted to colled the pollen from the stamens of the (lowers, and to hold it till it is combed off by the beautiful combs already referred to. In some genera of our wild bees the pollen- brushes are very large on the femora, and in souie the pollen-baskets are on the trochanter and femur. The posterior legs of the queen are much the same form as those of the worker. They are large, but have not pollen -baskets, the highly developed hairs, the curious jaws and pollen-combs, which serve to dis- tinguish the worker. The drone has weak legs, with simple hairs; the tibia is more narrowed toward the femur, and the basal tarsus has rounded angles, Here we find no pollen-baskets, and the jaw-like joint is absent. The drone's legs are even simpler, or less modified, than the legs of the queen. We sci' how useful are the posterior legs of the worker- bees. They aid in walking ; they sustain an enormous weight when bees cluster; they gather, transfer, and carry the nitrogeuous food (the pollen ) and the propolis ; they grasp and carry forward the delicate wax-scales, and aid to clean off the pollen as the bee frees its legs of this substance when the latter is pushed off into the cells of the comb. There is no wonder, then, that these parts are useful in classifying this part of the great insect world. Thus we say, the higher bees have the broadened basal tarsus, and the pollen-gathering hairs. The genera Bombus and Apis, with the stingless bees, have the pollen-baskets well marked, while only the two genera, Apis aud Bombus, have the jaw-like joint, and only Apis the pollen-combs. The lower bees, like Andrerue, have all the tarsi narrow. As some of these Andrence look much like bees, and often steal into the hives to pilfer honey, it is well to know their peculiarities. In our next we will describe the anterior and middle legs Of the worker-bee, which are also very interesting. — A. J. Cook, Agricultural College, Mich. '(Gleanings). (To be continued.) Jforcip. BRAZIL. Among the various races of bees which I succeeded in collecting, there is one that I do not at all wish to see increased. This is the Trigonafiaoeola, a stingless bee, commonly called by the natives here ' Cagafbgo,' meaning, fire excrement. Not knowing what kind of an insect I had to deal with, I had not, when I went to remove them from their abode, taken any special precautions against their attacks, the consequence being that I shall have very good reasons for remembering the warm reception they gave me for the remainder of my life. In fact, my thoughts were so much taken up with the idea of adding yet another specimen to my bee collection that I was paying very little heed to the effects of their attacks when they flew at me at the commencement of my operations, until I felt compelled to take notice of their doings by reason of the effect they had upon my skin. At last I was obliged to conclude that if my new bees were deprived of the familiar sting, they were at all events supplied with a good set of teeth, of which they were making free use at my cost. My head and arms soon became covered with their bites. These, to make matters worse, were poisoned with a caustic liquid they are privileged to supply, and the effect was simply torture itself. But I refused to be beaten. Notwithstanding their furious darts at me, the nauseous smell of the liquid poured into my wounds, causing great pain, and the warlike sound of their peculiar buzzing round my ears, I stuck to my work until completed, and then lost no time in beating a hasty retreat from the scene of operations, taking my prize with me, but pursued for a long distance by my assailants. As soon as 1 had a chance, I applied fresh water to my wounds, thereby obtaining a certain amount of relief, but I felt far from well for several days afterwards. Later on, the skin on my arms and head became rusty, a- it were, by the action of the liquid used by the bees, aud peeled off in chilis. Notwithstanding all these drawbacks, I did not fail to attend to my bees, which 1 eventually placed, honey and all, into a box, which they soon filled with comb. The expeditiousness with which they did this was, iii my esti- mation, a compensation for their bad temper. Still, I was not Ion.' m discovering that they had more bad than good qualities, for, as soon as they found out that I had been feeding the other bees, they rushed out of their box or hive in great numbers, and straight- way made for the fed Btock, of which they were soon in full possession, by turning out their inhabitants. Nor were they satisfied with taking away every particle of honey they found iu them. Owing to the great heat t ley produced, the combs in the robbed hive began (o get soft, and in this condition they were carrying wax away as they would pollen. Upon another occasion when I transferred two stocks, they took advantage of their weak and confused state to turn them all out, and took possession of thsir hives. When I noticed this the robbing process was too far advanced to be of any practical use my stopping it, so I stood there observing how these bees, small as they were and without stings, could have the upper hand with the conrrnon races, three times their size and well armed. When bees belonging to the robbed stock returned home from the field, these Trigona flareola waited for them at the entrance with a most arrogant attitude, and compelled them to lay down their load then and there. I attributed the victory of these small bees over the others to the potent smell, sui generis, and, of course, also to their biting qualifications, which are most painful. I also discovered that, contrary to what their name, caga fogo (fire excrement), might lead one to suppose, this liquid is not emitted through the abdomen, but through their mouth. — E. Blondbt (translated from the Apiculteur of Paris). AUSTRALIA. Hunting Bees. — The wild bee of Australia differs little in size or appearance from our common horsefly, and is stingless. Most of the trees in that country are hollow, and it is in the cavities of the branches that the I s deposit their honey, at a considerable distance from the ground. It is of an aromatic taste, and chiefly gathered from the leaves and blossoms of the different trees that clothe the whole country, from the summits of the mountains to the sea-shore, with the exception of occasional plains, which are of rare occurrence. By the aborigines of Australia this honey is regarded as a great luxury, and it is very interesting to note with what saga- city they contrive to indulge their taste for it, searching- it out with infallible eyesight, and with amazing deli- 590 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [December 6, 1888. cacy of touch. Their method of finding- these natural hives, which are not numerous, is curious, not only from the fact that the most minute observation and the most delicate manipulations must have been required to enable the inventor of it to succeed, but also because it displays a knowledge of the natural history of an insect, such as I can venture to say a large portion of the civi- lised world does not possess. From the absence in many parts of the bush of Australia of flowers, the little native bee ma)' be seen busily working on the bark of the trees, and, unlike the bee of this country, which is ever on the move from flower to flower, it seems to be unconscious of danger. This may arise from the vastness of the solitudes in Australia, which are seldom or ever disturbed, except by a passing tribe, or by its own wild denizens, which are far from numerous. The bee is therefore easily approached, and the bright, clear atmosphere of the climate is peculiarly favourable to the pursuit. A party of two or three natives, armed with a toma- hawk, sally forth into the bush, having previously pro- vided themselves with soft white down from the breast of some bird, which is very light in texture, and at the same time very bluffy. With that wonderful quickness of sight which practice has rendered perfect, they descry the little brownish, leaden-coloured insect on the bark, and rolling up an end of the down feather to the finest possible point between their fingers, they dip it in the gummy substance which a peculiar sort of herb exudes when the stem is broken; they cautiously approach the bee, and with great delicacy of touch place the gummed point under the hind-legs of the bee. It at once adheres. Then comes the result for which all this preparation had been made. The bee, feeling the additional weight, fancies he has done his task, and is laden with honey, and flies off from the tree on his homeward journey, at not a great distance from the ground. The small white feather is now all that can be discerned, and the hunt al once commences. Running on afoot amid broken branches and stony ground requires, one would think, the aid of one's eye- sight; but with the native Australians it is not so. Without for a moment taking their eyes off the object, the}' follow it, sometimes the distance of half-a-mile, and rarely, if ever, fail in marking the very branch where they saw the little bit of white-down disappear at the entrance of the hive. Here there is a halt, the prize is found, and they sit down to regain their breath before ascending the tree, and to light a pipe, to which old and young, men, women, and children, are extremely partial. When the rest and smoke are over, with one arm round the tree and the tomahawk in the other, the black man notches the bark, and placing the big toe in the notches of this hastily constructed stair, ascends till _ he comes to where the branches cnnimence. Then putting the handle of the tomahawk between his teeth, he climbs with the ease and agility of a monkey, until he reaches the branch where last he saw the white-down disappear. He then carefully sounds the branches with the back of his tomahawk, till the dull sound as distinct from the hollow sound tells him where the bees are. A hole is then cut, and he puts his hand in and takes the honey out. If alone, the savage eats of the honey until he can eat no more, and leaves the rest. But if others are with him, he cuts a square piece of bark, and after having his part as a reward for his exertion, brings down a mass of honey and comb mixed up together, which, though not inviting, is greedily devoured by his partners below. SWITZERLAND. Those of the bee community who have been following the suggestions contained in the paper read at the last Quarterly Conversazione of the B.B.K.A., and the dis- cussion which ensued therefrom, bearing upon the rela- ive position of County and other Associations, can hardly fail to derive an additional amount of interest from their knowledge of the fact that a similar idea seems to be running in the mind of Swiss bee-keepers. It is certainly strange, if not an actual sign of the times, that the same want should have been felt in both countries almost simultaneously, as it will be seen from the following remarks made in the Swiss Revue Inter- nationale (T Apiculture of last month when commenting upon the result of the work done of late by a section of a bee Association. We proceed, therefore, to give a translation of our Swiss contemporary for the benefit of our readers : — ' Our Cote section has just held its autumn meeting at Begnins. The Chairman gave a summary of the work done from the beginning, and dwelt upon the objects they had in view. He urged the members to assist each other mutually, adding that that while assisting a neighbour, we can add to our own experience The number of members reaches already sixty, a very encouraging figure to start with ! But we question whether the fact of their being spread over a large district is not a drawback. In our esti- mation, if a section is to be in a position of rendering sub- stantial aid to our cause, it should consist of bee-keepers residing within a certain locality ; or if more than one locality be grouped together, they should be situated close to each other. They will then be able to hold friendly meetings, assist each other in various ways, club themselves together for the purchase of expensive utensils, journals, ;to buy wholesale when advanta- geous, and combine generally for the disposal of their honey, &c, &c. All these advantages are unobtainable when, like in the case of other sections, the members have to travel long distances if they wish to meet. To overcome these difficulties, could not sub-sections be started, each presided over by a member of the Com- mittee ? ' We will keep our readers informed of the effect these suggestions of the Revue are likely to have in Switzer- land ; in the meantime we will watch their development with interest. YORKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. A Committee Meeting of the above Association was held at the Church Institute, Leeds, on the 1st inst. In addition to others, there were present the Hon. Sec. of the Horsforth and Craven branches. Mr. C. Howes, the Secretary of the Hull branch, wrote explaining his absence. After the Hon. Secretary was authorised to make certain payments, a lively discussion took place on the respective merits of wooden-walled hives versus skeps for wintering bees in. Paint outside, damp within ; propolis inside versus damp without, that was the ques- tion ; whether ' to bear the ills we have, than to iiy to others that we know not of.' Mr. J. Clark led off the subject, and from his practical success in straw-walled hives over admittedly badly-built wooden ones, he spoke to much purpose. Advantages pro and con were well discussed, resulting in a proposal by Mr. A. P. C Burniston (Hon. Sec. Horsforth branch), carried nem. con., that Mr. W. Dixon, 5 Beckett Street, Leeds, be. instructed to construct for the Association a hive to be built of straw and some other material, which should contain at least ten standard frames, to be capable of supering, &c, the selling price not to exceed 15s. The Hon. Secretary, Mr. Grimshaw, next explained to the Committee the steps he had recently taken respecting the pending proposed changes in the constitution of the B.B.K.A. (opening up the counties to subdivision and opening the Committee of the B.B.K.A. to provincial representation). A unanimous vote of approval was taken of this matter, and it. was hoped that the hands of those gentlemen, who sacrificed so much for the benefit of the B.B.K.A., might be thus strengthened. December 6, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 591 (fforrcspcmbcitrc. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention it-ill be taken ofanonymoueeom. Hiuiticatians, and cor respondents are requested to write on one tide of the paper only, and give their full names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn o» separata pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shovos, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Boohs for Review, &c, must be addressed only to ' The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," cjo Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.* All business communications relating to Advertisements, io., must be addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, Jungs Langlcy, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements.) %* In order to facilitate reference. Correspondent*, when spsafeing oj any letter or query previously inserted, v-ill oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. MINORCAN BEES.— BARRICADING. TRACTING ENTRANCES. -CON- [1902.] I willingly respond to your question in last week's Journal, p. 574, on the characteristic supposed to be 'peculiar' to Minorcan bees of scientifically barricading their entrances in the autumn, and respectfully beg leave to say that the habit of barricading is by no means 'peculiar' to that particular race, although as a matter of fact they have, as far as I have observed this year, developed the characteristic in greater degree than any others. So long ago as January, 1879, that very able and observant apiarist, ' A Renfrewshire Beekeeper,' put on record, p. 177, vol. vi., B.B.J. , the following under the heading ' A Severe Winter:' — ' Towards the end of September I discovered the two side entrances of one of my strong Stewarton colonies, each five inches long, entirely barricaded with "walls of propolis;" and subse- quent examination of the entrances of friends' stocks showed how generally contraction with the same material had been adopted — our little favourites thereby display- ing the wonderful sagacity with which they are endowed in forecasting the weather. In the autumn of 1877 no such barricades were built, and a mild'winter followed.' My Minorcan stock barricaded its entrance, but not in the way suggested by your illustration, p. 573 ; they made a sheet of propolis extending from the bottom rail of the frame next to and parallel with the entrance, attaching it to the upper side of the entrance itself, and thence down to the floor-board, leaving about an inch in width of the entrance open, the same being about \ an inch high. A cast which had become queenless and had had two full combs of Minorcan brood given to it showed a desire to narrow its entrance, but apparently was not strong enough, and the entrance is now deco- rated with beads of propolis attached to its upper side at irregular distances from t-ach other. My heading to this paper will give an excuse for saying a few words on this particular 'cast.' As I have said, it became queenless, and two frames of Minorcan eggs and brood were given to it, but from these resulted a wretched fertile worker whose antics were amusing, to say the least, though they formed the subject of much anxiety and careful observation. In that hive there were at one and the same time, on one side of a beautiful worker comb, large numbers of unmistakable drone brood, numbers of sealed brood that by appearances could not be told from workers, and a number of queen- cells, several of which hatched out drones, of course. I say ' drones of course,' because I have never found a queen, and in the queen-cells I opened I found drones only. For the fun of it I have at this moment, 12.40 p.m., in a gleam of sunshine, opened this hive. There are about 1500 bees, chiefly drones, some brood of the puzzling type or types above described, and plenty of stores, chiefly due to feeding. If any one woidd like a few of the drones I will gladly send them all alive on immediate application. To all intents and purposes they (as a stock) are moribund, and I shall make no attempt to save them. My idea, when they first began to propolise the en- trance, was that they were making a, demonstration against what I will call the nitty theory of wide entrances for winter, and I thereupon looked around and found, in almost every instance, where the entrances had not been partially closed, that the bees were practically filling them with their bodies, scores being engaged in defend- ing the huge openings, and giving the idea that whole- some activity prevailed. This was, however, soon put to rights, and I have not now, to my knowledge, a single stock that has not its frames across the entrance, or that has an entrance way more than an inch wide and half an inch high. — C. N. Abbott, Southall, Dee. 3rd. P.S. — I hope to offer a few further remarks for your next on these subjects. — C. N. A. A COUNTY DOWN BEE GARDEN. [1903.] The pleasure was lately mine to visit the bee- garden of a succcessful amateur bee-keeper in the county of Down ; and as we Irish are generally supposed not to have kept bees till within the last few years, and even now to know and do little about them, I wish to tell your readers what I saw in this place. The time was on Michaelmas I lay last, when nearly everybody was busy feeding stocks preparatory to packing up for the winter. Mr. Paul M' Henry, the honorary secretary of the North-east of Ireland Bee-keepers' Association, met me by appointment at Dunmurry station, four miles on the Great Northern Railway from Belfast. The village of Dunmurry is worthy the notice of tourists, though it was once, and that not so Ling ago, a far more pictu- resque spot than it still must be admitted to be. The water yet splashes over the big wheel. How well I re- collect the numbers of pigeons t hat used to crowd the moss-grown roof of the mill ! The quaint old meeting - house -lands unchanged in its 'green,' where the dust of generations of sturdy Presbyterians rests. A fen' aged cottages retain their trim gardens, set full of old- fashioned flowers, the fine trees are as usual populated by noisy colonies of cawing rooks, and a remnant of the ancient earthwork, or ' dun,' from which the name is derived, can be still pointed out. But there are rows of freshly built brick houses, and many snug villas, which betoken that before long Dunmurry will be absorbed in the suburbs of the city of Belfast. From this a narrow byroad led us past some gentle- men's seats prettily situated in well-wooded grounds, and then a path took us to the bleach-green of Seymour Hill, where a Mr. Charley carries on the various pro- cesses of bleaching and finishing linen, the fields there- abouts being covered with a mantle of white webs like snow in summer; but there was no summer in 1883. Close by this we crossed the small river called the Lagan, every foot of fall in which throughout its course is utilised for manufactories of linen. SVe were then in the county of Down. Tliis flat valley of the Lagan, with its wide fields, its abundant trees, its well- cultivated fields, its neat dwellings with a general look of cleanliness and thrift over them, always reminds me, more than does any other part of Ireland, of a bit of English rural scenery. A little way down the tow-path of the canal which is here parallel to the river, and up a shady lane overhung by beeches and limes, and we reach our destination, where the faithful house-dog examines the visitor, and welcomes his master, and quickly fraternises with the former. The house of my bee-keeping friends is an antique, thatched farmhouse of the small proportions and plain exterior prevalent in the district, and is covered with tea-roses, pyrus japonicas, and cotoneasters. 592 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [December 6, 1888. After we had had a few minutes' rest and a refreshing glass of milk, Mr. M'Henry's brother joined us, and we moved towards the bees. The garden in which they are kept is close to the public road, only a whitethorn hedge intervening. This fence had latterly to be allowed to grow a couple of feet taller than it formerly was, in order to save persons while passing being hit in the face by the insects on their flight. Not long ago, the driver of a vehicle from Belfast, to whom modern bee-hives were a novelty, was passing with some passengers on his car to whom he was heard to remark, ' "What a queer place for a graveyard!' And his error was perhaps ex- cusable, there being forty-five hives standing in this half rood of ground, and all are painted white. The Messrs. M'Henry informed me that they have tried in their time many hives, amongst them being the Woodbury, the Renfrewshire, the Quinby, the treelog or rustic, the Pettigrew straw with supers, Abbott's Irish Combination, and the Anglo-German. This last was such an enormous affair that it now makes two good- sized hives after having been bisected. But most of those at present in use are 21 inches wide, and 19 inches high in front ; 2(3 inches deep, or long, from front to back, and 16| inches high at the back. These are made of inch deal, with double walls, packed, the frames being parallel with the front. The roof slopes from front to back, and is covered with calico and painted, which these bee-keepers, who took the hint from me, agree is the best of all protections against wet. Every hive is provided with a 'lift,' or super case of nine inches for summer use, but these had been all stored away previous to my visit. The legs of these hives are attached to the bottom board or floor, on which the hive is moveable. The flight-hole is twelve inches over the ground and the flight-board is nine inches deep. The porch is a simple saddle of two pieces of wood, and the doorwav is pro- vided with slides that allow of its being varied from half to nine inches. All the frames are of the Standard size of the B. B. K. A., which has been universally adopted in the north of Ireland. On them the Messrs. M'Henry have used distance pins, broad shoulders, "W. B. C. metal ends, and Abbott s wooden pegs, but for the future they intend doing without such aids, and spacing the frames by the eye alone. The 4J x 4| sections are the only size the brothers use ; their crates hold twenty-one, and they have both tin and wood separators. As to slotted dividers, they told me they could not give an opinion, not having had a fair season's work with them. Mr. P. M'Henry told me he used a paraffin lamp and melted wax to fix his founda- tion, and could do it quickly and securely ; he has some new appliances for the purpose, but prefers to stick in this, and in many other things, to the old plan. In the year 1887 the yield of these hives was 1100 pounds. They go in exclusively for comb honey, but the produce of the wretched weather of 1888 had been so poor that I found fast feeding in full swing. Seven hundredweight of sugar had already been given in syrup, and another hundredweight was ready to be made into candy, over the cakes of which enamel quilts will be placed on the frames. With Neighbour's Improved Canadian Rapid Feeder, it was found possible to get a starving stock to take twenty pounds of heavy syrup within the twenty-four hours. Both brothers spoke highly of its efficiency, and I had the gratification of seeing several on hives with the bees busy emptying them. They have also made use of the feeders of Ross of Stranraer, Raynor, Lonsdale, Simmins's New Rapid Dummy, and Meadows' Rapid, but think Neighbour's the best. Everything was being done to provide a plentiful commissariat and abundant winter clothing for their bees, the Messrs. M'Henry considering that if bees are kept comfortable with warm packing in the cold season they consume less stores, and hence they have every hive ' happed ' on the top of the frames with thick quilts and cushions, some of which were of chaff. The races of bees that they keep are the pure English black or brown, and a crossed Ligurian. These last are beautiful insects, as active, and nearly as bright in colour, as the pure Italian Alp bee. One or two of the stocks were pointed out to me as being of a very irascible nature. But though many hives were slightly inspected from the top of the frames, and bees were on the wing everywhere, there were no applications of their weapons to our hands and faces. While examining the hives a redbreast ap- peared and picked up earwigs from the inside as soon as the roofs were lifted off. This bird made its nest last springtime under the drooping fronds of an Aspidium fern growing in a pot in the greenhouse, and had its ' exits and its entrances ' by a hole through which the stem of a vine gains admittance. It was surprisingly tame, came when called ' Bobby,' and snapped up its delicacies with evident appreciation. The bee-garden is well stocked with trees and bushes of the large and small fruits, and quantities of arabis, crocuses, and wallflowers, are specially cultivated in it for the spring delectation of the inhabitants of the hives. I noticed that water was supplied to the bees in a large galvanised iron trough filled with sawdust, and that they were largely availing themselves of it. In a corner of the garden is a wooden bee-house, like the one described and figured at p. 57 of Cheshire's Practical Bee-keeping, published about twelve years ago, and made to hold eight skeps. It is now converted into a handy store for odd frames, sections, crates, feeders, smoker, packing, &c. Among its varied contents I saw a queen-nursery frame, containing twelve cages for queen-raising ; it is almost identical with one figured and described at p.. '306 of Cheshire's bees and Bee-keeping, vol. ii. It had not yet been used, but I learned they intended trying it next season. Here also was a home- made winter-passage cutter, about the need of using which my friends and I gave no opinion. Having gone the rounds of the hives, old and new, and discussed their points, and smoked our pipes in the greenhouse, where, by the way, was a perfectly grown specimen of the exquisite fern Todea superba, we were called in to tea at which the venerable mother of the home presided. Mrs. M'Henry chatted about her sons' employments, and bee-fancying as their profitable re- creation, in a way that showed she entered most cordially and intelligently into them all. Though past fourscore years, she is surprisingly active, and in full possession of all her faculties. She exhibited to me a large bell-glass made more than half a century ago in Belfast for super- ing on a flat-topped straw skep, and she described the anxiety it caused her to get it home in safety for her husband, and how she had to carry it the whole distance in her own hands. Such a glass would hold nearly twenty pounds of honey in the comb. Her sons have evidently inherited their father's tastes. Mr. Paul M'Henry, sen., was one of the intelligent and advanced bee-keepers of his day, and kept from ten to fifteen hives. And, all honour to his memory, he never brim- stoned a single stock. Exactly such another, or the same, big bell super on the flat-topped skep, is figured and described in a Survey of the County of Down by the Rev. John Doubourdieu, and published in 1802. This writer mentions 'the supe- rior management of bees with as much skill as humanity' by two County Down gentlemen, who practised this 'method of obtaining honey without killing the bees.' Mr. M'Henry, sen., also nadired straw skeps by means of bottom boxes, and afterwards used Nutt s Collateral hives and square box-hives with fixed frames. Portions of some of these I saw preserved as memorials of the past. On their well-stocked bookshelf they have a curious volume in which is bound up a quaint tract in rhyme, December 6, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. m entitled, The Panorama; or, A Journey to Minister. A serio-comic poem, irith historical, national, and natural sketches of Ireland, from the days of Queeti Bess to the Forty-seventh year of the present reign. Printed in 1807, in Dublin, by J. J. Varrick. In this production there occurs a notice of bee-keeping which shows that more than eighty years ago Ireland was not so far behind the world. The lines are as follows : — ' To these, and rarer qualities, Tim adds the skill and care of bees ; In spring observes their swarms and hives 'em, In autumn suffocates or drives 'em ; If sick in winter — Tim, they tell us — Their fluxes stops without Amellus.' Here also I noticed Langstroth's standard work, Taylor's book, Dzierzon's Rational Bee-keeping, Cheshire's Prac- tical Bee-keeping. Modern Bee-keeping, the British Bee Journal, the American Bee Journal, and the Bee-keeper's Record; and I had every reason to know that the volumes had been often and carefully studied. I was next taken to a spacious workshop, lately fitted up in the farmyard, for making the various appliances they require, and where there were stored up piles of super covers, packages in paper of empty sections and crates, frames, boxes for carriage of honey, and the et ceteras of a regular bee-farm, though bee-keeping is only the occupation of the M'llenrys' after hours, one brother being a diligent farmer, and the other engaged in a linen warehouse in Belfast. Having some time to spare before starting to catch my return train, I was conducted over the farm, and introduced severally to the colts, horned cattle, prize pigs and sheep, poultry and rabbits, and, last of all, to the loft devoted to a colony of homing pigeons which are found very convenient for bringing messages from Belfast. B Another glance round the charming scenery of the district, witli its peeps of snug farmsteads and rich mer- chants' mansions, the graceful spires of Drumbeg and Drumbo churches, the County Antrim mountains, and County Down hills, the tall factory chimneys of Lambeg, and the time has arrived to say good-bye. I shake hands all round, and Mr. Thomas M' Henry gives me a packet containing what he calls some ' Irishman's cut- tings,' i. e.t rooted plants of Pelargoniums, which I bring away as keepsakes along with pleasant recollections of my father's, my own, and the bees' friends at Bally- skeagh. — H. \V. Lett, M.A., Aghadery Glebe, Lough- brickland, Co. Doivn. COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS. [1904.] I have read with interest the correspondence that has appeared in the B. B. Journal respecting the above. It is evident that the time has arrived for radical reform in County Bee-keepers' Associations— that is, they must be worked on an entirely new basis, or inevitably collapse ; at least such is the case with the Association to which I belong. In your last issue, Mr. White makes mention of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire being amalgamated, — a proposal with which I heartily agree, and, with your permission, will offer a few suggestions for the working of the same. My idea is that a central Society should he formed for the two counties, which could be called ' The Cambs and Hunts Bee-keepers' Association,' branches of which should be established throughout the two counties. Each branch, or district Association should have a secretary, treasurer, committee, and, if thought desirable, a president. It has been sug- gested that such Associations should be affiliated to the ' British,' and should hold local)annual shows, — to which I strongly object. To be worked properly a district Association ought to consist of not more "than twelve parishes, to which the requisite affiliation fee would be a serious item, and the prizes offered at their annual show must necessarily be few and small. But that is not all. The whole of the prizes, both money and medals, would to a certainty be, year after year, swept off by the same very limited number of persons, which would be hard and unfair on those who, for causes beyond their own control, are placed at a discount, and who would therefore be heavily handicapped by the regular clique of prize-winners; this would not be encouraging for new members to join, nor for old ones to continue their sub- scriptions, and would, in my opinion, be courting failure from the commencement. I would therefore suggest as an amendment that each branch should contribute a stipulated amount to the Central (Cambs and Hunts) Society, which should be affiliated to the ' British,' whose fee need not necessarily be limited to one guinea. One grand annual show could then he held alternately in Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire. But before dis- cussing the functions of the Central Society, let us see what advantage there is to he gained by forming a District Association. 1. Early in the year each member could forward to the secretary, or a committee appointed for the purpose, a list of bee-keeping requisites he might require for the following season ; each one would then get his goods at wholesale price, and everyone combining would be mutually benefited — simply an extension of the co- operative principle. 'J. The Society would be able to fix the price of honey ; so that, instead of underselling one another, as is at present too often the case, every one in the district would have a chance of selling his produce at a re- munerative figure ; they could in fact practically mono- polise the local honey trade. Members having honey for sale could communicate with the secretary, stating quantity and description. The whole of the honey within the limits of the District Society could be easily collected to one spot, which has never been practicable with County Associations. The secretary could then communicate with wholesale dealers with a view of dis- posing of the whole in one lot, or if necessary a qualified member coidd be sent to Lundon to ascertain the wants of dealers and prices offered. The Society would thus procure the best possible market fur its members' pro- duce. I see no difficulty in the way of this. Excursion trains are run from all parts during summer and autumn, the fare for the return journey being in most cases con- siderably less than the ordinary single fare, and the train timed so as to give excursionists a long day in town. A committee meeting could be held as often as neces- sary. At the end of the season a general annual meeting should be held, which meeting should commence with a first-rate supper, to which members of other branches of the central society should be heartily invited. The secretary should then give a report of the year's working of the society ; all should be clear and above-board, and beyond all suspicion. The business of the society having been dispensed with, the rest of the evening could be occupied with a general conversation on matters apper- taining to bees and bee-keeping; and if the same could be interspersed with an occasionally lively song and a moderate amount of smoke, so much the better — a sort of free-and-easy. I feel confident that a district society worked somewhat on the above lines could be made self- supporting, and that every member would be mutually benefited. The central society would then have prac- tically nothing to do but collect subscriptions from those who might be induced to contribute, and arrange annual shows. At present, one who wishes to exhibit must either show against a labourer, who may be working for 10s. or 12s. per week, and own, perhaps, four or five stocks, or against those owning large apiaries, and who devote most of their time to bee-keeping; this wants altering. There should be at least four times the present number of classes, and as many open classes as possible. 594 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [December 6, 1888. The society should hold their annual meeting in connexion with the annual show; a public luncheon should be pro- vided. The business of the Association having been considered, papers relating to bee-keeping should then be read and discussed. A report of the papers read, and the discussion thereon, would be published in local newspapers and read by everybody, which I am inclined to believe would do more to popularise bee-keeping than any attempt that has been previously made by County Associations. The above is a hurriedly written letter which I have not time to elaborate, but trust that the suggestions it contains will be freely criticised by others, especially prominent bee-keepers in Cambridge- shire and Hunts. — A. Shabp, The Apiary, Huntingdon. THE BKITISH AND COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS. [1905.] I cannot agree with vour correspondent, Mr. C. N. "White (1896), that from 'the perusal of many of the late issues of the B.B.J, it is evident something is wrong with regard to the connexion of the Central and the County Associations.' I have followed this corre- spondence, and fail to find that anything has been published tending to show that the relationship is in any way unduly strained. Mr. White states that the Central Society does 'not do as much as they might to foster the growth and promote the success of the county associations.' May I ask whether Mr. White, as a county secretary, has at any time made suggestions either at the quarterly meetings or to the Committee of the B. B. K.A. which would tend to benefit the county associations, to which a deaf ear has been turned by the Central Society ; and further, will Mr. White explain what he con- siders the Central Society with its limited income might do to further the interests of the county asso- ciations which it does not do already ? As a member of the Central Society I believe our Committee are most anxious to do all they possibly can to foster the growth of and assist county associations. No one, I am sure, regrets more than themselves their inability to respond to the many calls which are made upon them for assist- ance. Mr. White also states ' half the committee should consist of county secretaries or representatives.' Now, what do we find from the last Annual lieport? No less than five county secretaries are members of the Committee, the sub-Committee for county associations' work having two of the most able amongst them; and further, we have it on record that at the last election two other county secretaries were nominated, but declined to serve, one ex-secretary being elected. There is not much to be said in reply to Mr. A. D. Woodley : he has given us two long epistles consisting of all representation and no taxation. No doubt, as Mr. White states, there is room for improvement. We have not yet reached the 'millen- nium.' By all means amend the constitution where it needs amendment, but in doing this let us be careful not to destroy, but to strengthen, its power for doing further good work. When this is done let us hope that we shall still find those well-known names on the Com- mittee of the B. B. K.A. (to whom the bee-keeping industry owes a debt of gratitude) which now appear, together with the names of Mr. A. Woodley and other prominent bee-keepers enrolled amongst the list of subscribers to its funds. — A Membeh of the Central and of a County Association. BEST HONEY FOR WINTERING. [1906.] Repeatedly, during the past ten years or more, have correspondents to our bee periodicals stated that they ' reserve frames of sealed clover honey, to be returned to the bees for winter stores.' Others have seemed to prefer basswood honey, while others have been fully as positive that full stores Mere as good if not safer winter food. Only a few weeks ago, replies to a query in the question department of one of our journals showed a great diversity of opinion among several of our leading apiarists. Now, why all this diversity of opinion, and what are really the facts ill the matter? And as this thing of obtaining the best winter food for our bees lies at the very foundation of successful wintering, I will give my views, hoping to draw out the ideas of others until some slight advance on our present knowledge be made. I will confine myself entirely to the question of best honey, not touching the feeding of sugar syrup at all, leaving that to those who have had experience in the use of that kind of food. For reasons not worth while to mention, a large num- ber of bee-keepers will not or cannot use sugar, so this subject of best honey cannot be dismissed by simply giving the advice, ' Use sugar.' During the first ten or twelve years I kept bees in Iowa, the crop of early or white honey was usually quite small, rarely being one-third of the entire crop, while the yield from buckwheat and fall flowers was abundant. For the last five or six years conditions have entirely changed, so that three-fourths or more of my crop have been white, mostly from the clovers, while the yield of dark or fall honey has been very light. With this change of the honey season came a change in the result of wintering, and the cause had to be investigated. I think that nearly all fruit-raisers have noticed the fact that, as a rule, a full crop meant also a crop of good quality, while a light crop meant also an inferior quality of fruit as well as small quantity. This seems to be a rule of very wide application, the conditions necessary to the production of a full crop seeming to be also necessary to the bringing it to its most perfect condition. This rule, which is so prevalent in the fruit kingdom, seems also to govern in the flower world, in all that pertains to the secretion of nectar. So far as I have observed for a number of years past, whenever any one kind of flowers yields honey largely, especially if the yield is long continued, the quality of the honey is almost certain to be good ; while if the yield is light, the quality will be correspondingly poor. Wet and dry weather modifies this rule somewhat, but to a much less extent than I used to suppose was the case. Several years ago, at the time when my harvest of white honey was so light, I noticed over and over again that, if any colonies died during the winter, it was almost certain to be one which had had quite a quantity of white hone}7 when going into winter quarters ; and when I found any combs in the spring containing white houey, even if fully sealed, it was very apt to be more or less fermented, while fermented dark or fall honey was rarely if ever seen. This occurred so often that I finally adopted the rule of management, never to leave any light honey at all in the combs during winter. I stated at one or more conventions, that I had adopted such a rule, but I didn't understand the reason for doing so as well then as I do now. As I have already said, some five or six years ago, the relative yields of early and late honey radically changed, and with it came a correspond- ing change in qualities, and the immediate result was a serious loss in wintering — not so disastrous a loss as I suffered before using chaff hives, but yet too serious to be at all funny — some forty per cent one winter. This set me to studying as to what was the cause of such a complete change, and I am now satisfied that the whole story can be told in words, ' A change in the quality of the winter stores.' I noticed, while extracting, that the fall honey was different from what I usually obtained. Had samples of these later crops and of former ones been submitted to experts, I have no doubt that each would have unhesita- tingly pronounced one sample as having been taken from unsealed, the other from sealed combs, even when no such difference was the case. The truth is, the samples December 6, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 595 would have been entirely different when first taken from the flowers ; and no amount of curing, either in or out of the hive, could have made them equal. I have noticed for a long time past, that the first yield from any particular flower, such as clover, basswood, buckwheat, &c, was almost invariably of poorer quality than the later yield from the same source would be. This is particularly true if the yield continues for some time, say from two to six weeks. It has been not at all uncommon to obtain a better quality of honey, both in body and flavour, from unsealed combs, filled two to four weeks after the commencement of clover harvest, than from sealed combs filled at the commencement of the same harvest. This fact wants keeping in mind when selecting winter stores. The following is a brief summing-up of the opinions I have arrived at :— That there is no essential difference in the value of different kinds of honey for winter stores : that the relative value of the different kinds of honey varies in localities and seasons ; that the particular source which gives us the best yield of honey each season is usually of the best quality ; also, that where honey is used as a winter food, much better success will be attained, when these facts are observed and acted on. There are, of course, many other considerations to be taken into account in connexion with winter food for bees, but I have confined myself closely to the point of what is the best honey for winter stores, and I hope others will give their views and see if we cannot come nearer to an agreement on this point which is so vital a one in connexion with successful wintering. — O. 0. Poppleton (American Gleanings.) MELLICRATON. [1007.] The medical receipts of our ancestors are well known to contain some curious and, to our mind, disgusting ingredients. Here is one into which honey entered, and may, on that account, prove interesting to British and Irish bee-keepers, as well aa other readers of the British Bee Journal. ' The hart of an ape, sod and dried, whereof the weight of a groat drunk in a draught of stale Hunny sod in water, called MelHcraton, strengthened the heart, emboldeneth and driveth away the pulseand pusillanimity thereof, sharpeneth one's under- standing, and is soueraigne against the falling euill.' This will be fonnd in Edward Topsell's History o/Fovre- fuoted Beastes, printed in London 1607. — H. W. Lett. #clj0es front % |jibes. Cockburnspalh , Nov. 20. — Total failure of honey in Berwickshire. Speaking for myself I have only taken about 30 lbs. from eleven bar-frame and nine Stewarton hives; compared with last year and from fewer hives I took UoOlbs., have made use in feeding 4i cwts. of sugar since the middle of September. — James Ppingle. Money C'ott, Weston, Leamington, Dee. 3. — Bees here had a good fly yesterday, so much so that I knew we should have a lot of wet soon, which we have had to- day.— John "Walton. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving snch information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish oar Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt oj their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. G. Faun worth. — Planting Shrubs. — It is rather late to plant shrubs now, as it should have been done about the end of October and during November. We should prefer waiting until March, and then transplant during fine weather. Pyrus - malus, Mespilus canadensis, cornus mascula, and "Westeria sinensis, are all very ornamental and good for bees. We should certainly find a warm place in the garden for Buddlea-globosa, as the bees are very fond of it, and visit it all day long when the weather 'is fine. You could not plant suffi- cient heather in your garden to make any appreciable difference to the honey harvest. Mr. Robinson. — ' Willesden card' may be procured at the Willesden Paper Depot, 34 Cannon Street. We are advised that samples, with prices, have been forwarded to you. J. R. W., NataL— 1. South African Queen.— We shall be pleased to receive the South African queen, and trust that she may arrive safely. 2. Coccidcv. — We have looked with much interest over the contents of of the two boxes forwarded. The cottony-covered creatures in box No. 1 are, without doubt, a species of Ortonia. At a first glance, the similarity of legs, antenna;, hairs, and eggs, seems to show this, but as to the species we cannot yet say. We have prepared drawings and specimens, and have submitted them to Mr. Douglas for his opinion. The box contained a few eggs, not distinguishable from those laid by the former specimens ; and we found also a few young ones, just hatched, and quite lively, so that we now are in possession of the early stage. The box was strewed with detached legs of the young, the debris of a very numerous family, the cause of whose destruc- tion undoubtedly was a ladybird which had been in- advertently enclosed in the' box. This insect was well fed and lively on arrival, but it was something like sending a crate full of young ducks with a weasel enclosed. 3. Psychidcc— The box No. 2 contained two kinds of larva?, inhabiting cases made of cut stems of grass; thev were alive on arrival. We find from inquiries that they are the larvse of Psyehida3,but which species cannot be" determined unless the perfect insect can be obtained. They seem well known, being common in India and China. As to the idea of the Kaffirs of their killing cattle, we do not believe that they can do any- thing of the kind. Being feeders on harmless vegetable produce, they would not be likely to poison vegetable- feeding animals; then, as they are air-breathing creatures, it is thought that they would inevitably perish amongst the liquids and acids in a cow's paunch or stomach, even if they survived the somewhat trying process of chewing the cud. They will, however, be examined at the Bacteriological Laboratory to see if thev contain any germs of such bacilli as anthrax, fee., but the story seems to be purely mythical. In China fowls and o'ther birds are fed upou them, whilst in India and Ceylon they are regarded with superstitious awe from a belief that they contain the transmigrated souls of bad men who, for certain misdeeds in life, are condemned to go about thus carrying a bundle of sticks! This is no doubt as true" as the Kaffir tale. German observers know them as ' Sacktragers.' They are still very lively if put into a warm place ; but if cold they remain inactive, carefully closing up the doors of their houses before they go to sleep. The small species generally climb to the top of the box and suspend their houses "there before they go inside, then they close the doors and remain dormant until warmed up again. V. Ii. Baldwin. — Cane Sugar and Granulated Honey. — Honey contains different kinds of sugar: — 1, cane sugar; 2, fruit sugar or glucose ; 3, inverted sugar, so called from its turning the plane of polarisation to the left, or inverting the action of the fruit sugar. There is also a fourth sugar evidently distinct, but its nature is not known with precision. Under the action of a ferment contained in the honey the cane sugar changes to sugar of the second and third kinds, and as 596 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [December 6, 1888. these are less soluble than cane sugar, the clear liquid gradually becomes opaque and granular ; that is, the honey is said to granulate or crystallise. Honey varies much in its composition according to its age, the rapidity with which it has been gathered, and the dif- ferent flowers from which it has been procured. You may in some degree deduce from the above to what extent honey in the candied state differs from cane sugar ; but as in the different analyses which have been made of honey the amount of cane sugar varies, it does not behove us to speak with assurance. Please repeat the other queries. A. Tubkington. — Feeding Skeps, — As the bees bestow much labour in fixing the hive to the floor-board, it is not permissible that these attachments should be disturbed for the purpose of feeding. If there be a hole at the top sugar-cake may be given under a basin or flower-pot, cosily covered up. If without a hole at the top, warm plastic candy may be placed over the entrance, when it will lie taken with avidity. G. Gould. — Commencing Bee-keeping. — The position you describe will do for quiet bees. You could not do better than try pure Carniolans. We strongly advo- cate double-walled hives. Cwch Gwenyn. — 1. Hive-making. — Allow either f or £ an inch clear between bottom bar and floor-board. 2. Can's metal ends. — These are nice so long as they are kept free of propolis on the ends. The frames you name are not essential to success. If we may offer you a word of advice, it is that you will earnestly endeavour to become a good bee-master and avoid ' fads ;' it will be a saving to you of time and money. J . Pringle. — Purity of Honey. — The sample sent is quite pure. The quality is inferior. A. J. Parish.— Purity of Wax. — The wax, sample of which we have received, is pure. Corkectious, page 5:)4.— Alter (l) into (1)1) on the first line from the top. Alter (c) within the illustration to (W). And insert the word not before quite correct on line 14 from the top of the first column on page 534. pgjusiness ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howabd, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webstek, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, HertB. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godman, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B. , Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. NOTICE. The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Go., 23 Paternoster Row, and may bo obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol- lowing Agents :— ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin. ANDREU, F. C, Port Mab.cn, Minorca. APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent. BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. DDRRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford. EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts. EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin. HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield. HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon. MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford. McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B. NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and 127 High Holborn, London. REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wlgston, Leicester. RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich. RUOKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham. SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail- way Bookstalls. WITHLNSHAW, A., Newcastle, Staffordshire. WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. WREN, L„ 130 High Street, Lowestoft. TIHIIE British Bee-keepers' Association Established 1874. President: THE BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS THE Committee appeal to Bee-keepers, Manufacturers of Bee-keeping Appliances, and others desirous of promoting our Home Industries, to become Annual Subscribers or Donors to any Special Branch of the Association's work. Subscriptions, 5s. and upwards per annum. Life Members, £5. The Association carries out its work by — The holding of Annual Exhibitions ; Assisting County Associations ; Sending out Lecturers and Experts ; The publication of Literature relating to the best methods of Bee-culture; The disposal of Bee-produce, &c, &c, &c. Secretary : John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts- London : Printed by Stranqeways & Sons, at their Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., in the Parish of St. GUes's-m-the. Fields, hi the County of Middlesex; and Published for the Proprietor by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in the same county.— Dec. S, 1888. Communication* to the Editor to be addressed ' Stbanqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 338. Vol. XVI.] DECEMBER 13, 1888. [Published Wekkly.] COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS AND THE B.B.K.A. We have much pleasure in calling the attention of our readers to the following excellent article from the Record of this month, and commend it to their careful attention. We do not wish for obvious reasons to enter into the discussion at the present moment, but we would like here to [joint out one fact which seems to have escaped the notice of all those who are asking for county representatives on the Committee of the Central Society, and that is, that nearly all the present members of the Central Committee are members or on committees of County Associations. With the article of our contemporary we are in perfect sympathy, as in it the whole question is discussed in a calm and unimpassioned spirit. — Ed. Not without serious misgivings do we gather from what took place at the recent quarterly meeting of the British Bee-keepers' Association, and from subsequent correspondence in the columns of the B.B.J., that a rather alarming phase in the politics of bee-keeping baa been reached. Ever since the Record has been guided by its present Editors, it has been our rule to avoid, as far as possible, entering into controversies of this kind; but when we see small disagreements among good friends of the cause wbich are likely to develop into more serious dissensions if not checked in time, it behoves all who care for the prosperity and well-doing of what we love to call ' our hobby ' to use every endeavour to restore that unity i if effort on the part of the powers that be, without which failure is inevitable. In this spirit we depart from our established rule, not with the intention of joining in any lengthened contro- versy on the subject — that may be left to others, and to more suitable channels for discussion — but with an earnest hope that a word of well-meant advice may, like oil cast on troubled waters, tend to soften down differences which seem to us more apparent than real. It is no secret that matters have not worked quite smoothly of late between the committee of the central body and the gentlemen who are chosen to represent County Associa- tions affiliated to it. The latter consider they have a substantial initial grievance, in that the committee of the B. B. K. A. — who, no doubt, are guided by rules laid down — do not treat them with sufficient consideration, and that the position they occupy at quarterly meetings is not consistent with the importance of their position as representing a large and influential body of bee-keepers. This, however, is a comparatively small matter aud would soon be put right; but there are more serious differences of opinion with regard to the powers conferred on the committee, and it appears to be the object of the 'reformers' to try and introduce such changes in the constitution of the B.B. K. A. as will, in their opinion, infuse new life and vigour into the parent society, and laterally into all associations under its control. From the published accounts of what has already taken place, and, aided by some small amount of light from ' behind the scenes,' it appears to us that the most serious change contemplated is the proposal to make County Representatives e.r officio members of the execu- tive committee, and giving them an equal vote with committeemen elected in the usual way. This involves SO wide an extension of the franchise that it would, if carried out in its entirety, completely revolutionise the present constitution of the Association, seeing that its elected committee of management might be outvoted on any question, whenever the county representatives de- cided to oppose them. On this ground we may reason- ably expect that the geueral body of the members of the B.B.K.A. will endeavour to modify the proposed arrange- ment in some way, rather than consent to the transfer of (lie government of the Association to new hands ; and our advice to the— shall we call them — malcontents is to agree to a compromise, and to both pari tea we say, ' Bear and forbear.' By so doing we feel sure that a plan may be devised allowing something like equal power to each. As already said, we believe the objections to the new plan to be more apparent than real, because, when it comes to practical working, our view is that the power of governing the Association is likely to remain in the hands of the ordinary committee as before. Except when matters of unusual importance are under discussion county representatives will surely never be expected to attend meetings held in London monthly. Those from northern counties find it more than enough to put in an appearance quarterly ; aud so we expect the new voting power will seldom be exercised in the transaction of ordinary committee business, and more seldom still on that of sub-committees. What we deprecate most earnestly is anything savour- ing of a policy of exasperation, which would surely tend to alienate many influential friends of the cause, who have hitherto been its chief support and mainstay. We have a strong impression that many members of the present committee would gladly retire and leave the work to younger and more active men, if they could be assured that the future of the Association would not be imperilled by their retirement. We may be wrong, but this is our impression, and we certainly share in the feeling if it exists. No one can, as we think, honestly doubt that a great deal of such public importance as we can ever hope to see attached to a minor industry like bee-keeping, is due to the social position of its present patrons, and those who take an active part in promoting its work among the humbler classes of the community. It is also an undisputed fact that the committee of the B. I!. K. A. is composed of gentlemen with no personal 598 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [December 13, 1888. interests to serve, and whose motives are above suspicion ; they have given a large amount of time entirely for the good of others, seeking no reward other than to see the cause prospering ; and we would ask those who would improve the committee by making it ' more democratic,' if they consider the democratic element more likely to be unselfish in their motives than those who up to the pre- sent time have carried on the work ? Hence we say, if the power is to be transferred prac- tically to the County Representatives, care must be taken that the most influential gentlemen it is possible to secure are selected. Not that we imagine that honey-producers, appliance-dealers, and bee-traders, are less disinterested or less selfish than other men or less worthy of public confidence, that is not the point at all ; but we do know that dissatisfaction will be sure to follow, if, for any reason, the executive committee is not entirely above suspicion. The second important change proposed is, that any Bee Association, whether a County Association or not, be received into affiliation with the central body, on payment of the usual fee, and undertaking to publish a properly audited statement of income and expenditure in conformity with the rules of the B.B.K.A. A third proposal — which, with one or two minor matters, com- pletes the programme of reform aimed at — specifies that at all shows held under the auspices of associations affi- liated to the B.B.K.A. not less than two-thirds of the prizes shall be offered for open competition. This, by the way, is a very admirable suggestion, as it will effectually prevent a frequent source of scandal, where small associations are suspected of distributing the bulk of their prizes among the members of their own execu- tive. In endeavouring to follow the various arguments used by the ' reformers,' we find that some uncertainty exists even among themselves as to the aims and objects they have in view. At least, the Editor of the Berkshire Bee-keepci — himself one of the most energetic opponents of the B.B.K.A. committee as at present constituted — by inference takes the Rev. J. L. Seager to task for endeavouring to sacrifice the County Associations for the benefit of the parent body. This is rather hard on Mr. Seager, seeing that be is the one member of the committee who goes in heartily for reform, in opposition to most of his colleagues ; and earnestly desires to see new life infused into what some call the 'dry bones' of the central association. The Editor of the B.B is also entirely wrong in supposing that the committee of the B.B.K.A. are desirous of sup- pressing couuty associations. .lie says : — ' It is the " British," it turns out, that is in a " bad way," and the Couuty Associations are to be sacrificed for its benefit. There is one all-important view of the case which strangely does not appear to have presented itself to those complacent would-be disposers of the fate of the County Associations, viz., that of the County Associa- tions themselves. Are they so sure that the associations will tamely submit to the dictation of a body in the con- trol of whose affairs they have little or no voice ? ' If, as we understand it, affiliated associations receive in cash value more from the B.B.K.A. than they bestow in affi- liation fees, with what justice can the committee be accused of sacrificing Counties to increase the number of affiliated societies for the benefit of the ' British ? ' As a matter of fact the committee appear to have no desire to sacrifice any association. The proposal to admit non-county associations into affiliation comes from the reformers themselves, and is one of the points of their programme. We agree that, to suppress county associations and establish in their stead a number of weak little bee societies or clubs, would be a retrograde step of the worst kind ; but it does not seem likely that this will be the result. Probably a few strong non-county associa- tions will spring into life where the surroundings are especially favourable to their development ; but good, well-managed County Associations will be able to hold their own, for obvious reasons. Our main purpose, however, in referring to the subject under discussion is to offer a word of advice to the more active spirits, through whose instrumentality, we believe, some much-needed reforms will eventually be carried through. To these we say, Don't go too far ! and don't go too fast! Above all, do not forget that the gentlemen who are now at the head of the bee-keeping movement have laboured as hard and as effectually a3 the best and most earnest of you in past years to promote our pursuit. They have spared neither their time nor their money, aud have looked for no other reward than the general good of the community. As already said, we must not shut our eyes to the fact that it is because gentlemen of influence aud high social position have associated them- selves with bee-keeping, and have taken an active part in the work, that we owe a great portion of what strength there is in the movement. We desire, as earnestly as any one, to see an infusion of new blood into the management of the parent Association, and we believe that a little of the democratic element will be an advantage ; but we must earnestly protest against any- thing tending to alienate the present committee, and perhaps cause them to throw up the care and worry which its duties entail. Some measure of reform is needed, we admit, but when it comes to transferring the power entirely and completely from one set of bee- keepers— and they the oldest and most experienced — to another; many of them just now full of that delightful enthusiasm and hopeful zeal which is a more or less pleasant memory of the past to us veterans ; we say, Don't / ' Bear and forbear ' should bs the guiding- motive ; wisdom will not die when the present com- mittee disappear; neither will all the talents be embodied in a committee of new men, if such be tried ; but if the discussion of the vexed questions now disturbing us be carried on at the coming annual meeting in a spirit of mutual concession, we believe that a strong and efficient executive may be formed which will cheerfully carry out any new measures likely to benefit the cause we all desire to see benefited. Our personal interest, as representing the Record, is identical with that of all bee associations; among their members are our correspondents, and to a large extent our subscribers. It may therefore be taken for granted that our sympathies are entirely with the Couuty Asso- ciations and their work, but, to enable the counties to do the work well, there must be some cohesion : and, besides this, it is still mire important that there be an influen- tial central governing body at the head of all, with sound laws to the observance of which all will heartily conform. The more representative this body is the better, aud it seems but reasonable that associations duly affiliated should be entitled to representation on the committee. At the same time the fact should not be overlooked that the members of the ' British ' who sub- scribe— many of them liberally — to its funds, have an equal claim to a fair share in the voting power of its own executive committee. These simple facts duly borne in mind, and just a little conciliatory spirit infused all round, there should be no difficulty in restoring harmony among gentlemen having but one object in view, and that ' the greatest good to the greatest number.'— W. B. C. Mildness op the Season. — In a letter, dated Ilarm- ston, Lincolnshire, December 7th, Mr. R. R. Godfrey writes : — ' I enclose a few flowers which I gathered in the fields this morning, and upon which I found bees in num- bers.' The flowers enclosed were, — Daisy (Bel/it perennia), Mustard (Brassica alba), Common Bean (Faba vulgaris), White dead-nettle (Lamium album), Red dead-nettle, (Lamium rubrum), Jagged Cranesbill (Geranium clis- sectum), Doves-foot Cranesbill (Geranium mol/e). December 13, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 5f»9 THE ANATOMY OF THE HONEY-BEE. Anterior Legs of Bees. (Continued from j>. 589.) Next to the posterior leg's the anterior are most in- teresting objects of study. The first three joints of these legs (see Fig. 1) are not essentially different from the same in the posterior legs. The compound hairs are abundant, and, as seen in the microscope, are very beau- I if ul. The tibia is not modified, as seen in the posterior legs, but has a strangely modified tibial spur. Fig. 2. The fioat log of a bee, with enlarged view on the right. — Fig. 1. This resembles a short-handled knife. The part answer- ing to the blade is strengthened at the base by a sort of knob ; it is wide anf Mr. \Y. D. Slade, who came down from Cheltenham for the occasion. In responding, Mr. Slade spoke at some length on bee-keeping, which was listened to with much interest. The health of the local Secretary was drunk with musical honours. In responding, Mr. Brown thanked them all for the kind way in which they drank his health. He also hoped he should see as many members at their monthly meeting as there were there that evening. He was glad to say that the meetings were doing good work. LINCOLNSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. A preliminary meeting of the above was held at Mr. EL S. Forinan's* Upgate, Louth, on Friday, the 7th inst. Mr. II. C. Smith presided. Letters were read from several gentlemen regretting their inability to be present, but wishing every success to the movement. Mr. J. II. Houghton, 'F.R.G.S., of Louth, was, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. John Dales, appointed Secretary of the Association. Alter a discussion as to the desirability of resuscitating the Association, and the reading of a number of letters, all of which strongly recommended this course, the following resolution was unanimously passed, 'That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable to reorganize the Lincolnshire Bee-keepers' Assocsation.' A code of rules and regulations, based upon those of the old Association, and which had been submitted to Mr. John Ruckle (Secretary of the British Bee-keepers' Association) for suggested additions or curtailments, was then discussed, and, with some slight alterations, passed. It was decided to ask the President and Vice-President of the old Association to retain their positions in the new Association. Several names, however, were added to the list of Vice-Presidents. Several names were suggested as acting Committee for the coming year. The Secretary was instructed to communicate with the gentlemen named, and when he had received replies, call another meeting. We believe, from the tone of this meeting, that a very successful Association will be formed. [We desire to congratulate those who have taken a part in the above movement, and trust that success may attend their efforts in reorganizing the Lincolnshire B. K. A— Ed.] 602 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [December 13, 1888. €BXXt8$mXb£Ytttt The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed hy his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give their veal names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee ofgoodfaith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, &c, must be addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," cjo Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C All business communications relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, Zings Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). \* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. MINOEOAN BEES. [1908.] Although not in a position to give informa- tion as positively as I should like to do in some respects.. I am able to bear out the truth of one of the characteris- tics -with which they have been credited by Mr. Andreu, and that is, their propensity for breeding. Owing to the bad weather and my own indisposition my bees, although well fed from the beginning of July, were not finally overhauled until November, when, during several fine days, every impervious quilt was removed, and the bees, so far as I was able, were carefully packed for winter. I was assisted by an able expert, and when we came to the stock containing the Minorcan queen I pre- vented the use of everything in the nature of a pacifier, and determined to see what the bees would do under ordinary handling. We wore veils but no gloves, and we examined the whole of the combs, beginning at the back, and scraped and cleansed the frames and all the inside of the hive, returned everything to its place, except such Cnmbs as it was determined to withheld, and covered them up to stand the winter without having received a single sting; and hence I am inclined to believe that the characteristic 'gentleness' may be added to that of 'prolificness,' when speaking of the merits or demerits of Minorcan bees. The November examination revealed the fact that four Minorcan queens in Combina- tion hives were still laying, and had patches of brood, the original having five combs fairly stocked with eggs, sealed brood, and hatching bees, all surrounded with ample stores in first-rato order. — C. N. Abbott, Sout/iall, Dec. 8th, 1888. [We have been informed that Mr. Blow noticed the Eropolisation at the entrance of the hive of Minorcan ees in his apiary at Welwyn on July 10th. His Minorcaus have left three spaces through which they enter the hive.— Ed.] I IOTJNTY ASSOCIATIONS. [1909.] Undoubtedly, if Mr. Seager has done nothing more, he has succeeded in raising the whole question, not only of County, but also of the British B.K.A., and I feel sure that good will come out of it, for it is far bet ter that evils, if they exist, should be discussed in the light of day than that they should smoulder in darkness. I will, with your kind permission, notice one or two references to my previous remarks. To the writer of . ' Useful Hints ' I can only say that, notwithstanding his ' Latin quotations and ambiguous references to the discus- sion, I will yield to none, not even to the able writer, in wishing for the welfare of the British B.K.A. In speak- ing only for myself, I feel sure that I am echoing the sentiments of those other gentlemen who have taken part in the discussion. I feel sure that in every effort successfully made to improve and strengthen our worthy parent we are in a great measure helping forward the cause of the County Associations in which we are all deeply interested. I had hoped that some member of the British < lommittee would have entered tin' arena on their behalf earlier, but lam glad thai 'A Memberofthe Central Committee ' ha3 at last broken silence, though I regret that he has felt it necessary to shield his name under a nom de plume. It appears from his opening re- marks that, although within the charmed circle, he has not yet discovered that the bond of sympathy between the British and County Associations is unduly strained. Perhaps it would be more correct to state that bond is being loosened, that the cause is more of a negative than of a positive nature. Your space, Mr. Editor, will not admit of my furnishing ' A Member of the Central Committee ' with a lengthy illustration of my argument, but it exists, as is borne out by almost all your corre- spondents. He alludes to the fact that a certain propor- tion of the British Committee being County Hon. Secre- taries. Quite true, but our point is that they should be sent there by their respective counties : they are on that Committee by virtue of the weight of their private sub- scriptions and personal influence, and not by the affilia- tion of their respective counties. It seems to me that the great bone of contention is the qualification necessary to get on that Committee and the want of voting power by the county representatives. I feel sure that when these two points are considered the difficulty will be in a great measere removed. The British B.K.A. will be stronger from the fact that it will speak with one voice on behalf of the whole body of bee-keepers in the country, and the result will be that the counties will rally to the. support of the British, both morally and financially, from the fact that they would form an integral part of the same. I quite agree that great care should be taken that any alterations should not be of a destructive nature, but rather to strengthen ; and if the above change were made that the B. B.K.A. would strengthen ; audi believe that, if such were the case, every one of the present Committee would be elected, and they would be supplemented by colleagues from ali parts of the country enabling them to speak with an united voice. That being so, I feel sure that, grant the representation, the counties will bear the necessary taxa- tion. Like our little friend, the sting of your correspondent's letter is in its tail. He hopes that my name will be among the subscribers to the funds of the British. I can only say that, limited as are the world's goods at my disposal, when I see the British B.K.A. take up the posi- tion in respect to the national bee-keeping question to which it is entitled I shall be most happy to give my mite to its support, but until then, like many others, I prefer to give it to my own County Association. — A. IK Woodley, Heading. ' FEEDING AND PACKING FOB WINTER. 1 1910.] Replying to suggestion of 'Useful Hints ' in Journal, I give a little of my experience and practice this autumn. At the end of July 1 had taken only very few sections, not one of which was fully finished, and only fifty or sixty pounds of extracted honey, while many stocks (notably those that had Carniolan-bred queens, mated with Ligurian drones) had any amount of bees, but no honey, although when the' weather was very bad, they had been fed the same as other stocks. Other Carniolan stocks were much the same, or very little better; they had increased enormously, and had been swarming mad all the season. So much SO, that I could not help remarking, that my English and Ligurian stocks had better sense, as I only had one stock of Ligurians, and not one stock of English bees, swarm at all. I do not say this about the Carniolans to run them down, as I have been well satisfied with them in good seasons (1 have kept some for over ten years), they boat either English or Ligurians in the quantity and quality of the honey gathered, more especially in the appearance of the comb honey. Of course in such a season as the one just past their very prolificness has been against them. December 13, 1883.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. (103 As regards feeding up for winter the difficulty seemed to me, how to keep the bees alive, and yet not hare to keep so many old bees that would naturally die in the course of a few weeks. I fed them only just enough to keep them from starving through August, and then in September began to feed them up for winter. Here I may say that I made my syrup — or rather my wife did — by pouring boiling water on granulated sugar, with just a bit of salt added, and stirring till it was all melted. It was made as thick as it possibly could be, so as to melt all the sugar ; but it was not boiled at all — too much of a job for that — and it was wanted at once, and a lot of it, too. I fed the majority of the stocks with quart pickle- bottles turned up on some rather fine perforated zinc, tak- ing them by turns, so that I fed the same stocks about every third night ; a few I fed up in about four nights each, using one of Simmins' circular tin-feeders, which hold about seven pounds of syrup. I thought I would try some of Meadows' first-prize rapid feeders, as I had no time to make any myself. I could not get to see many things for the crush at the lloyal at Nottingham, so did not see the ' rapid feeders '; I sent for three of them, but did not like the look of them when I had got them, or the thought of having to pour the syrup in while there are bees in the feeder ; there appeared to me to be no means of the bees getting away quick enough without getting daubed: so I returned them and requested Mr. Meadows to send me one of the circular tin feeders of Simmins' similar to the other one I have. He exchanged them, but made the remark that he thought I was 'behind the times;' however, if that was the cause, I certainly would prefer to he so. Another wholesale feeder I used was one of Simmins' dummy feeders, a wooden one, which holds seven or eight pounds of syrup, which I filled about four times for each stock I fed with it ; but it was not so handy, especially when I wanted to move it to feed another hive, as it took so long to get the bees out. I certainly prefer the circular tin feeder, because when it was required to be moved to another stock, I could take it off from the feed-hole and shake the bees out iu no time, then it was ready to be placed over the feed-hole of another stock to be used again, and nothing required to be disarranged about the quilts. I never found any difficulty about its being too cold being of metal, as some might think, I did not always feed with warm syrup, only when it happened to be freshly made. I took as many spare combs away as I could when I first began to feed, but was obliged to leave ten or eleven frames iu some hives, there was such a number of bees. Here, again, in giving some young queens in place of old ones, I found the difficulty, as ' Useful Hints ' said about the bees taking to fresh queens while being fed, also in opening hives, which I was obliged to do either first thing of a morning, or just before dusk at night. After feeding up most stocks with from twenty-eight to thirty poundsof syrup each, 1 began to pack them for winter. 1 do not use chaff at all, having had a bother with it years ago through using it loose upon the hives, and at back of the dummies. I think 1 mentioned in ' Queries ' about using green blind stuff upon the frames, not particularly because I think it better, but because I got a lot of old blinds cheap, and they answer the purpose very well ; over this stuff I place about three thicknesses of scouring flannel, and on the top of that a couple of folded rice or sugar bags ; if sugar bags, they had to be washed before being used ; in some cases old woollen counterpanes are folded and laid on instead of bags, also at back or sides of dummies the spaces are filled in with the like materials. As a rule I only have the entrances about two, or at the most three inches long by about § inch high, though I did think of opening them a little wider for winter, but the mild weather coming on again and continuing so long, it does not appear advisable, as I find on looking round the bees are oa the look-out to try to rob if they could get a chance, and with entrances full width it. would only entail more work for the bees to protect themselves. I think I have given my plan of feeding, packing, &c, as n >ar as I can do it. I do not claim that it is better than any other, or that it is the best way, but I generallv get my bees through the winter pretty well, and ready for the honey flow the next year — when there is one. I have always read the writings of ' Useful Hints ' with great pleasure and profit, and hope he will long- writ' for the Journal, as I am well aware he knows ,,f wJiat he writes ; also ' Amateur Expert,' I trust he will continue to jot aud enliven us with a few of his spicy sayings, a bit of humour does us good sometimes, only he must mind and not tread on folks' favourite corns, — John Walton, Honey Colt, Weston, Leamington. BEE-KEEPING IN RUSSIA. [19] 1.] Please accept my best thanks for sending me your ' Wintering Bees,' and for your kind attention in sending the ' Aptfuge.' I cannot take advantage of your good intentions to send me more, for I have the address of the dealers of this liquid, and, having obtained it, I tried it once. But being accustomed as I am to the stings of bees, without, however, neglecting the gentle behaviour and politeness due to them, I quite forgot to notice the effect of the essence with which I was per- fumed. Our bee-keeping increases more and more in experts, more especially amongst schoolmasters, to whom I dedicated my book, Ptchelovodstvo. I am pleased that I aimed at directing my instructions iu bee-keeping to this class of people who are needy and intelligent, aud without occupation during the summer, I am glad to know that you have given up perforated zinc excluders. According to my ideas, its necessity- arises from the whim of inventors of long shallow frames, as it diverts the natural inclinations of the 1 i to store honey abuve the brood-nest, which is admissible when the height of the hive is sufficient. It was with great interest that I read in your British Bee Journal, 1838, No. 825, p. 449, the different methods of covering the frames. It appears to me that the i - utial merit of such a covering does not consist so much in the nature of the stuff used as in the space which separates it from the frames, so that the bees can neither propolise nor gnaw through it. To attain this end, I have tried successfully a woollen covering with wooden laths (one inch wide) nailed at certain distances apart on both sides of this material, and with separators between them, such as small pieces of zinc, bent square, and nailed to the laths on the underside, in order to raise the covering to between a quarter and three-eighths of an inch. At the same time this allows the bees a passage over the frames. For the winter keeping on the super I place on this covering a layer of dried leaves (see B.B.J., No. 330, p. 512). — A. PE Zoubaheff, St. Petersburg, Koe. \7th. NOTES ON BEE HIVES. Section's with Abtificial Attachment Cells. [1912.] During the past summer I have been making- some experiments upon the above, which I can report very favourably upon without further trial. I will at once say my custom is not to mention a thing until I have fully tested it. I shall lie glad to hear if anv bee- keeper has tried the above fully, with a description of their method of working and the apparatus used. By means of engraved rollers, I had attachment cells made on all the four inner faces of 4\ x 4j x 7 to the foot sections: and although the season here was of such an 604 THE BRITISH BEE JOUKNAL. [December 13, 1888. unfavourable kind for good work, the results enable me to state the above is well worth a fair trial. I am opposed to using- full sheets of wax foundation in sections, or even the usual triangular strips, and am of opinion that such is not absolutely necessary to secure perfect sectional honey, and also that there is no profit in using wax-foundation for sections, notwithstanding the mathematics which have so often been paraded. I find one of the largest English apiarian suppliers cannot retail Dadant's thin foundation under Us. 3d. per pound, and Dadant's extra thin super or surplus founda- tion under 3s. 6(7. per pound, cut into the exact size we require ; but from Messrs. Dadant's price list, which they have just forwarded to me, I find that the price for Dadant's thin foundation is Is. ('»/., per pound, about seven feet to the one pound, and Dadant's extra thin super foundation is 2s. per pound, about eleven feet to the one pound, and at this price any quantity and any size may be purchased. The best way to avoid composition foundation is to import direct, and if the Secretaries for County Associa- tions could collect a number of orders, the various sizes desired could be obtained, and the cost of transit would be very little in addition per one pound. Messrs. Dadant guarantee every inch pure beeswax, and the same as the samples they supply. — T. Bonner Chambers, Tref Eglwys, I 'aersws, Montgomeryshire. QUEEN-CAGE. [1918.] I enclose you a drawing of my new queen- cage. If the idea carried out in the making of it — viz., that of the bees liberating the queen themselves at the No. 1. Table of tiu to rest on the top of frames. No. 2. Hole in which to place queeu. No. 3. Slide to cover same. No. 4. All tin. No. 5. Wire of the ordinary stamp fastened under table No. 1 on one side and took under the bottom up to under the table on the other side. No. 6. Tin Bh utters working stiffly on frame iron to keep candy from falling outward. No 7. A projecting piece [of tiu inside cage to keep candy from falling inside on queen. No. 8. Open end. usual forty-eight hours — will he instructive and interest- ing to any of the readers of your Journal, you are at liberty to make it known. I have been at some little trouble and some little ex- pense over it ; and as I am only a working man, and keep bees chiefly for what can be made out of them, I must confess that the cage has beeu before a well-known company for sale, and was after a long delay accepted by them at a little under the price asked for it; but as that was so lung in coming to hand — viz., several months — I became impatient and wrote for its return; and as many things in your Journal, written by others who doubtless did not get their knowledge without labour and expense, have been very helpful to me in my bee- keeping experience, 1 in turn am anxious to help others. Let me say of my invention that the idea occurred to me a little over two years ago, after having rather blunderingly liberated a queen from a pipe-cover cage. Two or three angry bees were anxious to make acquaintance with her majesty before she was well out of cage, which said acquaintance was resented, and so took to herself wings and fled away. She was part of my riches, as she with her attendants had cost me eight shillings ; and although she returned and was speedily at work, the failure or ex- perience was not lost upon your humble servant, who thought the matter over with this result, viz., this queen- cage in its present state, for which I claim the following advantages: — That going to the hive to liberate the queen is not required, which operation in the hands of a novice often excites the bees, which anger is thrown upon the queen, and, doubtless, often results in the loss of the s.ime. Neither is there any danger of the queen taking wing or of injury in the liberating process. Again, the two candy cakes put the bees in the best of tempers, which is all in favour of the queen's accept- ance. It can be made for about the same price as other well- known cages that are in the market, viz., about one shilling. The candy cakes can be made in tin or wood frames the size of the cage end, which frames should be without top or bottom, simply ends and sides, so that the candy can be shoved out with your ringer and thumb. If a frame was made with twelve compartments that would charge the cage six times. If any of your readers have a fancy to try this way of introducing their queens (next season, of course,) they can get any tinman with ordinary ability to make them the cage, the frames and candy they can make themselves ; only let me warn them not to make the candy so hard that the poor bees cannot bite it. ( Ir if any dealers in bee appliances, &c , care to make any use of this idea they are quite at liberty to do so to their heart's content, as it is not protected in anyway whatever. — J. W. Blankley, Denton, Grantham, Lincolnshire. MICROSCOPIC TESTS OF HONEY— ARE THEY INFALLIBLE ? [1014.] Your inquiry in reference to the reliability of the scientific tests for honey is very opportune. 1 made the past winter, in revising my book, a careful investigation of this whole subject, and I am led to doubt the existence of a sure test for honey, either chemical or by aid of the polariscope. As you doubtless know, there are two kinds of sugars — cane, and the glucose group, or reducing sugars. The latter are so called because they reduce the copper sulphate, when made strongly alkaline by the addition of caustic potash. Of the reducing sugars we have the glucose of our factories, honey, liver sugar, digested starch, or the sugar of digestion, &c. The chemist using the copper test as given above calls all these sugars identical, simply because they give the same reaction with the sulphate. I don't believe they are the same. If so why will bees forsake common commercial glucose for honey ? or why will they die on the purest commercial glucose, and thrive on good honey? Cane sugar will not reduce the copper salt; and when eaten by animals it must be digested to be December 13, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 605 absorbed and assimilated. Thus when we eat cane sugar we do what the bees do with nectar — we convert it into a reducing sugar, very likely the same as honey. As will be seen by the above, nectar contains cane sugar. Indeed, the cane sugar in nectar often equals in amount all the other sugars put together. Analyses show, however, that the amount of this cane sugar in nectar varies. Let this be remembered : The amount uj the different sugars varies in the nectar of different flowers. Again, as the bee sins nectar it is mixed with the secre- tion from the racemose glands of the head ami thorax ; and this acts like our own digestive seci'etions on the cane sugar, and changes it to reducing sugar. Now, suppose the bees are gathering very fast from the bass- wood, for instance, where a single colony may gather over 20 lbs. per day ; does it stand to reason that they can digest this nectar as perfectly as though they were gathering from some source where they secured their stores in mere driblets ? Thus in such cases of very rapid gathering the digestion would be less perfect, and the honey would contain much cane sugar. Slay this not account for the marked sweetness of basswood honey ? In this connexion it is suggestive that, in the various analyses which have been made of honey, the amount of cane sugar varies. Thus I find the analyses generally give from one to three per cent of honey as cane sugar. Yet not infrequently the amount equals five or six per cent, while in some cases even twelve and sixteen per cent of honey has been found to be cane sugar. Here, then, mark the second uncertainty. Owing to the more or less rapid gathering, the digestion of nectar is more or less perfect. The chemist then would find much cane sugar, and would report adulteration, when the honey was entirely pure, right from the bees, and through them from the flowers; but owing to imperfect digestion, the cane sugar was very prominent. Such honey would be sweeter than though more reduced, or digested, and so might have higher intrinsic value. We see, then, that, the chemist cannot tell us abso- lutely whether honey is adulterated or not. There is reason to believe that absolutely pure honey has been pronounced as probably adulterated. The chemist was honest and able, but did not understand the whole ques- tion or its many difficulties. But what of the polariscope test ? This test depends on the property of various substances to deflect the rays of polarized light to the left or right. Thus, cane sugar changes the polarized ray to the right; so does dextrose, one of the reducing sugars of honey. On the other hand, lasvulose, another of the elements or sugars of honey, bends the ray strongly to the left. Dextrose and leevidose are often called invert sugars ; for when cane sugar is heated with a mineral acid like hydrochloric, it is changed to dextrose and laevulose. Dextrose and lsevulose are obtained from fruits as well as from honey. Glucose is a term used to designate all the invert or reducing sugars, and is exactly synonymous with grape sugar. Now, usually honey rotates the ray of light, owing to the ljerulose, from two to twelve degrees to the left. From two to twelve, — are not these numbers very suggestive ? In the first case, two degrees ; there was likely much dextrose, possibly aided by not a little cane sugar or sucrose ; while in the latter case the lsevulose was in the ascendancy. Now suppose the ray bends wholly over to the right. ' Hey ho ! ' says the scientist — ' adulteration !' when, in fact, it was pure honey; but the cane sugar and dextrose were still more pronounced. Surely, if the ray often varies from two to twelve, left- handed rotation, we may certainly believe it will often show a right-handed deflection. I fully believe that we have as yet no reliable methods to detect adul- terations. I am very certain that adulteration is never practised by bee-keepers, and is very rarely practised, if at all in these days, by dealers. This opinion is not a mere guess, but the result of extended inquiry. To conclude, Mr. Editor, 1 have already commenced just such a series of experiments as you suggested in last Gleanings. By aid of our chemical department we shall soon know the exact truth of the matter. We shall not only test the present methods of analysis thoroughly, hut shall strive to find if there is a method which is sure and practical to tell pure honey from that which is adul- terated.—A. J. Cook, Ai/riinltaral College, Mich. {Gleanings in Bee Culture). WINTERING BEES. (1807.) [1915.] The article by your Gottenberg correspondent is most interesting, but 1 hope he will be good enough to tell us whether he winters his bees under enamelled cloth, or with upward ventilation ? Probably the bees at the North Cape live in holes in the rocks, substituting a foot or two of rock for an inch or two of chaff-packing. But could not the numerous persons who annually visit the North Cape in the Ceylon he induced to investigate this point? With respect to wintering generally, when discussing the necessity for winter passages, &c., I think some regard should be paid to the different races of bees and the description of hive used. For instance, winter pass- ages may be very necessary in single-walled hives, but can they be required in double-walled hives packed with cork-dust where the bees are crowded under enamelled cloth ? Cheshire says that bees will cluster against a hive-side when packed with cork-dust, and a peep into my hives last month fully confirmed this statement. Another point to which I should like to allude is the advice in the books to extract all unsealed honey or syrup when packing for the winter. I have not met with a bee-keeper who is in the habit of doing it, and surely it may be omitted (except in extreme cases), as it would excite the bees most objectionably and would involve great labour if the hives are numerous. Will your readers inform me if it is a commi m practice amongst leading bee-keepers in dealing with Enylish bees? Perhaps your Gottenberg correspondent would kindly tell us what course he adopts with regard to winter passages and extracting unsealed honey? — T. F. L., Brondesbury. BEES AS EDUCATORS. [101G.] No sooner does a person become the owner of a colony of bees than he looks around to see what are the prospects of future gain. Heretofore he drove or rode along the highways, noticing the ruts, bridges, fences, and houses, but now his vision takes in a wider range. His observation is quickened, and trees, shrubs, and plants, have put on new life, as it were, to his en- livened faculties. From the first opening buds in Spring until the last rustling leaf has fallen, his interest never lags, as he constantly wratches the opening flowers, and notes with pleasure the busy workers roaming over them in quest of treasure to store in their hives. What was to him once a useless weed, to be cut down with the scythe, or whacked off with the hoe, is clothed in beauty and becomes a priceless treasure. Whoever saw any beauty in the tigwort, or watched for the appearance of its tiny cupboard, looked down into their depths for the first appearance of sparkling nectar, but a bee-keeper? Or whoever saw any utility in Spanish needles, or beggar-ticks ? There is a bond of friendship i -si-ting between the bee-keeper and nectar -bearing- plants, and they appear to spring up to greet him wherever he goes. The Indian calls white clover ' The White Man's Foot,' and well he may, for its modest flower soon appears as the harbinger of peace and plenty. 606 THE BKITISH BEE JOUKNAL. [December 13, 1888. Soils. — The interest thus awakened in plants soon takes on a wider range and extends to the soil. Seeds of sweet clover (rnelilot) are scattered on gravelly soil, take root, penetrating deeply, keep it from washing and dying ami add to its fertility. Dreary wastes thus become clothed with verdure, adding to the beauty of the landscape and yielding choice nectar, tit food for gods. On a recent trip of a dozen miles on a railroad leading out from this city, we were agreeably surprised to rind this plant growing luxuriantly nearly the whole distance, and some deep cuts were so covered with it that the soil could not be seen. It is to be hoped that the officers of the railroads will appreciate the utility of this plant in keeping the soil, from washing away and pre- venting damage and danger thereby, and foster its growth. I have seen the yellow variety of this plant growing on the borders of salt marshes on the shores of Long Island Sound. Marshes and wet lands along rivers and water-courses, come in for a share of attention by the bee-keeper. His eye quickly detects anything in the interest of his winged stock. If by digging a ditch and running off water the growth of favourite bee-plants is promoted, it is done. He then benefits his neighbours as well as himself, for, as the ground becomes dry, blue grass and the clovers will take root, thus promoting grazing for stock, and malaria will disappear. New plants will spring up as if by magic, the button bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) growing in water. It seems as if the seed of honey plants rattled from the bee-keepers' clothes. The seed of many honey plants is food for birds, which are our friends and co-workers in destroying many noxious insects. — (Mrs.) L. Harrison, Peoria, Ills. {Prairie Farmer) LATE QUEENS. AltE YOUXO QUEENS THAT REFUSE TO LAY LATE IN THE FALL NECESSARILY UNFERTILE P [1917.] I have just had my attention called to a matter which interests me from a scientific point of view. One of the most prominent queen-breeders in the Northern States writes me that his queens which have come forth from the queen-cells on and after September 15th are none of them laying, although he has practised feeding them. Drones are abundant, and have been flying freely every two or three days, and often for several consecutive days together. Some of the queens have flown out that were more than ten days old. He adds, further, that some imported queens which have just arrived he has failed to make lay, even though he has fed the colonies. This breeder is of the opinion that these queens are impregnated, and will lay all right if kept till another spring. One of the queens was sent me for microscopic examination, that 1 might confirm or disprove the breeder's opinion by a discovery of the facts. The queen looked like a non-laying impregnated queen. I examined the contents of her spermatheca, and found that she had been impregnated. The contents swarmed with the thread-like sperm-cells (spermatozoa), which positively attest that she had successfully mated (see ia>t edition of Bee-Keepers Guide, p. 102, where the sperm-cells are illustrated and the process of fecundation fully described). Now, it seems well established that, while laying, the queen is fed with chyle, or digested food, by the workers. Is it not probable that, in this case, the workers, realising that the time for egg-laying for this season is past, refuse to yield of their digested aliment, and so the queen, of course, cannot lay ? I believe the explanation lies just in this fact. The workers refuse to feed the queen with the proper food, and her eggs are, as a consequence, not developed. Of course it is just pos- sible that living so long — months— before egg-laying, she may never be a very fertile queen, possibly be wholly sterile ; but I should not expect this. It is a frequently observed fact that when a queen once stops laying in the fall, at the close of the honey-harvest, feeding ofttimes wholly fails to start egg-laying again. It seems to me quite probable that the cause is the same as before. The worker-bees refuse to furnish food of the requisite quality. Have not some of our extensive queen-breeders, like Hutchinson, Alley, Koot, &c, observed on this matter of queens before ? If so, have they found such queens any less valuable the next year ? I hope our friend who has just sent me the queen for dissection will keep all the other queens, note results carefully next spring, and inform us of the facts. I think the matter an interest- ing one, and very possibly it has practical significance as well. — A. J. Cook, Agricultural College, Michigan. (American B. Journal.) INTRODUCING VIRGIN QUEENS. [1918.] It is the exception to the rule that any colony or nucleus that has been queenless seventy-two hours or more will readily accept a young queen just hatched from a cell. With such introduction of young queens almost every bee-keeper is familiar. After a queen becomes twelve hours or more old, the conditions for her safe introduction are changed, and it becomes an exception to the rule if she is not killed if introduced by any plan of direct introduction. Special conditions must be created, the most essential of which is absolute queenlessness of the colony or nucleus to which it is desired to introduce such a queen. By this is meant the taking away of the queen and all unsealed brood. These measures, whatever else is done, are imperative to success. And further it is also required, as a rule, and particularly with each of the yellow races of bees, that the colony or nucleus has had a laying queen for at least twenty-one days, or until her young bees begin to hatch out. If the attempt is made before this to introduce an old virgin queen, and especially if to a nucleus that has several times been deprived of its queen before her brood hatches, there will be found no trouble to introduce the queen, but she will not be allowed to fly out and mate, but will be balled to death on her first attempt to leave the hive. This, however, is a common occurrence where queens just hatched are run into such nuclei, and often occurs in full colonies. The trouble in all such cases is from laying workers. There are also certain details of procedure required to insure uniform success, but the following may be de- pended upon: — We will take, for example, a virgin queen received by mail, that may be from one to ten days old ; she is placed where she is safe for twenty- four hours, but not near the hive selected to introduce her. First, remove the reigning queen. The next day, towards evening, prepare a hive or nucleus with one comb of honey, and fill out with frames of empty comb or combs of all sealed brood, or with frames of founda- tion. Cage the virgin queen alone in a cage having a little 'Good' candy, and insert next to the comb of honey or brood. Now shake all the bees into this pre- pared hive, or upon a sheet in front of the hive, and give the combs from which the bees are shaken to another colony. The bees will be greatly excited over the loss of their brood, but will get quiet during the night. In forty-eight hours the queen may be liberated in the evening, and is certain to be well received, and to mate in a few days. After she has mated and is laying, the brood taken away may be returned, or that from other colonies given, as desired. In giving all sealed brood to the prepared colony, great care is required to exclude any unsealed brood, for, should there be only one worker egg left, failure is almost certain, as the bees will choose it rather than the December 13, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 607 mature queen. When I use sealed brood for the purpose, it is always taken from a colony that has been queenless not less than nine days, and all cells removed. Virgin queens inayr also be introduced to any full colony that has been queenless nine days after first cutting' out all cells ; but the young queen, if more than twelve hours old, must be caged from twenty-four to forty-eight hours. They may be introduced to nuclei in the same manner, but are liable to be balled when they attempt to lly out to mate. Probably one half to two thirds of the queens so introduced will be allowed to mate, the risk diminishing with the strength of the nucleus. The writer has tried almost every experiment to introduce old virgin queens, but with poor success, except by the methods here given. The first is well- nigh infallible, as it is also in the introduction of laying queens. — Dr. G. L. Tinker, JVeio Philadelphia, O. (American Apiculturist). A FEW THOUGHTS FOR CHILDREN ABOLT YOUNG BEES. [1910.] There is a good deal more in a colony of bees than the honey and wax they produce. They are models of industry, neatness, and order. About the first lines engraved on the plastic clay of my memory', are those of Watts:— 1 How doth the little busy bee Improve each shining hour, And gather honey all the day, From every opening iiower. ' How skilfully she builds her cell, How neat she spreads the wax, And labours hard to store it well With the sweet food she makes.' Children should be taught to watch the bees as they go in and out of their hives, and, particularly, notice that each individual bee has a duty to perform for which it is accountable. The guards protect the entrance against all intruders, and no enemy is allowed to pass without resistance. It i.s amusing to watch a bumble- bee as it tries to evade the guards and gain access to the rich stores within. How soon his back is mounted, and 'policemen' tit his side bring him forth, as he loudly buzzes and struggles for freedom. Bees from neigh- bouring hives are not allowed to enter without showing their passport, which is a well-filled sac of nectar, while all paupers are denied entrance. Woe betide the moth that has the presumption to knock at the door of a strong- colony of Italians, for it will never try that game again. When the young drone-bee emerges from the cell, he looks around for something good to eat. If he is not fed by the field-workers, he goes to a cell and helps himself. This he is allowed to do ad libitum, until his duties com- mence, which in his case is to fertilise a queen. He daily sallies forth in quest of her, to perform the task for which was the purpose of his creation, and in the per- formance yields up his life. If he is not needed for this duty, he must 'walk the plank," for no needless members are allowed, but all must succumb to the good of the commonwealth. The young worker is allowed a few days to eat and digest food, wdien her duties as nurse to the larvae and queen commence. The duties of the queen are so onerous, in the produc- tion of so many eggs, that her system is not capable of sustaining the draught unless her food is given her in a half-digested state, so that it readily assimilates. The queen, even, is not allowed in the hive if she does not perform her duties properly. She must not ' skip any stitches," but go round and round in a circle, using every cell; and her progeny must be able to perform their duties, or she is ejected. Woe betide her if she rears all ' boys ' and no ' girls,' and her owner finds it < nit. When the worker's duties of a nurse are completed, she takes a rest in secreting wax and building comb, and is allowed a play-spell after dinner, that she may learn tlie location of her hive. Perhajps she is given a lesson now anil then in stinging, as she is always an adept at it. and ready, on the least provocation, to ' curl her tail.' We see moreof her in her capacity as guard and field- worker than in any other. She attends strictly to business, and, when gathering clover-honey, does not stop to smell the fragrance of roses, pinks, and posies, but goes quickly from one clover blossom to another. There is harmony in Nature, and Bhe must carry the fertilising powder from flower to flower, so that the seed will germinate and the plant be perpetuated.— (Mas.) L. Harrison, Peoria, Ills. (The Prairie Farmer.) Podin-gtox, Bedfordshire.— Alecture'on 'Bees and Bee-keeping by the improved method of the Bar-frame System,' was given by the Rev. E. Eade, rector of Farn- dish, in the schoolroom on Thursday evening, 29th ult., by the kind invitation of the Vicar, the Rev. Seneca W. Winter. The lecture was illustrated by the excellent lantern transparencies of Mr. Watkins of Hereford, which gained the bronze medal at the Royal Show at .Nottingham this year. These transparencies show the practical work in connexion with the new system, such a- driving the bees instead of killing them to take their stores, examining the brood, taking of sections, &c. The transparencies include also enlargements of parts of the bee, such a< the tongue, the sting, the hind leg, with its pollen basket, and wax pincers, and the first leg, with its hairs, comb, and eye-brush, &c. After describing these parts, and showing the wonderful arrangements of the bee for fulfilling the purposes for which it was made, and after showing that the value of the bee consists, not only iu its gathering nectar to convert into honey aud making wax, but also in fertilising the flowers and causing an increase in fruits and seeds, the lecturer strongly advocated the improved method of bee-keeping as being more humane and profitable than the old straw- kep system. The lecturer exhibited also specimens of the improved appliances, such as a bar-frame hive com- plete, section boxes, and extractor, &c. The lecture was highly appreciated throughout, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded for a most interesting and instruc- tive evening's entertainment. A Slight Empbcn bment.— Over a public-house door once hung a signboard, on which was painted a bee-hive, and the following lines underneath : — ' Within this hive we are all alive, Good liquor makes ui funny ; , If you are dry, step in and try The virtue of our honey.' A wag passing that road, however, thought he could improve the truthfulness of the inscription, so he altered it as follows : — ■ ' Within this hive we are dead and alive, Bad liquor makes us funny; If you are dry, step in, and we'll try To diddle you out of your money 1 ' ocs ixam tjn |jibcs. Denton, Lincolnshire, Dee. 7th. — Weather far sur- passing that of July. East night the glass did not go below 45", whilst several times here iu July it went down to 35°. To-day has been like an April day, birds singing most sweetly ; roses, jasmine, stocks, polyanthus, Christmas rose in bloom, and snowdrops look like blooming by Christmas if this continues; the fruit- buds plumping up and getting dangerously forward. Queen-wasp Sy fn i ly, of which (lure -cum.-, n itwith- 608 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [December IS, lggg. n standing the wet season, a goodly number, several have been destroyed. Bees have had some grand flights more or less this last mouth, which activity, although pro- ductive of health, also means a greater strain on winter stores, which some of us will do well to remember, and have some good candy ready at hand. — J. W. B. North Leicestershire, December 8th. — Bees were in full flight on seven occasions in November, and on the 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th inst. Temperature has been high, several times above /JO", and on the 5th it reached 54°. On that day the bees were on the wing from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., some few carrying in light pellets of pollen. Daisies by the hundred bespangle the pastures, and the following plants are showing plenty of bloom : — Butter- cups, violets, hepatica, primrose, gillyflower, stock, arabis, red and white dead-nettle, and various sprouting 'greens.'— E. B. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purcJiased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in adyauci of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. R. Baldwin. — 1. Hives in Cellars. — Put the hives out as soon as pollen can be freely obtained — in your locality, probably April. 2. Either use no floor, or, otherwise, block up the hive one or two inches from same. A. Paterson. — Recipe fur making Candy. —Into a tin saucepan put about three-quarters of a pint of water, let this boil, and gradually stir in 0 lbs. of white lump sugar. Keep it boiling, and stir to prevent burning. To test when it is done, dip your finger into cold water, then into the boiling sugar, and back again into the water ; if properly done, it will be crisp and brittle : or drop a little on a plate, and if it sets tolerably hard in cooling, it is done enough. If very sticky and soft, it must be boiled a little longer. When hard, take off the Are, and stir till it begins to set ; place paper into saucers, and pour the candy out into them. In half- an-hour it will be hard and ready for use. Great caution is requisite to prevent it from being burnt, as burnt sugar is injurious when it is fed in cold weather. Sunny Side.— 1 . Fumigating. — We see no way except emptying the hives flrst. 2. Winter Supplies. — We should give a half more than you name. 3. Evapora- tion.— We have no data to help you. 4. Syrup. — About \\ cwt. J.W. B. — Contagion of Foul-brood. — Decidedly, if proper precautions are not taken. business ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfleld, Berks. Woodlet & Flood, 26 Donnington Boad, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour A Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neiqhboub & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godman, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B. , Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. TIT IE British Bee-keepers' Association Established 1874. President: THE BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS. THE Committee appeal to Bee-keepers, Manufacturers of Bee-keeping Appliances, and others desirous of promoting our Home Industries, to become Annual Subscribers or Donors to any Special Branch of the Association's wrork. Subscriptions, 5s. and upwards per annum. Life Members, £5. The Association carries out its work by — The holding of Annual Exhibitions ; Assisting County Associations; Sending out Lecturers and Experts ; The publication of Literature relating to the best methods of Bee-culture ; The disposal of Bee-produce, &c, &C, &C. Secretary : John Hdckle, Kings Langley, Herts. London • Printed by Stranueways & Suns, at thoir Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., in the Parish of St. G"08'8-1"-']16- T! Tt ':., th0 County of Middlesex; and Published for the Proprietor by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in the same county— Dec. i», l«s». Fields, in t British Communications to the Editor to be addrened ' Stbanqewayb' Pbihtiho Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 339. Vol. XVI.] DECEMBER 20, 1888. [Published Weekly.] (Btntaxmlt |lotiast fa. HONEY IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. Recently a correspondent made an inquiry as to the places from which honey was imported into this country and the uses which were made of the honey so imported. We promised to reply to this 'inquiry as soon as we were in possession of the Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries and British Pos- sessions for the year 1887.' This Statement, which is now before us, is compiled in the Custom House from the documents collected by that Department, and presented to both Houses of Parliament. We may therefore place full reliance on the figures therein contained. The following tabular statement specifies the countries from which honey was imported in 1887, with the amount and value thereof: — cwt. £ From France 1,262 2*783 „ United States of America . . 3,50:2 5,343 „ Spanish West India Islands 4,379 3,628 „ Chile 3,189 2,808 „ Other Foreign Countries. . . . 509 048 Total from Foreign Countries 12,901 15,210 From Australasia 129 249 „ British West India Islands 550 502 „ Other British Possessions . . 3 4 683 815 Total 13,589 10,025 From the above we deduce that the mean value of the honey imported was 1/. 3s. 7 c/. per hundred- weight. There is a considerable noticeable differ- ence in the value of the respective honeys : that from France obtains the highest price, viz., 21. is. Od. per hundredweight ; that from Australasia 1/. 1 8s. Sd., and that from the United States 1?. 10s.; while the mean of those from the Spanish West India Islands, Chile, and the British West India Islands, is about 17s. 3c/. ; and we presume we are justified from the price in arriving at a valuation of the quality of the honey. But a considerable amount of the honey im. ported is, again, exported to other countries. The following are the amounts re-exported ; — cwt. £ ToGermanv ^OG 3,782 „ Holland' 4,274 30*J „ Other Foreign Countries 3,087 2,892 Total to Foreign Countries. . 10,907 10,220 To British Possessions 145 275 Total 11,H2 10,495 The mean price of the above is about 18*. 10vu. is a needless expense when a report, as good, if not better, could be inserted in one of the county periodicals, and cost perhaps nothing at all. — Dunbar. THE B. B. K. A. AND AFFILIATED ASSOCIATIONS. [1920.] I was agreeably surprised to see the article from the pen of the veteran Mr. W. B. Carr copied from the Record into the pages of this Journal issued on the ltith inst. As it is one with which the most radical reformer can find 1 he least fault, though 1 do not agree that any very alarming phase in the politics of bee- keeping has been reached. For obvious reasons, my being appointed one of the Sub-Committee to consider the advisability of altering the rules of affiliation, I do not wish to enter into any of the 2'ros or cons of these alterations, but write only to agree with Mr. Carr's timely warning to ' bear and forbear.' I am quite sure that if he had been present at the Sub- Committee meeting held a short time since he would not have for one moment thought that we looked anything like a formidable band of conspirators, as a more unim- passioned assembly never took place ; one of the points which took precedence of everything eLse was the fact that the leading lights of the present Committee were those who had for years, with unfailing energy and even con- siderable monetary loss, brought the industry of bee- keeping to its present flourishing and exalted position, and also inaugurated each one of the County Associations. The British B. K. A. have spent their energies in the production of County Associations. AVhy should they, then, endeavour to swamp the mother Association ? Such is far, very far, from their object. The object aimed at, and that solely, is to place the British on even a firmer footing than she now has ; to increase her financial stability, and not to alienate themselves from her or from other Associations, but to forge a stronger bond that will defy any attempt at severance. There will be no attempt made to sever the friendly relationship which must exist between the parent and affiliated Associations if bee-keeping is to prosper ; neither is there, or has there been, the remotest hint that County Associations are to be sacrificed for other affiliated Associations. This latter is simply an ogre conjured up in the imagination only. The effects of the wished - for reform must, and will, have an exactly opposite effect, and has been signally taken note of in the deliberations of the Sub - Committee. — W. B. Webster. SEASONS.- -EXPERIENCE. STINGS. -REMEDY FOR [1024.] The season in Scotland has been very wet, and it being my first at bee-keeping, I think I hear some of your readers saying, ' It will finish you then ;' but not so, for considering the season and my inexperience, I think I have done fairly well. In the beginning of the season I had two stocks in frame-hives, and one in a skep ; altogether three stocks, from which I had five swarms, disposed off in the following manner : two were put in frame-hives and fed, one in a skep, one sought a home of its own, and the fifth was successfully returned to the parent stock in a frame-hive, but never took to the sections. My honey, amounting to between 50 and 00 lbs., was taken as follows: — 39 lbs. from frame-hive, which did not swarm ; 12 lbs. from other frame-hive and its first swarm ; and 7 lbs. from the stock in skep, which I drove. I make some of my frame-hives (single-walled) myself, others (double-walled) I get from the village joiner, from whom I also get my crates, feeders, &c. I do not know in which hives the bees will winter the best, but I woidd rather have the single-walled for ease i n working with. My single-walled hives are made with a middle tier, which gives plenty of room over frames (which are British standard size) for packing. To make sure of straight combs, I think the frames should not be more than If in. from centre to centre. I tried some li in., but the bees built up between them. I have eight stocks to winter this year, three of which are made up of cottagers' driven bees, which can be got here for the driving. There was very little honey to be found in the cottagers' skeps this autumn. I think from twenty hives which I drove there would not be 15 lbs. of honey. I have been advising them to feed, but they seem to grudge the expense, so instead of strong stocks next year they will most likely have empty skeps. The following is a good remedy for stings : — Into a phial of about one gill capacity, put one teaspoonf ul of ground alum, and one teaspoonf ul of powdered ammonia, fill half full of warm water, but do not cork, or it will burst the phial. When settled, fill up, cork, and shake, and it is ready for use. The bottle must be heated before the warm water is poured in, or it will break Shake the mixture before using. — Wigtonshire, Dec. 1. WIDE ENTRANCES, RAPID FEEDING, AND IMPERYIOUS QUILTS.— DYSENTERY. [1925.] There you are ! ladies and gentlemen, with three matters of theory, which, when carefully practised, will fill your apiaries with the fourth, i.e. dysentery, and consequent destruction. It is astonishing to me, Mr. Editor, that bee-keepers are not content to go forward on well-known highways that lead to success, and that there is so strong a disposition to make short cuts along- doubtful and disused roads that are misleading, and end in disappointment and destitution. Wide entrances for winter are bad, rapid feeding for winter is bad, and im- pervious quilts for winter wear are bad also, and those who practise or use them will have cause to remember my warning when it is too late — i.e. when dysentery and death are decimating the bees and filling the hives with corruption. I do not think any one will make even pretence-of-pretending that entrances 0 in. wide do not cause hives to be colder than if they were only 1 in. in width, and more particularly when the combs within the hives hang at right angles to the said entrances. 618 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [December 20, 1888. Nor will it be pretended that an impervious quilt will permit the escape from the hive of the moist vapours naturally generated by the bees in greater or less degree in proportion to their consumption of stores ; but all will agree that heat may pass through such quilts more or less, no matter how carefully they may be padded. Here, then, we have the moist vapours retained in a cold hive with the inevitable certainty that it will con- dense and form water, which water, saturating the hive, will make it colder still, and will cause the bees to con- sume their stores more largely for the production of heat, and in the generation of heat more moist vapour will be produced, and there will be more condensation and more water, and the usual results will follow, much intensified if late rapid feeding has prevented the stores being properly stowed round the bee-nest, evaporated, and sealed over. Years ago, before the B.B.J, appeared, and its late editor (myself) had not assumed the position of ' bee-keepers' adviser,' when solid crown-boards had not given place to porous quilts, and 'feeding ' had not become a science, the ' wintering of bees ' was the chief stumbling-block in the way of all bee-keepers, dysentery running riot and playing havoc in almost every apiary, and slaying the bees by thousands. The early numbers of the Journal contain reports of many cases of dysentery, and much advice on the subject, and in No. 19, for November, 1874, in an article from my pen, there are shown the causes of the disease and the means of pre- vention, and what I then wrote I adhere to now, after fourteen years' further experience with wide open eyes. A cold hive, sealed against the escape of the vapours evolved from the bee cluster, and becoming colder and colder as its walls become damp, moist, and saturated, forces the bees to increased and increasing consumption of food for heat-producing purposes, and this acts and reacts in various ways; one of which, though not generally known, very much increases the liability to dysentery. It is a peculiar fact, that the abnormal con- sumption of food for heat - producing during severe weather causes such general disturbance and excitement of the bees and queen, that ovipositing is almost certain to be commenced and patches of brood to be produced ; and, as a consequence, bee-pap has to be forthcoming, necessitating the services of many nurse-bees and the gradual filling and distention of hundreds of them with faecal matter, which they cannot discharge because of the cold and the impossibility of a cleansing flight. I have written, and widened experience confirms me in the belief that it is true, ' that bees cannot, discharge them- selves except when on the wing ' — and therefore those in the condition above named, being unable to fly, burst in the hive, poisoning the atmosphere with their filth, and adding to the causes of sickness and disorder. In early days I opened many dysenteric stocks, and always found breeding going on, combs soiled with filth, and dead and dying bees upon the floor-boards ; but now-a-days the disease has no terrors. I use a porous quilt (well padded above), which permits insensible upward ventilation, and the passing away of moist vapours from the hive. I never permit rapid feeding, but give the bees time to store and evaporate their syrup. I narrow the hive entrances to about three-quarters of an inch in width, and I permit a little ventilation under the back dummy, which prevents accumulation of deleterious gases in the bottom of the hive, and, as a consequence of these pro- ceedings, dysentery and I have parted company for many years. — C. N. Abbott, Southall, December 8th. [Our correspondent is rather hard on the advocates of the three modern theories on which he descants, and his forecast that 'a fourth ("matter of theory?") i.e. dysentery,' will supervene, causing destruction in our apiaries, is, we think, hardly to be deemed trustworthy when considered in the light of modern experience. During the last four years we have wintered successfully from forty to fifty colonies under the precise conditions condemned, viz., under enamelled cloth, supplemented by warm quilts, or chaff or cork cushions, with ample lower ventilation, and we have experienced neither internal dampness nor dysentery, albeit under the old system we suffered from both, and especially from the blocking up of the narrowed entrances by dead bees and refuse matter. As regards the advantages of rapid feeding, we thought there were hardly two opinions, especially in a season like the present, when winter stores were simply nil. Our own colonies were fed from rapid feeders during the latter part of August and throughout September, and their stores were duly ripened and beautifully sealed over. As we find things, so we speak, and we are quite sure our old friend would not wish us to act otherwise. We may add that some of our colonies are wintered with entrances the whole width of the hive ; these were kept wide open, and merely protected from drifting snow and rain, while our frames all range at right angles to the entrances. — Ed.] EXPEDIENCES. [1926.] I beg to tender my sincere thanks for the good and timely advice contained in your Journal; advice which, had I been without, would have ended in total loss of stocks to myself, and to several of my friends. I am sorry that I can't induce bee-keepers to invest in the weekly Journal; they don't see the good to be derived by so doing as I do. They think they have done very well hitherto, and expect to do likewise in the future. I do know this, that had I not gained the knowledge by a careful perusal of your Journal, Record, &c, bee-keeping in my own immediate neigh- bourhood would have by this time been over. I have six stocks on frames, all fed. To feed I have used 1 cwt. of sugar as advised, fed to bees by use of three rapid feeders, my own construction, from know- ledge of how to make per Journal, over the frames a cake of candy from an excellent recipe in December Record. Yesterday, Sunda}', I could not resist the temptation of looking to see how matters stood. I had a theory ; this was it: The weather here in the Fylde, has been so mild since the departure of autumn that, except on a few occesions, the bees have been almost daily stirring (I mean, a few dozens of them) ; on sunny days more especially so. This constant exercise must necessitate a larger consumption of food, and hence the stores to carry them through the winter must be greatly dimin- ished. That being the case, whilst the weather is open, I thought I would look. I looked, and satisfied myself that if the weather does not turn to frost, and be like a ' gradely ' winter, as we say in Lancashire, skeppists or bo.vists will have been thrust out, and probably as many bar-framers too. So I made my cakes and put them on, wrapped up snug. This is how I do it : Contract to number of frames able to cover, pack behind dummy with cork-dust, or scales or husks from the windmill, which are perfectly dry, having been stoved. This packing is in a bag of paper just the size of spaces, and kept up in its place in front by tacks, so as not to obstruct entrance or exit. Quilt on top of cake, and, of course, top of frame also. I procured four boxes from grocer (mustard boxes), made them size of hive (interior measurement), tacked quilting on bottom, filled, up to depth of 3 in. with cork-dust. Above box is a sack doubled thrice. Entrance about 3 in. wide, J in. high. I was visited by the expert on September 19th, who found two stocks queenlejs, of which I was well aware. Young queens were in the hives, but not ferti- lised. He advised me to unite or buy queens. I bought one from Webster, and introduced it. It immediately began to lay, and I strengthened it by two bars of brood from two best hives. The other young queen was born August 29th, I had hopes of her becoming fertilised, December 20, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 619 and -would not supplant her. I had watched her come and go many times, but -without success. On September 25th I noticed eggs. Good. But, I thought, don't be in a hurry. Will they be fertile ? that is, produce workers ? In a few days the capping satisfied me. I put on a feeder, and had the satisfaction of soon seeing eggs and brood on four frames, the centre ones being almost filled. Is it exceptional for queens to mate at that age, over thirty clays? On Saturday last, having noticed the ravages of wax- moth, I fumigated all spare combs and sections with sulphur, and packed up securely. Not that I had not done so before ; I had them in air and insect-tight boxes, but it was well I looked at them. In one of my rapid feeders, which had not been emptied, I found two dead bees and a queen. I am satisfied it was a queen by comparison — length, shape, &c. Now, how is it that a queen was found in the rapid feeder ? Is it a circumstance before noticed ? Do they themselves go in quest of food ? The worst about it is, I can't remember from which hive the feeder was taken, having used three. Will you kindly answer my queries and accept my thanks for past favours ? — Honey Flow. [It is very unusual for a queen to be fertilised so late in the season, there must have been drones in your or some neighbouring hive. Fertilisation thirty days after hatching is also an unusually long period, but in your case there was no means of telling but what she had been fertilised some time before. Queens when fertilised late in the season are often rather dilatory in commencing egg- laying ; by this you will see that no doubt she was ferti- lised some time before the expiration of thirty days. Are you quite sure it was a queen you found in the rapid feeder ? Bees drowned in syrup frequently become so elongated that a novice might mistake such an one for a queen. You should have sent her to us for identification. An accident of this kind might occur at the time of placing on feeder, the excitement consequent on same causing the bees to rush up in a body to the feed, the queen being carried along with them. If you have the bee still in your possession and will send it to us we will definitely settle the point for you. —Ed.] NOTES ON BEE-HIVES.— SECTIONS. [1927.] As the subject of glass sections is being dis- cussed at the present moment, I should like to say, during the honey season of 1886 Ihadsomeglass sections worked which were made from round 2-lb. honey-bottles. I took my glass cutter and cut slices off the bottle, like Fig. 1. It was difficult to cut the bottles, but I managed to make sufficient to try what I wanted. The black lines on Fig. 1 will show where the cutter was applied. I took two slices, each -',■" wide for each section, placing a sheet of Dadant's extra thin wax found- ation— between these slices, and by means of a small amount of pres- sure, the foundation was firmly fixed instantly and without the slightest trouble, excepting cutting the superfluous foundation from around the outside. Next, each section was placed in a frame (very similar to what was illustrated in Gleanings a few weeks ago) made from a rectangular piece of wood H inch thick. Holes were turned out on the lathe of sufficient size to contain those circular sections. The rectangular piece of wood was cut to fit within a Heddon wide frame, and then it was sawn into two equal parts. Fig. 2 will show the shape of the wood block with Fig. l. three holes into which the glass sections are placed. The block fits into a Heddon frame not delineated. Fig. 2. These sections looked lovely ! I had them beautifully sealed over, not a single pophole in any of the few that were prepared. If the glass sections had been cast they would have been excellent. Was it not curious that a similar idea should have occurred in America, only wood was used instead of glass ? — T. Bonner-Chambers, F.L.S., Tref Eglwyt, Caersws, Montgomeryshire, November 27th. CROWN-BOARDS. [1028.] I should like to suggest to the writer of (1806) that he will find the crown-board he purposes making improved if he divides it into three or four parts. I have one divided into four parts, each part is four inches wide, and has a quarter-inch rib underneath. It has been in use since last March, and I am so well satisfied with it, that I intend making more like it. It is a great advantage to the bees to be able to run over the tops of the frames, also to have the tops of the frames free from propolis is a great comfort. The tearing off of the cover, be it calico or cloth, is very irritating, both to the manipulator and to the bees, and often disarranges the frames ; also it gives the bees a lot of hard work to plaster it down again. I consider the covering of a hive the most defective part of the hive, and greatly needs improvement. The crown-board is indestructible, and is by far the cheapest in the end since only one flannel is required, and even this can be dispensed with. There is no crushing of bees when replacing the boards, as with the ordinary cover. I adopt the same plan with my section-crates. The crate holds eight sections, and a lid with a quarter-inch rib underneath covers the crate. The passage over the sections of course checks bee-passages in the sections, and prevents propolis on the top of the sections, and facilitates work. The lid can be lifted off with one hand to see how the sections are getting on ; owing to the ease of lifting it the bees offer, as a rule, no objection to its removal. Both these arrangements will be found lacking in some respects, since a disadvantage is the companion of every device under the sun. — Hive. (£rlj0cs from % giks. Pontypridd (near), December lith.— My sixteen stocks have so far withstood the rigour of winter (?) exceedingly well. To-day, during a burst of sunshine, they enjoyed a general flight, and did a little business besides in the way of pollen-gathering, which proceeding at this time of year seems to me to be decidedly heterodox. Whence was this pollen ? Mr. Dobbie does not credit borage with any pollen value, or I should have no doubt in saying that this late bee-bread came from that source. I certainly observed the bees, laden with small white 620 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [December 20, 1888. pellets, busily engaged on these flowers. It looks as if 1 shall have borage in flower for some weeks yet. — East Glamorgan. Kirklandhill, Dunbar, December Wth. — Perhaps it may be of use to you to say how I make my candy for bees. I first make ' autumn ' syrup and into this stir ' iceing sugar ' till the stuff is like ' Good ' candy. I find it excellent. — Ditnbab. Malta, December 8th. — Hives going very fairly well. Bees not been shut up yet for a single day, and the honey coming in fast, and heaps of pollen. Native queens breeding fast ; in fact, in two strongest hives I have to take away full combs and substitute empty to give her room. Foreigners — Ligurian and Cyprian — not doing much ; they are not yet acclimatised. I find feeding only necessary in August, September, and October. Unless we get some rain, I fear much for clover crop. I fancy natives much resemble Minorcans — very small and black, and determined honey-gatherers : very prolific, and somewhat savage. — Malta. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS. A. W. F. — Orer-salted Syrup. — The sample of food sent was much, very much too salt; there must have been quite a large quantity put in, as half-an-hour after tasting it we could still taste the salt distinctly. We must own that we have never dosed our bees with salt in so immoderate a manner as to cause any destruc- tion of stocks. We should consider that the food was too salt for their consumption, and so they had starved rather than eat it. The surviving stock, no doubt, had stores of its own and so had no occasion to feed from the salted stores. An immoderate use of salt will 'kill some animals, especially the carnivora, but whether such applies to hees we are unable to tell. R. S. — 1. Sufficiency of Stores. — We should feel inclined to say that your bees have sufficient stores to tide them over the winter; but as you appear to be apprehensive of their food running short, you could quietly insert a cake of candy over the frames without disturbing the cluster. 2. Watertight Hives. — By covering them with Willesden Card. T. D. G. C. — We regret that we are unable to say whether the lecture adverted to has been printed in e.rtenso. Professor Miall, Philosophical Hall, Leeds, would be able to give the desired information. J. D. M. — We thank you for trouble taken in for- warding the extracts ; but we have neither the desire nor the time to notice their origin. J. W. — Hive blown over. — We quite approve of the means vou have taken to rectify the mischief. J. K. — The sample of sugar sent is very good, but nqt quite as suitable as the 'iceing' sugar for the purpose proposed. *#* In consequence of the intervention of Christmas day, our next number will be published on Monday, the 2ith. We should therefore be obliged by all communications and advertisements being forwarded by Saturday, the 22nd. The next number will contain Title and Index to the Volume for 1888. ^Business directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Bubtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Bintield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Boad, Beading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin, Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. f the various kinds of wax other than European, the West Indian, Egyptian, and Barbary wax are highly prized. The American wax, of which large quantities find their way into this country, has evidently not come within the cognisance of M. Dennler. The principal use of wax for many years was for Divine service, and as Christianity spread so did the consumption of wax increase. The bleaching of wax was a distinct trade, and some idea may be formed of its extent by the fact that in Hamburg, towards the end of the seventeenth century, there were above fourteen bleaching-houses for wax. The wax trade suffered a great diminution at the time of the Reformation, seeing that tapers were disused at the services of the Protestant churches. At the present day the use of wax is not confined to its powers of giving light ; it is extensively used for many other purposes. Its ductility and firm- ness render it essential in making wax figures and in modelling. It is also found very serviceable for many housekeeping purposes. Wax is employed largely in medicine, as also in numerous cosmetic specialities. At the exhibition that took place in Zurich some years ago there were shown twenty- two different articles in which wax was a con- stituent. We now proceed to extract from the ' Annual Statement of Trade' the amount and value of wax imported and exported in the year 1887. The following tabular account specifies the countries 622 THE BRITISH ; — ■ om which wax has been imported, together with the amount and value of the same : — cwts. £ From Germany 7,049 15,:i71 „ France 2,722 13,975 „ Portugal 313 1,483 „ Italy 390 2,100 „ Morocco 1,613 8,013 „ Madagascar 700 3,847 „ Japan 1,433 3,597 „ United States of America 4,318 32,852 „ Chile 530 3,535 „ Brazil 1,250 3,043 „ Other Foreign Countries 847 3,787 Total from Foreign Countries 21,270 91, 003 From West African Settlements 778 4,584 ,, British Possessions in South Africa 1,322 0,872 „ British East Indies 079 3,073 „ Hong Kong 475 1,238 „ Australasia 682 3,871 „ British West India Islands 1,140 7,085 „ Other British Possessions 130 701 Total from British Possessions 5,218 28,324 Total 20,488 119,927 It would be very difficult to offer any opinion as to the quality of the wax brought into this country. There are so many different kinds of wax, vegetable, mineral, and insect, that without the aid of the experienced analyst, it would be impossible to pre- dicate the virtues thereof. We may, however, from the value stated deduce the quality of the article. The mean value of the wax imported is 11. 10s. Gi/. per cwt. The United States send a large amount, and their wax fetches the highest value, viz., 7/. 12s. 2c/. per cwt. Germany sends the largest amount, but the value is only about 2/. 4x. per cwt. The following amounts are re-exported : — ■ cwts. £ To Germany 1,230 3,760 „ Holland' 1,302 5,739 „ Belgium 1,150 4,877 „ France 945 3,634 „ Other Foreign Countries 2,'_'47 6,853 Total to Foreign Countries 0,880 24,809 To British Possessions 210 424 Total 7,090 25,293 This, therefore, leaves for home consumption the large amount of 19,392 cwts. of the value of 94,634/. We also give the quantities and value of wax imported in the year 1887, together with those of the two preceding years : — 1885. 1886. 1887. 38,295 cwts. 30,826 cwts. 26.488 cwts. 149,253;. 126,377/. 119,927/. The amount and value re-exported during the same years were : — ■ 1885. 1880. 1837. 10,328 cwts. 10,718 cwts. 7,096 cwts. 36,706/. 39,73]/. 25,29:;/. BEE JOUKNAL. [December 24, 1888. We gather from the above figures that there exists a great demand for wax ; and this demand proves that, notwithstanding all the advances which have been made in the arts and sciences, and all the progress that has been made in chemistry, no sub- stitute has yet been discovered for bees-wax ; and it is a question to which a reply should be given by the intelligent British bee-keeper, to what extent his attention should be directed to the greater produc- tion of wax, more especially in the light of a disastrous season like that through which he has just passed, — a season in which his exertions for the produce of honey have been baffled and foiled by influences over which he has had no control. HUNTINGDON BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. For some time it has been somewhat apparent that the Hunts Bee-keepers' Association had not achieved the object for which it was inaugurated. And after a season of no profit to bee-keepers, it was generally ex- pected that the Society would fall through. A meeting of the Association was held at the Fountain Hotel, Huntingdon, on Saturday afternoon. The Right Hon. the Earl of Sandwich occupied the chair. There were also present A. W. Marshall, Esq., T. Coote, jun., Esq., the Rev. C. G. Hill, and several others, more or less interested in the object of the Association. The prizes awarded this season were distributed, and the Secretary, Mr. C. N. White, proceeded to explain the position of the Society. The object of their existence, said lie, was to show to cottagsrs and labourers how to increase the produce of honey. But there they stood still. The cottagers wanted some assistance in the sale of their produce. The Earl of Sandwich suggested that the agricultural labourer was welcome to take advantage of the oppor- tunities given by Societies in a great variety of ways. He hoped they would, at least, see that the Society was working for their benefit. Mr. While agreed that it was difficult to do anything for them. Bat their erf orts for the agricultural labourer had not been to any extent in the direction they had been to others. When the Association was started, the main object was to get to them first. Mr. J. H. Howard said it was evident that the labourer had been left far behind. The work of the Society had fallen into the hands of those for whom it was not intended. Mr. Coote thought that one reason of failure was the difficulty experienced in placing the produce in the market. He would suggest that there should be a depot at the principal market towns in the county where the cottager could sell his honey. The Earl of Sandwich thought the cottager did not care about the matter. Mr. Coote thought they would care about it if it was pointed out to them in the light of a means for additional income. Mr. White said they had to consider whether they were carrying out the purpose of the Association. It had been said that they were making such rapid strides that the labourer had been left behind. They should be kept up with him. They, as members of the Association should have been with him helping him along. He was convinced that if a depot was formed it would be a thorough success. It was not necessary that it should be a great expense to the Association ; but if it were, it should be incurred, and the annual show left altogether. He had suggested that the County should be amalga- mated with Cambridgeshire. He thought that the two counties working together would produce an excellent result, The University alone would probably take pretty December 24, 1888.] THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL. 623 nearly all the honey made in the two counties. Let the depot be established, and let the shows go ; and if it were the wish of bee-keepers in the county, it would be well to consider whether it was advisable to amalgamate the two counties. The Cambridgeshire Association was, he thought, in a somewhat similar position. The subsequent speakers approved the idea. Ulti- mately, a committee of six gentlemen was formed to take the necessary steps in the matter before the meeting in January, and to make an appeal for funds. It is generally hoped, adds our correspondent, that they will be successful, and that the Association will maintain the position in the county. (tarespoittoita. Tlie Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, £c, must be addressed only to *The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.G.* All business communications relating to Advertisements, £c, must be addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). *»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS AND THE BRITISH. [1929.] I have read with much interest the discussions on this subject in the British Bee Journal, and as one who held the office of Hon. Secretary for over ten years iu one of the first County Associations I feel great interest in their welfare. It is much to be regretted that the relations between the County Associations and the Central should he strained in the slightest degree. Much, no doubt, remains to be done, both by the Central and County Associations ; but the want of funds is a great barrier. Great schemes may be formulated, but they cannot be put into practice for the want of the sinews of war to push them through the length and breadth of the British Isles. Reforms may be needed, but in our desire to advance this and that pet scheme (for the most part untried), let us be careful and not sweep away the platform from which so much good has emanated. The old ship has weathered many storms, but it does not follow, because a plank here and a rope there wants repairing, that the craft is unfit for use, and must, as some would have it, be broken up and replaced by another of an entirely new design. County Associations have many obstacles to steer clear of. Some counties may with advantage be divided into two or more Societies, aud in other parts it is found well to unite two counties under one head. District clubs have been known to work considerable good, and always go hand-in-hand with the county organization ; but in some counties this Home Rule has been the cause of the collapse of the entire machinery. Unity is strength, but the occasional failure of philanthropic schemes through want of concert among those starting and working them reminds me of the story which once happened to a pair of trousers. The young man to whom they belonged had purchased them for his wedding, and on the eve of that auspicious day he discovered they were too long by two inches. He told his mother and two sisters, who said, ' They must he shortened,' and said no more to him just then, nor to each other, all being busy. But in the course of the evening his mother went upstairs, cut off two inches, hemmed the trousers, aud put them back in the drawers. At supper-time his eldest sister remembered his request ; she stole away, and removed another two inches, aud returned without saying what she had done. Bedtime came, aud the younger sister bethought herself of his difficulty, and the trousers were again diminished by two inches. We can imagine the result when they came to be put on. If his mother and sisters had con- sulted together what mishaps might have been spared ! County Associations have carried out part of their original programme, the bee-tent is well known in many districts ; but because driving bees and transferring combs have been thoroughly illustrated, it does not follow that the bee tent has become obsolete. There are the higher branches of scientific apiculture yet to be taught, and the minds of the rural population are now educated, aud can follow advanced suggestions, which would have appeared worse than double Dutch ten years ago. Two or more shows iu the year are good, as they create healthy rivalry, but prize schedules require revising. Referring to county representatives aud their relations to the British Association, a slight modification is required; but if the two representatives from each affiliated Association are to be ex-qfficio members of the central body — why, the very thought of it is sufficient ! Every one knows the evil of a large committee, and if affiliated Societies are to be multiplied, and their repre- sentatives are (with the Committee of the Central) to form one body to carry out the work of the parent, a block must arise. The British or Central Society's Committee consists of men who have done for so many years their best to advance the interests of bee-culture, generally, on phil- anthropic motives. The bee-keeping fraternity cannot but feel grateful to them for their zeal aud the good they have accomplished. Their duties consist of looking after the interests of their members, coupled with those towards the affiliated Societies; assisting those in their infancy in a greater degree, and doing all in their power for the remainder. County members get very nearly the same advantages as the British members, but they cannot expect the same. If the affiliation fees were five instead of one guinea, things might be different, and the counties might claim the right of saying how the funds should be spent for the good of the whole. The quarterly meetings were instituted for the various county representatives aud the Central Committee to confer together, to compare notes, to show how this plan of action had failed in one county, and how that scheme had proved a success in another county ; to have papers read on various subjects, &c. These national represen- tative gatherings would be for the benefit of bee-keepers throughout the land ; as by the interchange of ideas, and the experiences of all, would create confidence in bee- keepers, illustrating to some the folly of carrying out this experiment, or the benefit derived by continuing another plan. All must hope that whatever is decided on will be for the mutual welfare of both the County Societies and the British Bee-keepers' Association. — ■ Wm. N. Griffin. COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS OF TIIE B. B. K. A. [1930.] The writer of letter No. 1905, who, I think, un- necessarily shelters himself under a nom de plume, disagrees with my remark that correspondence in the Bee Journal exhibits the fact that there is ' something wrong' in the connexion between the British and County Associations. He says he has failed to find anything showing that the relationship is ' unduly strained;' so have I, and I should regret to find the relationship in a condition that could fairly be thus described. I will only quote, in reply, from two com- munications on the subject. At the close of his letter (1860) Mr. Seager says, ' I should be exceedingly sorry if any action on my part tended in any degree to hinder the revival of good feeling between the parent Society and those in affiliation with it/ and Mr. Woodley (1801) says, 'I think no one will question the fact that the 624 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [December 24, 1888. interest of the County Associations in their worthy parent has been yetting somewhat cool of late years, and vice-rersd. I imagine the parent lias not shown that active interest in her children she did some few years back.' Now to my mind these two quotations do suggest Borne thing wrong, and that is all I stated. But I think it would be far better for (1905) — I would much rather refer to that gentleman's name — instead of denying the existence of friction between the British and County Associations to assist in removing the cause. I have now to reply to (1905's) query as to whether I, as a County secretary, have had a deaf ear turned to my suggestions. To that I reply emphatically No ! and I take this opportunity of thanking Mr. Huckle and the B.B.K. A. Committee for the manner in which all my communi- cations, except one, have been dealt with while I have acted in the capacity of County secretary. And now that the treatment of the County Associations by the B.B.K.A. is being brought into the controversy, I will mention the exception and the only cause of complaint I have personally to bring against the B.B.K.A. Com- mittee. Last year when I found that the interest in our Association was beginning to flag, 1 acceded to the request of the editor of the Hunts ( 'ounty News, and wrote and illustrated a series of articles of Modern Bee- keeping gratuitously, with the idea of benefiting our Association. To illustrate at my own expense would have been a rather heavy item, and one I could not add to the expense I then incurred as secretary, so I applied to Mr. Cowan requesting the loan of blocks of certain illustrations in Modern Bee-keeping. Mr. Cowan, who was then starting for America, informed me that my communication would be laid before the B.B.K.A. Com- mittee, and that he had no doubt my request would be granted. Judge of my surprise when I was informed that ' applications for the use of blocks have been so numerous that the Committee have (in the interest of the work itself) been compelled to retain them.' I thought then, and I still think, that when 1 was en- deavouring at some considerable expenditure of time and money (with a limited exchequer) to benefit our Association, I ought not to have had the cold shoulder given me by the B.B.K.A. Committee, at any rate, on so small a matter. (190o) next takes exception to my recommendation that half the B.B.K.A. Committee should consist of represnt- atives of County Associations, and speaks about five County Secretaries being members of the B.B.K.A. Committee at the present time. When I wrote my letter I was perfectly well aware of the composition of the B.B.K.A. Committee, but I should like to see those County Secretaries or other members on the Committee as the direct representatives of County Associations. I was greatly pleased to see the prominence given in the Bee Journal to the article in the Record by Mr. W. B. Carr, and I trust that his advice to avoid ' a policy of exasperation,' and to 'bear and forbear,' will not be ignored. I do not, however, see what valid objections can be raised to such men as Messrs. Lees McClure, Grimshaw, Webster, and Woodley, being on the B.B.K.A. Committee as representatives of the County Associations, with the power to speak and vote in all matters relating to County Associations, if not on all matters before the B.B.K.A. Committee. I for one should be sorry for the effort of reformation to be the cause of losing the services of those gentle- men of position and influence by whose exertions we are almost wholly indebted for the present state of apiculture in these islands, and I cannot think that the concession would have that result. Let the controversy be carried on in a determined but temperate spirit, and I am sanguine of a result satisfac- tory to all parties concerned.— C. N. White, Some/sham, Hunts, Dec. 15tA, 1888. COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS AND THE B.B.K.A. [1931.] I notice from your issue of the 13th inst. that Mr. A. D. Woodley [1909] has been kind enough to acknowledge the effect of (as he terms it) the sting of my communication inserted in a previous issue. I venture to hope that he will apply the remedy of mem- bership ; ho will find it the best remedy for his present affliction. Mr. Woodley has in previous issues made references to the constitution of the Committee of the Central Society, which may be very well passed by ; his state- ment, however, in your issue of the 13th should receive some attention. He states that the County Secretaries now forming part of the Committee 'are on that Com- mittee by virtue of their private subscriptions and per- sonal influence.' Nothing of the kind ; they are on that Committee by virtue of their readiness to serve a cause which they consider to be for their country's good, and by the votes of the members of the British Bee-keepers' Association. — A Member of the Centiiai. and of a County Association. NOTLS ON BEE HIVES.— SECTIONS. [1932.] In looking over the article on ' Glass Sec- tions,' in the Bee-keepers' Record for December, by Mr. William Raitt, I beg to point out that the first glass sections I described in the British Bee Journal last April were a kind that could be very readily made and tried by almost any bee -keeper without altering any existing apparatus. I intended, among other reasons, these simple glass sections to demonstrate the attractiveness and great beauty of glass sections ; time and experience would prove their worth. I cannot understand what Mr. Raitt means by saying he discarded glass sections years ago; yet he calls upon readers to witness that he claims to have used glass sections ten or more years ago, and that he can prove it. Perhaps Mr. Raitt will please give the exact meaning and weight, of his statements, because I understand that discarded things do not invalidate ' patents.' I can assure Mr. Raitt that I knew not, at the time of sending the description to the B. B. J. last April, of any person having used, or ever having proposed, such a device. I certainly do not wish for any honour for myself which is due to Mr. Raitt. I might here say that last Saturday I received a photo- graph of a glass section labelled 'The Hallamshire Glass Section '—this is similar, if not exactly identical, to the section I have described. The only difference that I can make out is the ' glazing glasses ' are fastened on with wire, and that there are passage-ways, or 'pop-holes,' at each corner; while my sections are almost invariably without ' pop - holes,' not any wire is used, but the 'glazing glasses' are fastened sufficiently for all purposes with invisible glass-cement. I understand from a friend, who has kindly and care- fully looked over the back numbers of the U. B. J., So., for me, that the only new feature is the exceedingly simple, quick, and secure method I have described of placing or arranging the glass slips until the comb-work is sufficiently done to allow the wooden section to be re- moved ad lib. Mr. Raitt dislikes the section I have described ! ' There is nothing like leather.' Probably we may see the cause for dislike when the two are placed side by side ; at present I can say all who have seen thv sections I have described and presented to them have pronounced them to be the ne plus ultra of sections — all, excepting a gentleman in Cornwall, who has not yet reported, and I am certain some have seen both kinds in question. For my own part I might say I should never put on my table a wood section with a piece of glass for a bottom bar, and I believe no one would who had the choice from these two kinds. December 2-4, 1888.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 625 I believe riot many will admit that an extra thickness of ^ °f nu 111C'1 1° tue ins'de of a section will make much, or any, difference to the prevention of ' pop-holes.' I am quite positive and certain with the Ileddon frames, which I have mentioned in my ' Notes,' and which I use for sectional honey, that no better finish could be ob- tained with a glass bottom-rail or bar alone. There is not any difficulty with the top and bottom of sections — and for the sides I have pointed out how these may be entirely filled. Now, although it is easy to make glass sections that can be handled when empty as safely as one-piece wooden ones by means of glass-cement, gummed paper, &c, this cannot be done as quickly : and 1 wish to leave it to the generosity of British bee-keepers to name their sections S3 they please, if any name is necessary for glass sections. I wish to add, if the very simple plan I have described will enable any one to obtain a few pence more for each section I shall be fully satisfied and very pleased. — T. Bonner- Chambers, F.L.S., Tn-f Eyhvyt, Caermoi, Montgomeryshire, December 6th. PORTRAITS OF BEE-KEEPERS. [19:i.'3.] It has frequently occurred to me to ask you to add another acceptable feature to the many already ex- isting in the weekly pages of the Journal, and I have at last resolved to do so without further delay. Now, what I want is a series of portraits of the founders of the British Bee-keepers' Association, published as an adornment and permanent record in our bee paper. A similar series is being issued in several special magazines that I might name, and the bee-men should not be behind the times. Give us likenesses of Mr. Peel, Mr. Neighbour, Mr. Abbott, Mr. Cair, Mr. Raitt, and many more, and, above all, of the President, ever foremost in all good works. For my own part I would value them, and I am sure so would every other reader of your publication, and I have often wondered why, when the ' pieturs' of two foreign bee-keepers — both American — have already appeared, there should have been no thought of, or place found for, any of our celebrated and leading British bee- keepers. Are we to suppose that the young men whose likenesses have already been inserted in the Journal aro the foremost and greatest of modern bee-keepers the wide world over? I thought Langstroth and Root would have been two to be so classed on the other side of the ' herring pond.' But it is not too late to supply the deficiency, so I hope you will soon make a start. "What interest there would be in (say) a portrait of Mr. Abbott, the founder of the Journal, with engravings of some of his best known hives and peculiar inventions, and then in a few weeks to do the same for another of our British bee-keepers. This could be interspersed with occasional cuts from photos of some of our most pictur- esque and well-arranged British bee-gardens, showing the hives and surroundings just as they are. Of these you have already given some, and we want more. Those who live far and remote from other bee-keepers, and have no chance of seeing how other folks arrange their hives, would welcome such illustrations. — II. W, Lett, Aijhadery (llebe, Loughbrickland, co. Down. [We are very willing to entertain the suggestion above given, and from time to time we propose to give in- sertion to the portraits with biographies of some of our leading bee-keepers. — Fd.] WASPS' NEST. [19:14.] In an open cow-shed, about ten yards only, from the back door of a house in this village a wasps' nest was discovered hanging from the roof between two rafters. It appeared to be large and strong ; being in rather a difficult place to take, it remained undisturbed for two or three weeks, after it was first seen until thev became rather dangerous. I, with a friend, offered to destroy it ; and if any one who reads this happens to find one hanging just above his head when milking his cow or feeding his horse, and puzzled to know how to pro- ceed, let him take the following receipt : — Two veils, unless you go alone, then one will do, only one person alone would but make a poor do alone ; two veils, one uncapping knife, one syringe, and a little parallin in a bucket, and the close woven sack-bag ; and as these yellow jackets have a funny knack of creeping up one's legs, it would be as well to put your trousers in your sucks, and your elastic bauds on your sleeves. We will now suppose it to be dusk, and you and your friend with your weapons of war are on the spot read}' for tha fray. Choose the one that has the most courage, and ask him to stand under the nest and hold open the bag. I need not warn you there must be no rat-eaten corners, or even a mice-hole iu it, or the victory will perhaps be on the wrong side ; but the man of the bag will be impatient soon, for he can see the yellow jackets on sentinel all around their citadel : Your turn now comes — takeyoursword (uncapping knife); and having encouraged your comrade to stand firm for your own comfort, slice off the nest with one cut, into the bag it will fall, which close quickly and tie, and you have them safe and sound. The parallin and syringe now come into play upon the odd few that are left sticking to where the nest was, and on the morrow it will be difficult to find above half-a-dozen flyers about. Plunge the bag over-head in water and leave it all night; and if you find a few able to creep, but not to fly, in the morning after a night in the water, don't be very surprised, as I fancy they drown slowly. In my case many were alive, but perhaps a por- tion of the bag got above water, and the bees— wasps I mean,climbed above water as well. This nest was quite a curiosity, being, what I should say a large one measuring 14 inches across. I took a bell-glass that onci was tilled with honey (not this year) and which weighed I think about twenty pounds. I thought of hiving this nest in it, but found to our dismay it was far too small. — J. W. I'ilankley. Dent on, Grantham. P.S. Now, Mr. Useful Hints, please tell us how often a wasps' nest is once formed in a round ball shape, it can b9 enlarged to this size without being pulled down and rebuilt, and also please give us a hint of what material is used for its construction, some say paper here. This looked more like the touchwood I use in my smoker. [ Wasps' nest are generally found underground. They are "f an oval shape, and frequently measure from six- teen or eighteen inches long by twelve or thirteen broad. The substance of which these nests are composed is the fibres of wood detached from posts and rails and window frames. When the wasps have amassed a heap of the lilaments they moisten them with some viscid glue from their mouths, and kneading it into a kind of papier tti&clte with their jaws, take it to their nest. This mass is re- duced by them to laininaa of the requisite thinness for the building of their nests. The construction of the nest is a severe labour, and occupies those engaged in it several months. The architecture of a wasp's nest is an interesting study and will well bear comparison with that of the inhabitant of the bee-hive. — Ed.] BEES AS FOOD. [1935.] I have a question to ask about bees being used for human food. In Science Gossip, Vol. ix., p. 50, a Mr. Henry A. Aulde quotes a writer (Knox) who, he says, ' tells us that bees are eaten in Ceylon.' Now, can any one give more information on this point ? Is it the larva or the fully-formed insect, that is recognised as an article of diet ? It has occurred to me that in these days, when complaints are made that the price of honey is too low to make it worth while producing, that it would be an excellent plan to create an appetite and liking for 026 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [December 24, 1888. bees as an addition to the delicacies set on our tables al meal times. And rearing bees for the bees sake would be all the go, and with the facilities of the Parcel Post what family need be without bees to their bread as a wholesome, nutritious, and toothsome relish, all the year round ? It is prejudice that prevents our experimenting and adopting blessings lying at our feet. — II. \Y. Lett. [Some of the tribes in Central Africa are reported to be in the habit of eating the larvre of bees. — Er>.] PHOTOGRAPHIC GROUP OF BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS. [19-'j6.] In the early part of the year an announce- ment appeared in the B. B. J. from Messrs. Abbott Bros., Southall, London, asking bee-keepers to send their photos to form a photographic group, which the above firm undertook to produce from the cards sent, and I ' learn from the best authority that a large number were sent. As I begin to fear that the whole thing- was a hoax, possibly the firm I have named will say if the group is in course of preparation, and if so when we may expect proofs or copies ready, and the probable price of same; such information will oblige — One who sent A Photo. [We have ourselves no doubt of the bona fides of the Messrs. Abbott in requesting the portraits of bee-keepers to be forwarded to them, but we are afraid that they have not received the requisite number for their photo- graphic group. — Ed.] SHALLOW FRAMES. [1937.] In your issue of November 22nd (No. 1894), your correspondent wishes to hear from the correspondent who advocated frames of half-standard size, but does not mention number or name, and as no one else has answered him, I do so, as I gave (in a back number) a description of a frame I used. If your correspondent refers back, he will see that it has If in. wide top-bar, with ]-in. space between, made by nailing J-in. pieces of wood on opposite sides at the ends, same as wide- shouldered frames, which makes the combs too deep for the queen to lay in, so are only used for extracting. If he fills the frame with thick worker foundation, and does not put too many on till they are worked out, he will find that they will not want numbering (better not), as the uncapping-knife will hist slide down each edge of top-bar, and unseal the combs without shortening them, and they will fit anywhere. It often happens in practice that the bees do not fill all the frames at the same time, so are not all sealed when you wish to extract. I have had frames sealed in the centre of three tiers of frames, whilst the outside frames at top are not sealed. And as for convenience, those filled but not sealed ought to be put in the top crate, unless extracted, which I never do till the bees seal them, with empty frames at bottom. They must be interchangeable, or they lose their chief value; and if he has extra frames, so that he can close the hive at once, and use those from first hive to put into Xo. 2, and so on, he will find it very convenient. If he would ask questions, I should know better what to answer. — Alpha. (£cjkfcs farm % Ipbcs, Thornton, Poulton-le-Fylde, December 21st. — On two days of last week bees have been out ; rest of week damp. On 18th several children had roses and wall- flowers in their button-holes at school. One day's frost, 14th. Thermometer 50° in daytime, and about "%' to 40' at night and early morning. Can't remember so mild a time. — Jxo. Jos. J agger. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- S. A. — Mobbing. — We are continually giving cautions against spilling syrup about the hives; it is sure to excite any bees that may be flying about to commit robbing. The probability is that the robbers pro- ceeded from some neighbour's hives. T. M. — Dysentery. — This disease prevails only in winter and the early spring months. It is caused by feeding on unwholesome food, damp hives, and improper venti- lation. We would recommend as a remedy a change of hive and a supply of wholesome food. The frames should be scraped clean, and a frame or two of sealed honey given at the sides of the cluster. Attention must be paid to proper ventilation. The Schedule of Prizes ut the Royal Agricultural Show, Windsor, will be given in. our next issue. Cases for the Journal, price one shilling, may be obtained from J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN VOL. XVI. PAOE PAGE PAGE The Apiary of ' Amateur Expert ' 3 Spoon for pouring out molten Wax 186 A Bogenstulper .... 376 Pollen-grain from a Pumpkin Abbott's Wax-smelter 186 M. Biihue Lauban's Horizontal Blossom 13 Hive, with Alighting-board 194 Honey-extractor 389 C. N. White's Cottager Champion Mode of giving Sugar-cake . 194 M. Peter Wagner's Uncapping Hive 35 Top-bar with Saw-kerf 210 Machine 390 Geometrical Construction of the Wiring Frames : 1 and 2 . 210 Antenna; Cleaner ; Leg of Honey- Cell of the Honey-bee 40 Tool for scraping Propolis . 2L5 bee 414 Sketch of Hive .... GO Glass Sections .... 216 Driving Bees .... 474 Captain Hetherington's Queen- Fixing Foundation 217 Section of Bottles 479 cage 70 Apiary of George E. Hilton, Fre- A fast Feeder .... 480 Abbott's, Bros., Method of fixing mont, Mich. .... 247 Half a Glass Section . 490 Comb-foundation 72 Portrait of George E. Hilton 247 Braula Ca?ca .... 492 The new Langstroth Hive . 112 Frame with Comb 252 Winter Protector 537 Cowan's Convertible Makeshift . 112 T. Louth's Extractor for Sections 263 Stomach Mouth of the Bee 569 Nails and Brads .... 127 Swarm -catcher .... 269 Entrance : Barricade . 573 Ward's grooved Section 134 J. M. Hooker's Metal Supports for Hive for breeding Queens . 577 Feeders : Bottle in position, Bottle Sections ..... 284 Bee's hind Leg .... 588 and Shovel .... 138 Case with Sections 300 Bee's front Leg .... 599 Kaynor Feeder .... 138 Case showing Separators 300 Portrait of Prof. A. J. Cook 600 Queen Nursery .... 177 Howard'sFoundation-fixing!Block 324 J. W. Blankley's Queen-cage 604 Fixing Foundation 179 W. B.Webster's Swarm-catcher . 354 Glass Section .... 619 Wax-sheet Guide . . . 185 C. Bedshaw's Boyal Nottingham Frame with Sections . 619 Guide-block .... 185 Hive 357 London : Printed by StrangewaY3 & Sons, at their Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., in the Parish of St. Gilos's-in-the Fields, m the County of Middiesexi and Published for the Proprietor by Kent k Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in the same county.— Dec, 24, 1888 A